|  Decks
always seem to invite people to go out, take a deep breath and enjoy
a more relaxed and informal life, without even having to leave home.
Whatever the weather or the incline belonging to a family’s
home site, with a little thought and preparation, a deck can provide
an added dimension of living that will be relished almost year-round.
Partial overhead trellises and treatments can be added to decks
for shade in warmer, sunny times; or screens and plantings can provide
privacy and shielding from cooler, brisk breezes. Some designs now
include built-in planters and benches and even inset fire pits.
With electrical outlets, water faucets, built-in cabinets and romantic
lighting plans, a deck can also embellish a gracious evening’s
entertainment capability.
Pressure treated wood continues to be a popular and inexpensive
choice for deck material, but there are many other choices. Redwoods
add a patina in the warmer, deeper, muted colors of red. Mahogany
wood melds into hues of opulent browns and chocolates. Timbers of
pao lope will merge into silvery elegance throughout the years.
The latter types of wood require no chemical treatments as they
are naturally resistant to decay and insects. They have an intrinsic
strength and durability lending them to more graceful length choices.
Pao lope even has a natural fire resistance rating of Class A-1.
There are also new types of wood polymers, created from plastic
and waste woods and then turned into lumber, which can give people
better traction in wet or dry conditions. The newer products offer
an excellent choice in framing the deck area of a pool, while offering
safety and granting a pleasing dimension to the overall view.
No matter what contour the land follows, a deck can be designed
to enhance the amount of livable, easily accessible outdoor space.
A deck can be designed around an existing tree and will have the
added benefit of shading the area while causing minimal impact on
the surrounding flora and fauna. Sloping or rock-strewn land presents
no obstacle to one’s enjoyment of the view through the construction
of a deck. A deck with two or more levels can span a steeper terrain,
while at the same time creating a less overwhelming effect when
viewed from below. For more level acreage, using different levels
can also make an engaging and interesting disguise.
One final advantage is that decks can cover over a multitude of
flaws in any surrounding. Unruly lawns, erosion problems or broken
ground become serenely beautiful when hidden underneath a finished,
artistically pleasing deck.
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