With the warmer weather of spring upon us, many people are thinking about outdoor activities and spending more time outside. After a cold Toronto winter, nothing sounds better than relaxing and enjoying the yard and garden from a custom built deck.
Alair Homes can help you build the outdoor space of your dreams, giving you a place to enjoy the warmer weather from the convenience of your own yard. There are many choices for outdoor living solutions in the Greater Toronto Area, so homeowners looking to build a deck should think about the type of outdoor living space they’re hoping to achieve.
Where to Put Your Deck
Homeowners should consider the layout of their yard and how they’ll access a deck. Will you be using an existing sliding or patio door, or will you need to build in a new opening from your home? Positioning the deck to take advantage of existing doors in the home can be cost-effective, but might not be the ideal placement for every yard.
Which way does the deck face? If the deck is exposed to the hot afternoon sun, it might be more difficult to use after work, or to eat dinner on. Decks on the west side of the property often need some kind of shade, or a canopy that extends from the side of the house. Make note of how the sun crosses your property during the day, and keep in mind how that will impact your use of a deck.
What Type of Material to Use?
An experienced contractor, like Alair Homes, can help you decide on the right materials and finishes for your deck, but it helps if you have an idea of what styles you like, and what your budget will allow.
The two most prevalent decking materials are wood and composite boards. Wood has long been the traditional decking material, but recent advancements in plastics and other composite materials have made these finishes more attractive to homeowners who are looking to avoid the maintenance that wood decking often requires.
Although composite decking materials will usually cost more than their wood counterparts, they will require less money to maintain over the life of the deck, and less time on overall deck upkeep.
In the end, the choice of decking materials always comes down to finding the right balance between cost, style, and maintenance expectations.
How Will the Deck be Used?
When planning out your deck, you should keep in mind how you expect to use the outdoor space that a new deck provides.
Will you be eating meals on the deck? Is it a place for relaxing or socializing? Should there be room for a barbecue grill? How many people do you expect to use the deck at once? Is it close to a pool or spa?
Thinking about these questions before beginning the deck is important, because it will give the contractor a better idea of how to help design and build your perfect outdoor living space.
Enjoy Your New Deck
Once your new deck is constructed by Alair Homes, you can relax and enjoy the new space in your yard with confidence, knowing it was built especially for you by expert builders.