Deck design

We all know that summer in Toronto can be a very special time of the year, and most of us enjoy a little time outdoors when the sun is shining. That garden deck design project which lost its appeal through the toe-numbing winter now seems a much more attractive proposition. The weather is on your side, you know a good deck building company, you have a layman’s understanding of the principles of decks Toronto design, and most importantly of all, and you have the budget for it after saving up through the winter.

Unfortunately this is where many of us can go off track. A combination of eagerness and too much enthusiasm can cloud our judgement, leading us way deep into a project before unthought-of complications start spoiling what should have been a smooth ride.

So, if you are considering transforming your garden with a head-turning piece of deck design, maybe you should consider running through a checklist before you start. check our Portfolio to see what we done for our customers

Important things that should be looked at before you begin Deck Design

Need Permission Before Begin Deck Design

You might not need permission from your local building authority, but not checking before you start is asking for trouble. A phone call or an email to the appropriate department will get you the assurance you need, or you may discover there’s something in your plan that needs amending. Rather find out now than later.

Best Materials to Begin Deck Design

You can hire the best team on the planet, but if your deck design is constructed with the wrong materials it will start to show signs of fatigue very quickly. Using untreated timber, or staining timber that should have been properly dried out first, are two common mistakes that will certainly cause you problems later on.

String Lines

No matter how small your deck design, it should always be marked out with string lines. Levels and straight edges are so easily defined when following a string line, but simple measurements can be overlooked without their guidance. A very common mistake in decking is not having the proper run-off for rain water. If the deck is perfectly flat water will pool, eventually causing deterioration to the wood, or worse, possible damage to your home.

Ground Preparation

The most tedious and labour intensive part of transforming your garden will be ground preparation. If the foundation is sloppy you will have guaranteed problems in the future. Ensure whoever you hire follows these recommendations in detail. If it’s necessary to dig 12 post holes to a depth of 1000mm, don’t allow them to dig 10 at 900mm. We all suffer from “that’ll do” syndrome sometimes, but their labour (and your spend) will be in vain if the ground work is poor.

These suggestions should help plan a deck design with minimum risk. Of course there are lots of smaller problems which can arise as in any project; plans can be compromised when the desired material can’t be sourced or specialist tools can’t be acquired. Sometimes what we envision isn’t quite as awe inspiring as we’d thought when we see it for real. Plans get scaled up or down, and compromises are often made along the way. The best way to avoid running into any of these problems to all in a company with years of experience to do the job. Attempting to do everything yourself can seem like the ideal summer project, but things rarely go smoothly if you don’t know what you’re doing. And anyway, summer is the time to relax, right?!

If you are looking to Begin Deck Design Project and need Expert Advice contact Toronto Custom Decks @ 647-878-8780

In this article, Torontocustomdecks focus on Railings- No Railings. What to consider?

Homeowners in Toronto interested in installing a deck have an important question to ask themselves: Should I build a deck with or without railings?

Railings are an important aspect of deck design, they can change the entire feel and function of a deck.

That’s why homeowners should consider the pros and cons of a deck with or without railings before having one designed and built.

Railings or No Railings: A Key Decision in Deck Design

The advantages and disadvantages of decks with or without railings:

• A Deck with Railings Provides Safety and Peace of Mind:

  The most obvious reason Toronto homeowners should consider railings in deck design is the safety they provide — especially for elevated decks. No deck owners want to deal with the headache of broken bones or the threat of a lawsuit from a nasty fall. Not having railings is a hazard that cautious homeowners should think twice about.

• Railings Offer Another Opportunity to Make Your Deck Beautiful:

  Railings add another way for homeowners to spruce up their yard and make their deck look spectacular. They are the perfect place to hang flower beds, lights, bird feeders, flags, or other decorations. And the style and design of the railings — from wrought iron, steel, and wood — can give your deck another intriguing dimension.

• A Deck With Railings Gives Your Deck The Comfort You Need:

  Leaning on railings is something we all do much more than we realize. When we have a conversation, check our phones, or just relax from standing all day, many times it is against railings. Railings also give ease of mind to those afraid of heights or get vertigo easily. Railings designed and decorated with care can give your deck a cosy spot to spend time in.

