The time you spend planning your new or expanded deck will help you avoid unanticipated troubles later on, and make the finished product more enjoyable for years to come.

BEFORE YOU ORDER
1. The first step is to determine just how the deck will be used. Knowing the answers to these questions will help you decide how big it needs to be, where it should be built, and what extras you might add.

Will the deck adjoin a room of your house, or be free-standing?

Do you entertain frequently, or will it be used primarily by family for dining, relaxing, sunbathing, or a play area?

How many people - and what kind of outdoor furniture - should the deck be designed to accommodate?

Will it be used mostly during the day, evenings, or both? Will it receive morning, afternoon, evening sun?

Do you want to block wind or sun, insure privacy, screen unpleasant views, or control traffic noise?

2. Once you've answered these questions, you may want your design to provide:

Railings for safety or to add to the deck's attractiveness.

A multiple level deck to break up the monotonous look of a flat yard, add interest to a large deck, or take advantage of a good view.

Privacy and protection from the elements with fencing or lattice.

Stairs for convenient access to your yard.

An attractive and energy efficient Andersen patio door to enhance the entrance to your deck.

Built-in planters, benches, storage boxes, lighting, or other features that will make your deck more beautiful and usable.

3. Now you are ready to evaluate the various products available today for deck construction.  CCA preservative treated yellow pine is the most common and economical choice.  Other options include:

NatureWood, an alternate for arsenic based treated wood products

Western Red Cedar

Redwood

Composite materials containing wood fiber and reclaimed plastic, including Carefree Products PRO-DEX

Ipe, a South American hardwood that is as durable as it is beautiful

4. Next you will want to draw your deck to scale, and perhaps stake it out in the yard to get a feel for its dimensions and its relationship to your house and the rest of your landscaping. At Requarth Lumber, we'll be glad to go over your plans with you, make suggestions, and offer design ideas.

5. Check with your local engineering office to make sure that your design is in compliance with the building code and zoning requirements that not only govern construction techniques, but deck locations, size, heights and safety. For these reasons, you might wish to make an initial inquiry with the local engineering office even before you begin planning. Prior to construction, some communities will require a building permit and may require inspections at specified points during building.

6. By all means, contact local utilities to be sure that your proposed deck won't interfere with underground lines. It can be dangerous (and very expensive) to cut through a utility line. Also, if you have a septic tank, take care that you don't interfere with its servicing or functioning.

WHEN ORDERING MATERIAL
1. Don't be misled by low-priced "deck packages." These advertised prices usually include only decking and joists, but may overlook nails, posts, connectors, railings, stairs, water repellant and many other items that will be necessary to build the deck you want. At Requarth Lumber, we'll help you estimate your material needs and give you a complete price. Then we'll deliver your deck without an additional fee. You'll not only have a true picture of your cost, but a custom deck that doesn't look like it came out of a package.

2. When comparing prices, be sure to ask about "grade." At Requarth Lumber, we offer pressure treated premium grade Southern Yellow Pine in 5/4 x 4 and 5/4 x 6 dimensions. It costs more than "#2" or other lower grades, but will give you a much more attractive deck. For the little added cost, we strongly recommend that you consider premium grade boards.

3. Know your lumber yard. Requarth Lumber has served the Dayton area since 1860.

SELECTING A DECK BUILDER
If you've decided to let someone else do the work, we'd suggest the following guidelines: (1) Ask us, or friends and neighbors for names of builders. (2) Check names out with the Better Business Bureau. (3) Ask the builder for local references, call them, consider going to look at finished projects. (4) Solicit more than one bid, but don't automatically select the lowest. Ask why a bid is so low, or high. Sometimes the higher price is worth it. (5) Read the contract to make sure you understand what work is included and what is not. (6) And don't forget to tell your builder that you'd like your deck material from Requarth Lumber Co.

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