Location

• Accessibility and comfort are two of the most important concerns in creating your deck plan. If the yard is small and the garden is close to the house, consider attaching the deck to the house, making it accessible from the public spaces, such as a living or family room, as well as including steps up to the deck along its expanse. If the deck will be separate from the house and just contained in one space, then make sure any steps are easy to get to from the yard and that the deck has two or more access points.
  
  Weigh much room is available in the area where you want to put the deck? A small space may only offer nothing more than a wooden platform with benches built into the railings to save on space. To help you decide, sketch a layout of the yard and include where the deck should go.
  
  Before construction begins, consult your local building codes obtain any permits necessary.
  
  

Style

• After determining the deck's location and size, the style of the deck is the next decision. Weigh the type of wood or composite to be used in construction, the layout of the boards, the trim pieces, whether to have built-in seats, how tall to make the deck and how many steps will be needed. Get inspired by looking for ideas in magazines and books and on design websites.
  
  

Construction

• Deck construction can be divided into three stages: foundation, framing and finish. The foundation must be laid with precise measurements and consists of laying the ground posts and concrete castings. Framing consists of putting the pieces of the deck together, such as the joists on which the decking will sit and adding any applicable railing posts and benches. The decking itself comes next. The finish consists of sealing the wood as well as any staining or painting.
  
  If you have never done any type of construction work before, you may find it necessary to consult with a professional.