• Railings Can Make Your Deck Feel Squeezed:

  Decks with railings sometimes feel like they suffer from a lack of space and freedom of movement. If you think you will have numerous guests over often to your home then you might want to consider a deck without rails so your visitors can mingle without feeling cramped. Nobody wants an overcrowded deck at their next barbecue.

• No Railings Turns Your Yard Into the Ultimate Space:

  Decks without railings are the ultimate way to mesh your yard and deck into one seamless space. Instead of the deck and yard feeling like two separate areas, visitors can move on and off the deck freely without having to swing open a gate or walk down a flight of stairs — useful when you use multiple areas in your yard often.

  Decks Without Railings Offer More Versatility:

  Decks built without rails have a very open and versatile concept. They can be built feet from the pool, outfitted with outdoor kitchens, or lined on the outside with benches to seat as many people as possible. They also give homeowners unique and creative deck design ideas: Want a tree growing through the centre of your deck? Or a gazebo connected to it? Or a hot tub at ground level? No railings is the way to go if you want a deck that breaks the mold in a way that elevated railed decks can’t.

As you can see, choosing railings or no railings for your future deck comes with many things to think about.

And as Toronto’s premier deck design specialists, Toronto Custom Decks’ experts can help you with the decision then design and build a deck that fits you and your yard’s needs.

Call us on 647-878-8780 today to find out how we can help you.

Whether you create your own design without any outside help or you work with a local professional to come up with the perfect layout for your new decking, there are a few factors that you need to bear in mind if you want to ensure your plans are both practical and attractive. Take a look at the list we have compiled for you and if you need any help with the design, we are of course only a phone call away. Toronto residents who are looking for a firm to design and build pool decking for them can get in touch at any time to request a quotation.

The Main Points to Consider When Creating a New Deck Design

Take the following factors into account before you finalize your design and you will greatly increase the chances of getting it right first time.

• Material Costs – Before you decide to have an Italian marble pool surround, you should check out the cost of the materials you will need to purchase. There are many different options when it comes to the materials from which you can make a pool deck but you need to consider the unit costs because some of them are a lot more expensive than others. If you find that you have gone way over budget, you may have to repeat the whole deck design process from the start.
• Maintenance Costs – It is also important to think about how much it will cost to maintain your new deck in perfect condition over the years. Wood decking, for example, requires a lot more attention than concrete pavers. If you are keen to keep maintenance costs to a minimum, you might want to forget about wooden decking and focus on the easier to maintain alternatives that are freely available in Toronto.
• The Sun – One of the factors that people frequently overlook when approaching deck design for the first time is where the sun will be at certain times of day and how this will affect the positioning of the deck and any shade they may decide to install. In some cases, it can be worth rethinking the location of your pool so that you can install decking in an area more conducive to sunbathing on warm summer days. On the other hand, if you burn easily and prefer to keep out of the sun as much as possible, you should focus on building your deck in an area that is already well shaded.
• Size – The width of the deck that you install should reflect not only your aesthetic preferences but the number of people you expect to be using it on a regular basis. If you expect to be entertaining large numbers of people every weekend throughout the summer you should create a deck design that takes these expectations into account. On the other hand, if the only people using your pool and new deck will be you and your immediate family, a more compact design could be the best way to go. If you install a deck that takes up more space than is really necessary, you may well regret it in the future.

Unless you have a few years of experience in the industry and a working knowledge of the construction techniques involved, deck design is something that should probably be left to the professionals. If you would like to hire a local team that will take the time to listen to your requirements before creating a design that meets them all in full, please feel free to call or email us at any time.

A timber deck is a great place to spend time in the summer months, entertaining guests, enjoying an al fresco meal, or simply chilling out while surfing the net on your tablet. For those with small backyards, installing a deck big enough to be usable may seem like an impractical proposition that is never going to work but if you hire an experienced contractor such as ourselves, you will be surprised at just what can be achieved with a clever design. Below, you will find four suggestions on how you can make the most of the space at your disposal when building a deck in a small backyard. Some of these suggestions may be more appropriate for your property than others and if you need any help deciding how to design your new deck, please do not hesitate to call or email us with your questions. We have designed and installed numerous timber and composite decks in and around Toronto and would be delighted to help you with yours.

