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Whitby Free Press, Wednesday, June 9, 1993, Page 13 A HOME DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT FEATURE Plan your deck 110W for sunim[ertime fun adjinig wlkays ,,tinerL-1cinLy. it's important te get Thisç article if provided by local If sitting outside in the summer nt your house means trying to locate a patch of even ground where you won't be plagued by hordes of ants and other unwanted insects, maybe it's dîne ta think about installing a deck. A deck not only gives you a 'level playing field,' where you and your family can bask in the glory of the great outdoors, it aIse extends your living space during the warmer months of the year. Youll have an ideal place te entertain guests, barbecue, sunhathe or simply curl up with a good book. Ia addition ta giving you a delightful stage for your potted plants9 and flowers, a dock aIse enhances your yard and home. ,ýBy planning your deck now, you'ro likely ta be ahead of the traditional rush and you'1l be able ta sit back and enjoy the new 'addition' before summor is in full swing. Getting started Before you begin any serious planning, you'fl have ta, check with your municipality to see if aay building permits are required, or if there are any restrictions. Once you've cleared this hurdle, it's timne ta roll up your leeves and get going. If you intend ta instail the deck yourself, consult somne beoks and periodicals on the subject, reading themn thoroughly. It's aiso a good idea te talk to the experts at a local building supply centre. If you're not a very handy person, youll probably opt ta have a contracter handie the project from start te finish. To locate a suitable o, hunt around. If any fiends or relatives have had decks installed, find eut who did the work and ask themn if they were satisfied with the way the job was carried eut. In many cases, word-of-meuth referrals are the most reliahie. When planning, keep in mmnd that there are various things yeu can de with your deck ta make the most of your space and budget. For instance, you may wish te, incorporate built-in seating, planters and storage areas, a hot tub and se on, depeading on your space and. budget constraints. You'1l aise want ta decide whether you want ta have some built-in protoction from wind or excessive sunshine -- depending on where y ou plan ta locate the dock. Seuth-facing docks tend te get the most suni. If you do't have a lot of shade trees, this may limit your outdoor activities during extreme heat waves. You can counter this by having a retrâctable canopy or somne everhead lattice installed. Bath these devices will block or filter sunlight. Permanent partial covers are aise an option. Materials The types of material you want to use ie the dock should also be docided. Pressure-treated wood is a popular option, because it tends te be reasenably priced and resists decay. Cedar is aIse chosen by many homeowners. You'11 aIse want te decide if you waet ta incorporate railiegs and, if se, what type. Obviously, if you have young ch:ïldren and your deck is more FINE HANDCRAFTED FURNITURE For Custom Fumniture or Woodworkine Repair & Refinishiflg please cail 666m8214. than a couple of feet high, youlH want to instaîl railings. If you have youngsters or pets and your deck will be situated on a hill or the edge of a ravine, you'lI want to instali more secunity mensures and enclose the perimeter area with strong material. When planning your deck, also decide how many levels you want. Will one plane meet your purposes or do you want to add some dimension to your deck? If it's going to ho a multi-purpose structure, you mnay want ta break it up a little -- either by varying heights or by separating particular areas with planters and s0 on. If you have a lot of space, you may even want ta, consider installing two or three separate decks and link them up with Sketches To help you decide on exactly what you want, try doing soîne sketches of your lot and what you envision. Kcep your family's daily activities and preferences in mind, as well. If green space is important, you'll want ta make sure you don't gobble up most of the backyard. Also keep. your planned deck's proximity to other areas of the house in mmid. If you plan to use it mostly for entertaining, for insta-nce, youll probaibly %vant easy access to your kitchen. If you have a two-storey or back-split home, you may want ta consider installing an upper-level deck. For this type of with Scotchguard® V 10Yr. Wear - Warraflty Vt 5 Vr. 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