Can I draw my own deck plans?

All you need to make accurate deck plans are a pencil, ruler, and graph paper. Draw your deck to scale on graph paper (typically 1/4″ to the foot). You’ll need at least a site plan, a plan view, and one or two elevations. You also may want to draw detailed plans for complex parts of the deck.

How much does it cost to build a 20×20 deck yourself?

The average homeowner spends $2,200 to build a 10×10 foot deck, $6,160 to build a 14×20 deck, and $8,800 to build a 20×20 deck. The cost to build a deck with pressure-treated wood, hardwood, or composite is about $25 per square foot, for both materials and installation.

How far apart should deck footings be?

How Many Footings Will I Need? The standard rule for footings is that for a basic deck, the larger the beam and footing size, the fewer footings you’ll need. If you’re building a simple deck, footings and posts should be placed 8 feet apart on average.

Are there any deck building apps?

You want to go outside and build. So use SmartDraw’s deck planner to design a deck to be the envy of your neighbors. Start with a deck design template and quickly drag-and-drop deck elements like boards, railings, planters, and even patio furniture. Deck designing made simple!

How can I save money building a deck?

8 Tips for Saving Money on Getting a Deck Built

  1. Type of Deck. One of the first items of business before building a deck is to ask yourself what it will be used for.
  2. Deck Design.
  3. Materials.
  4. Watch the Flyers.
  5. Contractor Deals.
  6. Buy Accessories in Bulk.
  7. Deck Blocks Instead of Pouring Concrete.
  8. Seal Your Deck.

What is a good size deck?

Most builders suggest that your deck should be no larger than 20 percent of the house’s* square footage. This is so that the deck does not overwhelm a home visually. This, of course, is up to you. If you feel you need a larger deck that takes up more of your yard space, feel free!

What is the cheapest way to build a deck right now?

Pressure-treated wood is generally the cheapest material to build decks from. For up-front savings, that seems great, but don’t forget long-term costs. Wood decks require yearly maintenance such as staining or painting, and they’ll often break down quite quickly if you fall behind on maintenance.

How far apart should deck posts be?

Starting with your perimeter, mark the location of each deck post to locate the fitting position. In general, posts should be spaced no more than 8 feet apart. Some builders position them every 4 feet for a completely rigid frame. The maximum distance between footings is determined by the size of your joist material.

Where do you start when building a deck?

  1. Step 1: Attach the Ledger. Photo by David Carmack.
  2. Step 2: Protect the Ledger.
  3. Step 3: Set Footings and Piers.
  4. Step 4: Install Post Bases and Side Rim Joists.
  5. Step 5: Install Front Rim Joist, Beams, and Interior Joists.
  6. Step 6: Install Front Rim Joist, Beams, and Interior Joists (continued)
  7. Step 7: Attach Trim and Decking.