Deck Design Tips for Small Yards

Whether you work with a team of professionals or attempt to perform the installation work on your own, the following design tips should help to ensure that you make the most of the space you have available in your backyard.

Raised Decking

One of the simplest ways to maximize the space you can use for a deck installation in a small Toronto backyard is by utilizing a raised deck design that creates another level in your yard, almost like an outdoor attic. You can still have plants underneath such a deck but they would have to be shade-loving species of course. If your backyard is currently dominated by a lawn, you might need to go for one of the other three suggestions instead but if you have a concrete Mediterranean-style patio, this could be the ideal decking solution for your property.

Multi-Level Deck

If the above suggestion still won’t give you enough room to work with, you might like to consider a multi-level deck design. This type of decking can start as a rooftop space (over the garage is a good place for a rooftop deck level), with stairs leading down to one or more lower levels. If you go with this idea, remember that you will need 3 ft guard rails for all levels that are more than 2 ft off the ground.

Bump Outs

This design idea works best in backyards where an irregular space is available, such as a yard that contains a number of mature trees. Bump outs are great space savers that can be used to accommodate your grill and other outdoor appliances.

Utilize Natural Shade

This deck design idea can be combined with bump outs to maximize the size of a deck in a small yard with trees. Instead of taking up valuable space by placing large umbrellas around your decking, you can use a design that goes around the trees in your garden and utilizes the shade they already provide.

All of the above ideas can be combined if you have a very small space available and would like to install a deck that gives you enough room to relax outdoors in the summer months with friends and family. If you would like a professional opinion on which deck design ideas are most suitable for your home, please do not hesitate to call us during business hours or send us an email whenever you wish. If you would like us to design and install your new deck, we will prepare a quotation for you to evaluate.

As 2016 comes full circle most of us take a little time to reflect on the last year and what we have accomplished, as well as what 2017 may have in store for all of us in the Toronto area. And while the winter does mean we may need to spend more time than we would like cooped up inside, the good news is that this will give you some time to bust out the old drawing pad and brain storm some fresh new ideas for your deck and turn it into the envy of the neighborhood once the snow melts. Below are some trends we expect to see in 2017, so read carefully as you won’t want to be the neighbor who’s still stuck in last year’s fads. 

2017: Deck Designs for Blissful Comfort and Family Time

• Technology, Your Deck Days Are Numbered: Technology and its ever-increasing dominance of our attention has gotten quite a bad rap the last year. From talk of it bringing families further apart, to even causing depression in more extreme cases. While this is not exactly good news on the surface, one thing we expect to see trend is that of “home concept” and “family oriented arrangements.” Perhaps technology had to push people apart for many to realize what’s truly important, and if that’s what it takes, we can’t complain. So, what does this mean for deck design trends in Toronto? In 2017 we can expect to see more circular arrangements of chairs and lounge items as well as a more simplified center space, fit for late night talks and meaningful conversation. Long missed are the days when families could gather around a table or fire unhindered by flashing lights and ringing notifications. Many families, however, will be making serious efforts to combat this technological issue, beginning with their deck design. 

• Lounge Because You Can: Part of what makes a deck design great is the ability to spend hours upon hours doing absolutely nothing, and still have a great time. What is the key to such relaxation? It starts with your furniture. In the past, there have been fads with having tall and rigid deck furniture in order to bring about a more sophisticated look. Well, come 2017 this fad will be out the window. In 2017 we expect to see “comfort” claiming the number one spot on the totem pole of importance for deck design & furniture, as many in the Toronto area are looking to create an almost vacation-esque atmosphere on their own deck. Not a bad idea at all. What items might you find scattered across such a deck? These might include arrangements of assorted bean bag chairs, thick throw blankets to increase lounge space and if your deck has enough space you might even find room for a hanging tent. Hanging tents have recently exploded in the resort market as there aren’t too many better places one could lazily spend an afternoon lost in a great book or enjoying a gentle breeze. 

As you can see, our predictions reflect the rising desire to bring vacation a little closer to home. This fad has been exacerbated by many social media outlets such as Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest as the “Home Concept” search result experienced record highs over the last year. And while there is a bit of irony in the fact that such desire to reduce technology use was discovered by the use of technology itself, we can all agree that everyone in the Toronto area would not be opposed to a year focused on quality conversation and blissful comfort.

