One way to extend your indoor activities outdoors
and integrate the backyard into your daily lives is to add a deck or patio - a
deck or patio that emphasizes open air dining and entertainment. From the
comfort of your own home, you can enjoy fresh air, cookouts, and all around
family fun from one of these and you can do it with the knowledge that it was
built to last by professional contractors.
What's the First Thing to Do?
If you're new to home additions, it's natural to be curious about the things
that your selected contractor will do. But since adding on a deck or patio is
a rather intensive project, your curiosity will soon be satisfied once you
begin discussing its plans. |
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Through these plans, both you and
your contractor will discuss things like the width of your deck floor, the
height of your patio roof, and the materials that your deck and/or patio will be
made with. Some of the other things you'll discuss answer questions like:
1. How high should the patio roof be elevated?
2. What will cover the roof? Shingles? Flat Tar?
3. What will the flooring be covered with? Tile? Concrete?
One very important discussion that you'll have with your contractor regards your
lifestyle. By discussing how you'll use your deck and/or patio, your contractor
can help you design a structure that works well with everyone in the home - even
the family pet!
After the Plans
Once you've created suitable plans, your contractor will take the appropriate
measurements and adjust your plans so that they fit well within your outside
space. When your contractor begins to layout your deck's and/or patio's
foundation, you may hear a lot of hammering, pounding, digging, and sawing. But
these are the musical sounds of a beautifully laid out perimeter being born - a
perimeter carefully structured according to a depth and width that follows city
ordinance code.
Everything Starts With A Good Foundation
Soon after, you'll witness the artistry of concrete pouring which is an exciting
process to watch. There's mixing, pouring, rodding and jitterbugging all before
the final act of smoothing the concrete's surface. It's really isn't that hard
get emotional about a concrete slab once it resembles what you'll soon claim as
your patio and/or deck floor!
Three Sides and A Top
After your deck's and/or patio's cement floor has set, your contractor will
begin to erect the walls around the floor but don't be surprised if you notice
that the walls were pre-built. Excepting walls constructed out of stone or
brick, this only makes the arrival of your dream addition quicker (not to
mention more efficient for your builders). Whether you've decided on screen
walls or a wooden fence, you'll really start to recognize and appreciate the
structure for what it's on its way of becoming.
Now not all decks and/or patios are covered with a roof, however if yours will,
its construction is the next step and will probably have all the amenities that
the roof of your actual house has (gutters, supports, etc.).
Congratulations!
When complete, your only step is to decorate your deck and/or patio to your
heart's content - complete with potted plants, patio furniture, outdoor lamps
and a barbecue pit!
About the
Author: Author Paul White represents
FloridaHomeBuild.com. A site designed to help home owners from Florida locate
local home contractors with their home improvement projects.
Visit Our Site:
http://www.FloridaHomeBuild.com
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