Thinking of setting up a wooden deck to enhance your home? Great, but be careful: first, see everything you should know to make a quality investment from deck builders San Antonio tx!
A few years ago, it was common to find them just flanking pools or demarcating outdoor shower areas. Today, wooden decks are one of the most used decoration resources, adding value to the house’s most different parts.
These architectural elements that resemble the old ship decks beautify the surroundings but are also highly functional. But did you know that your placement also holds some secrets? Now see everything you should know before assembling a wooden deck and further enhance your project.
Where to place wooden decks
If you hear about the wooden deck, the first thing that comes to mind is the swimming pool; most likely, you have no idea of all the possibilities it offers.
A well-planned wooden deck enhances the most diverse spaces. Today it is a multifunctional decoration element. The possibilities depend only on the creativity of those who are planning the space.
Just to give you an idea, the wooden deck can be used to demarcate paths in external gardens, such as gazebos, kiosks, and pergolas, as a base for a vertical garden, as a wall covering (panels), like a porch floor. Apartments, in the wet area of a bathroom and, of course, around pools, balconies, deck for hydro-spa.
What to know before planning
However, having a wooden deck at home is much more than simply placing it on a floor and getting started. Several small details make all the difference in durability, stability, and even aesthetic enhancement of the environment, not to mention the economic value added to the construction. That is why the wooden deck must be built by specialized labor at deck builders San Antonio tx with extensive experience in projects of this type.
Choice of wood
For those who value beauty and want a job well done, even the rulers’ size is important. The larger, the fewer seams, making the deck aesthetically cleaner.
Wood treatment
Some people talk about wooden demolition decks, but they end up being disappointed in a short time. First of all, in addition to the first line, the chosen wood must be previously treated.
This way, the pieces are more resistant to pests, such as termites, and also to bad weather – especially when there is no coverage.
Many people do not know, but it is not enough that the wood is good. If there is no proper treatment, the durability ends up being reduced, and the investment ends up going down the drain.
In this case, it is essential that, in addition to the wood’s pre-treatment, a waterproofing work is also carried out with a sealer or naval varnish. The product must be reapplied annually to ensure the beauty and longevity of the wooden deck.
Preparation of the area that will receive the wooden deck
The place that will receive the wooden deck must be properly prepared. It is not advisable, for example, to install directly on the grass. Continuous contact with wet or damp earth can shorten the life span of the wooden deck.
In this case, the idea is to level the site to be completely flat and make a cement or concrete subfloor with water drainage.
Another procedure that can be done is removing the grass and the construction of small concrete beams in the soil, in the same direction in which the slats will be placed.
There should be a distance of 10 cm to 20 cm between them, and the gap is filled with a layer of geotextile blanket covered by stones. This way, the soil becomes more waterproof and the deck even more protected.
Risk of warping
Other problems common to poorly designed wooden decks are cracks and warping of the slats. This occurs mainly when the executor of the project leaves inadequate space for the expansion of the material in addition to the poor quality of the wood itself.
Keeping your attention to these tips given by our deck builders San Antonio tx makes it much easier to invest in a quality wooden deck to enhance your home and gain more comfort.