And as 2017 rounds the corner, keep us in mind at Toronto Custom Decks as we can help bring your dream vacation spot to your very own home in the coming months.

There are two types of deck: those that are used, and those that aren’t. The difference between the two? Good deck design. A well-designed deck not only meets your lifestyle requirements but also blends seamlessly with your home and landscape. It’s a welcoming space to relax, entertain and crack open a few cold beers mid heat wave. Plantscaping is the best and most organic way to ensure your new deck looks and feels like it was always meant to be there.

How to Enhance Your Deck Design by Plantscaping

Follow our Plantscaping guide to make your deck the toast of Toronto.

• Start with What You Have: Successful plantscaping and deck design takes its cue from your current landscape. Use your home and garden as inspiration for your deck’s colour and textural theme. But there are no strict rules here—to create a cohesive and appealing habitat, you don’t need an exact match. Choosing colours from the same spectrum is enough to create visual panache. Size matters too ­­­­­—the bigger the space, the bigger your plants and containers can be.

• Choose the Right Plants: Once you’ve got your overall theme down, it’s time to get practical: pick plants that love living both in containers and in our unique Toronto Hardiness rating is key here—plants that are rated Zone 6 (Canadian), Zone 5 (USA) or below will thrive in Toronto. Also consider your deck’s own microclimate—the levels of sun, shade and wind you enjoy year round will dictate the types of plants you pick.

• Choose the Right Containers: Weather and exposure will also determine your container choice. Many a pot falls foul of the wind—so avoid top-heavy containers, especially on raised decks. Even sturdier are planters with integrated seating— add wheels and you have the double benefit of deck protection and location flexibility. And if space is a challenge, make use of the vertical by planting on railings, trellises, hanging baskets and pedestals.

• Make it Look Pretty: Now we’ve got the practical stuff nailed, the fun begins. For maximum effect, combine different colours, textures and heights together to make eye-catching container bouquets. Plus by mixing plants of varying lifespans and seasonal patterns, you’ll create year-round visual delight. For added texture use gravel, glass, seashells and other materials as pot fillers. And for seamless cohesion with your garden, ensure you plant around your deck edges too.

• Experiment with Layout: You can have the most beautiful plants in the most exquisite containers, but if they’re in the wrong places, your space just won’t feel right. The beauty of a potted garden is that it’s flexible, allowing you to experiment with endless configurations. For real visual impact, create dynamic focal points by mixing and matching containers together.

• Put Your Lifestyle First: When it comes to plantscaping, the possibilities are endless—it’s easy to get carried away. But in the end, deck design is meant to fit in with your lifestyle. If you’re a keen gardener, go wild and make your deck a horticulturalist’s heaven. But if your deck is mainly for entertaining and relaxation, stick with low maintenance plants like succulents. Remember, whatever your tastes and lifestyle, you’ll find greenery to fit it.

If your deck feels out of place, plantscaping is the ultimate way to make it work with your landscape.

And as Toronto’s premier landscaping and deck design specialists, Toronto Custom Decks are the experts to call for your plantscaping needs. Call us on 647-878-8780 today to find out how we can help you.

People are staying in their Toronto homes longer these days and as a result they’re constantly on the lookout for things that will make the home a more interesting, fulfilling place to be. One result of this desire to get more out of the domestic experience is that backyard decks have taken off in popularity and the complexity and sophistication of their design is today far beyond anything most of us knew just 20 years ago. One characteristic of much contemporary deck design is the inclusion of various built in features and in this post we’ll look at some of the most exciting of those.

Consider These Built in Features for Your Deck Design

Your standard deck can be a great place to stretch out on a folding chair and catch some sun. But why stop there? What if your deck could also be a place where you cook gourmet meals, watched movies with friends or took a relaxing soak while enjoying the view? It can be if you incorporate some built in features into the deck design, such as:

• A Grille: You could roll out the charcoal grille every time you want to enjoy a burger on your deck or you could build a gas grille and countertops right into the deck structure and prepare gourmet dishes for your guests. Few other components separate the contemporary deck from its predecessor like the built in grille.

