Adding a deck or balcony

 

Outdoor Decking

Decking is generally a wooden platform built above the ground and connected to the main building, it is generally enclosed by a balustrade or railing for safety. Access may be from the house through doors and from the ground via a stairway. Built-up decks can be constructed over steep areas or rough ground that is otherwise unusable.

 

Adding Outdoor Decking

Adding outdoor decking to your house, flat or unit is a great way of not only getting additional outdoor living space, but is also a means of adding value to your house. With a deck attached to your house, you have a place to turn to for relaxation and entertainment.

As the deck will face constant exposure to external conditions like fire hazards, the sun, rain and windy conditions it is important you bear all these points in mind when designing your deck. With the right planning and materials, you will be able to create a strong, durable and stable deck for your home and family. Outside concepts can also design and build a canopy or pergola over your deck to control sunlight and protect you from the elements.

 

Don’t forget your budget

Besides the design and durability of the materials to be used in building a deck, your budget is another factor to take into consideration. Although adding features to the deck can transform your house into the best in the neighbourhood, it can be rather expensive. Outside Concepts can plan and build a decking structure that suits your lifestyle and budget.

Moreover, the cost of building your deck can often be recouped in the future by increasing the value of your home. If you have to sell or rent out your home in the future, quality decking will fetch a better price for you than it would have without the decking.

The size of the deck is an important feature to remember when building it. It should accommodate and compliment your outdoor area and not be too small or too big.

It is safe to have a balustrade or railing of a minimum of 3 feet height on the deck to protect your toddlers and pets from falling off. The best size for your deck would be 2-3 square meters per person to sit around a table.

 

Make sure you have privacy when using the deck

Don’t forget to consider the right location to build your deck. The back of the house may not always be the best place to build your deck. Outside Concepts will help you consider take factors like privacy and sun exposure while deciding on the right placement of your deck in addition to arranging the council approval 

It would be better to choose a spot where you receive both shade and sun at different times of the day. And if it is not possible to position your deck in a private spot, then you could build a privacy fence, hedge or have shade trees to block other people’s view.

Outside Concepts have many styles you can adopt for your outdoor decking and will help ensure that the style you choose matches your home and lifestyle. If you have a Victorian home, your deck could have ornamental columns and turned balusters to match the architecture of the house. A multi level deck is another interesting design for the deck as it gives your home an interesting look with distinct areas for entertainment and outdoor decoration.

 

Choice of materials

There are various materials you can consider using for building your outdoor decking and Outside Concepts will advise, plan and build your deck using the best materials suited for your house and everyday life. You can use softwoods, hardwoods, timber composites or steel.

Using treated pine or softwood is not only an economical choice, it is also termite proof. This is a great option if there is not much of foot traffic on the deck as it does wear at a faster rate. Installing the deck is not the end of the deck; you have to ensure that you maintain it well by cleaning it regularly and applying a deck coating system at least once a year.

If your deck is more than 3 meters high, it would be better to use steel posts for the supporting structure, as steel will generally last longer than a timber structure.

There is a variety of steel that you can use for building your deck. Colorbond® steel is popular, durable, strong and provides flexible options for the design and style of your deck. With a rich colour palette that is not only fresh, but also subtle and sophisticated in appearance, you are certain to find the right colour to match your home and property.

Colorbond® steel is lightweight and comes with a warranty of 20 years from the date of installation, under normal wear and tear from to the natural climatic conditions. Your professional installer can also paint your structure to match your house and surroundings.

For added privacy and protection from the harsh Australian weather you may want cover your deck with a pergola. Outside Concepts can merge a pergola into the design of your deck with your choice of materials. 

Colorbond® Zincalume® sheeting is incredibly durable due to its unique manufacturing process, it is resistant to the impact of hail, is flexible in design, offers easy maintenance and is guaranteed to be weather tight and secure when installed as per the manufacturer’s specifications.

 

Laserlite® polycarbonate sheeting is a solar control sheet that allows natural light in whilst blocking the heat and weather, with 99.9% UV Protection and high impact resistance. Laserlite® sheets give you the choice of three profiles in a huge range of transparent and translucent colours with a lifetime warranty. Their range of polycarbonate sheets includes heat reflecting properties, allowing excellent light transmission, while you stay cool inside.

 

You may wish to use a combination of materials, combining Zincalume® and Laserlite® sheets, providing full weather cover with sun light passing through the occasional polycarbonate sheet.

Installing the deck is not the end of the deck; you have to ensure that you maintain it well by cleaning it regularly and applying a deck coating system at least once a year.

 

Finishing touches

It is always recommended to paint, varnish or stain wooden beams and decking to further the life of your structure and match your surroundings.

Cafe Blinds are very popular for decks with roofs, allowing you to appreciate the views and protect you from the elements. Custom made and available in clear or tinted PVC Plastic with the option of UV protection, they can be motorised or use a manual pulley to easily roll up and are secured to your structure with visible or non-visible zip systems.

A balustrade around raised decks will is not only a safety guard, it can add visual smoothness to your deck and can be built from a variety of materials including steel, aluminium, glass, wire or a hardwood or softwood will always match the deck beneath.

Constructing your gazebo should be done by certified and professional installers to ensure that there are no complications. Outside Concepts are experts at what they do, they have revolutionised the home improvement industry by developing a computer program that provides customers with detailed specifications, quotes and council applications, onsite, using a laptop computer.

This system enables us to provide you with a fixed price quote, on the spot, detailing the exact measurements and materials required to complete the project, big or small. Once you accept the quote Outside Concepts prepare a detailed plan for your approval then submit the plan to council on your behalf.

Outside Concepts goal is to provide the highest standard of personalised service, from planning through to completion of your deck.

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