Building Your First Deck – Everything You Need to Know

Everybody loves a good deck. From improving the aesthetic appeal of your property to giving you additional storage space or a nice place to party, there are so many amazing things you can do with the right deck. However, all of that fun and enjoyment happens only when you’re able to get the installation done properly.

If you’re getting your deck built for the first time, you’re naturally going to have a lot of questions. We’ve compiled a list of the top questions to keep in mind when getting your deck built!

Building Your First Deck – Why Professional Help is Important

One of the first decisions you have to make on this front is choosing between handling the construction process yourself or getting professional help. If you have a background in construction, lots of moxie, and ample free time, then you can likely DIY your deck building.

However, we always recommend engaging an experienced professional in this regard, especially since it’s your first time. Our wealth of understanding in the field, coupled with our knowledge of local building codes, will give you the best of beauty and compliance consistently.

The Cost of Building a Deck

Going DIY or with a professional construction team is going to play a major role in determining how much you end up spending here. However, beyond that, several elements are important as well.

For example, the size of the deck. The bigger the deck, the higher the number of resources you would have to invest to get it done. Also crucial here is the type and quality of material you opt to use. Just like with any project, the longer lasting the material, the more of an investment it’ll be. Working with our team, we’ll be able to help you go over the finer details of finding just the right materials for your home.

The Seasonal Element – What to Know

Something many homeowners don’t account for is the impact that the season can have on their deck construction plans. For example, summer and spring are among the most popular times for deck building, meaning that the prices for the construction tend to be quite high during this period. The payoff is that the weather is almost always pleasant, so you can be sure your deck will be completed on time. Plus, you’ll be able to put it to use right away!

On the other hand, you could opt to build during the winter (depending on the decking contractor you hire). Our team is able to build year-round in our home state of WI, despite below freezing temperatures, because we use Diamond Piers. Rather than having to dig holes to pour traditional concrete footings, Diamond Piers allow us to drive metal rods into the ground below the frost level to secure the footings. So, not only can we build more quickly regardless of the temperatures, your deck will actually be more resistant to heaving in the future as well. All that said, you can expect that the unpredictability of winter weather will cause delays. Diamond Piers may not care if it’s dangerously cold and blizzarding, but our crews do!

Maintaining Your Deck

Finally comes the maintenance aspect of things. All decks, regardless of what they’re made of or how they’re made, require maintenance. However, the amount of attention, effort, and resources you devote to this will vary widely from one material to the next. For instance, you’ll need to care for a wooden deck intensively if you want to get maximum value out of it. This may look like annual or bi-annual re-coating with paint or stain. In contrast, you don’t need to do so much to keep a PVC or composite deck made with TimberTech in perfect condition.

One of the biggest reasons we partner with TimberTech as our preferred decking materials is because of how easy it is for our clients to care for. TimberTech has a full guide and even some cleaning products that keep our decks looking nice for decades. But past a wash down every year, their products are built to withstand quite a bit of wear and tear, which is also why they warranty their products for so much longer than other brands. When you build with their products, you can rest assured that your summers will be spent enjoying your deck, not taking care of it.

Moving Forward

There are many things you have to consider when it comes to getting your first deck. At 3rd Gen Painting and Remodeling, we make a point of making every decision as easy as possible.

Simply reach out to the best deck builder in Madison WI, and we’ll give you personalized advice on how to bring your dream deck to life.

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