Develop Your Patio or Deck Plan Before You Build
Frequently, people begin construction of patios and decks without well
thought-out plans. I have personally seen this mistake made hundreds of times.
The mistake occurs for a very simple reason. Most people layout a patio or deck
with string or pieces of wood in an effort to define the area. While this seems
like a good idea, it can actually be very deceiving. A 12 foot by 14 foot deck
or patio may seem like a large area. In many cases, a deck or patio this size is
as big as the largest size room in the average house. However, you will be
surprised to find out that you can barely fit a standard size patio table and
chair set on a deck or patio of this size. Let's find out why.
I have advocated good planning for many years. Good plans are the key to a
successful project. A good plan is not necessarily a complicated one. I feel
that a good plan is one that is well thought-out and that works.
The first step is to decide upon the use of the patio or deck. In other
words, what do you intend to do on the patio and deck and how many people will
be doing it? This step is the key to the entire planning process. You must know
how many people you intend to have on the patio or deck for the majority of
occasions. Knowing this, you generally try to provide seating for all of these
people. This seating can take the form of benches, chairs or seating around a
table. The seating can be any one of these choices, or a combination of
elements.
Now that you have determined how many places to sit, you are ready to begin
your plan. But first, I need you to go to your existing living or dining room.
Do you notice the 'hallways' in each of these rooms? They are the pathways that
allow you to move from one place to another within the room. You must create
these same 'hallways' in your patio or deck. Don't forget these!
While you are still in these rooms, check to see how wide these 'hallways'
are. Generally speaking, you should find that you have a minimum width of three
to four feet. That is a comfortable distance to walk through. Verify this
distance in your own home with a tape measure. Determine whatever measurement
you feel comfortable with and write it down.
Furniture Selection
The next step is to determine what furniture you plan to use on the patio or
deck. Quite possibly you already own the furniture. If not, go to a store and
select the furniture that you intend to use. Don't forget to select any small
tables that you intend to place around the patio or deck. Generally, these
tables are used to place drinks or food on. Frequently, people overlook these
tables. Now, make a list of the furniture indicating the quantity and size of
each piece. Try to round off the measurements to the nearest 1/2 foot.
To learn how to apply your well-thought out plan to paper to create a scale
building plan, read on
here.