• Benches: Seating is always an issue with a deck. Even if you have beautiful new all-weather furniture you’ll still wind up needing more places for people to sit during large parties. Simply dragging beach chairs out to the deck is not a great option because of the way they gobble up space. A better solution is to build bench seating into the deck design. When they aren’t in use you can use these flat areas to host potted plants.

• Planters: Speaking of plants… if you really want to use the deck as a transitional area between the home interior and the yard you can build planters into the deck itself and populate them with local floral. This will set the stage for the backyard experience while adding colour and texture to the deck environment.

• Lighting: Incorporating fixed lights right into the deck structure will make it seem more like a typical room than an afterthought affixed to the outside of the house. Line the deck stairs with LED lights and add accents that shine upward on the columns of the railings or shine down from an overhead trellis to create area lighting.

• A Fire pit: The fire pit is more than your ordinary built in feature in that it will take a high degree of design preparation and must be carefully constructed to eliminate fire hazards. Once in place though it will give your deck 3 season capability by providing the warmth of the camp fire for family and friends.

• The hot tub: Add a built in hot tub and go from 3 season capability to 4 season. Just make sure your deck is structurally capable of handling the load because each cubic meter of water weighs a ton. You’ll also want the rim of the tub to be 18-24” above the level of the deck in order to stave off the possibility of people walking into the tub inadvertently.

Built in features can turn ordinary decks into deluxe environments for enjoyment and relaxation. Call the deck design team at Toronto Custom Decks today for more information about building a deck that will change the way your experience your home.

The backyard deck is not only the most popular type of addition people will make to their home, it’s also one many homeowners mistake for a nice DIY project. With countless websites and TV programs promoting this idea it’s no surprise that people would take backyard deck design into their own hands. But they shouldn’t. People die in deck collapses on an all-too-frequent basis and almost all decks that collapse were either designed and/or built by non-professionals.

Backyard Decks: Design Professionals are Crucial to Long Term Reliability

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with decks. Design is where most of those problems begin. You increase the risk of experiencing problems if you take things into your own hands. Here are some of the most common mistakes DIY deck designers make.

• Poorly attaching the deck to the house – The ledger board through which the deck is attached to the house needs to be firmly bolted in place; never nailed. It will have to support the weight of people, furniture, planters, a grill and more. Failure to design and implement a proper method to secure the deck to the house is the most common cause of deck collapses.

• Designing a deck that’s not up to code – There are some folks who don’t see the value in checking in with City Hall before they design their new deck. Many of them are unpleasantly surprised when the inspector drops by on a neighbor’s tip and discovers a slew of code violations. You may be given a chance to fix them or you may be told to demolish the deck.

• Designing an ugly deck – Let’s be honest: most DIY decks are ugly. There’s a reason (lots of them actually) why people go to school to study design. It’s not easy to do it well. Why risk having the new addition to your house be as plain as white bread or a complete aesthetic mismatch? Let the professionals handle it and wind up with a deck you’ll be proud of.

• Designing a deck that busts the budget – Folks staying up late working on their dream decks design typically aren’t aware what materials cost. As a result their plans will call for top-shelf materials when middle shelf would have better suited their needs. Professional designers know the price of things and won’t set you up for a budgetary meltdown.

The Real Value of Professional Deck Design

Sometimes for relatively short money you can enlist a professional who will design a deck for you that will look great, satisfy all building codes and adhere to your budget. If you enlist a contractor to build your deck that same contractor may design the deck for free or at a greatly reduced rate as part of a package. Whichever path you choose a professional designer will typically provide you with:

• An overhead elevation of the property showing the massing and position of the deck.
• Detailed plans of all vital connections and components like stairs, railings and more.
• Several detailed renderings showing what the finished deck will look like.
• A list of all necessary materials.
• An estimated build time.

Toronto Custom Decks design backyard solutions that you can use with total confidence for as long as you own your home. DIY designers sometimes forget that when it comes to backyard decks design – especially elevated platforms – lives are at stake. That’s something we don’t ever lose sight of. If this is the year you’ve decided you’re going to take the plunge and add a deck to your house, call the trusted professionals at Toronto Custom Decks. You won’t be sorry.