How to Remodel a Deck
The order the work happens in, and what to settle before anything is ordered. An outdoor room, once it is big enough to hold furniture.
BeforeAfter
- 1
Work out what the room has to do
A deck remodel is decking boards, balustrade and size. The board and the rail decide how it looks; the dimensions decide whether it gets used, and most disappointing decks are simply too narrow to put a table on.
- 2
Decide what is actually changing
On this project the work touches decking boards and direction, balustrade and handrail, steps and edging, built-in seating — and often lighting and pergola or shade. Settling that list first is what stops a remodel growing sideways once it has started.
- 3
Hold the dimensions
Whatever the finishes, these do not move. A deck needs 12ft of depth to hold a dining table with chairs pulled out. At 8ft it holds two chairs. Lay boards parallel to the longest edge, or perpendicular to the house — never diagonally on a small deck. Guard rails are required above 30in of drop; keep balusters under 4in apart.
- 4
Plan the light before the finishes
Low and downward. Step lights, rail lights and a couple of low-level washes make a deck usable after dark without lighting the neighbours or killing the view. Anything mounted high and aimed out turns the deck into a stage.
- 5
Check it against the room you have
Photograph the space and render it before anything is ordered. A Standard run costs 4 credits and a new account starts with 4, so the whole thing can be seen before a single decision is paid for.
Questions
- What should I decide first in a deck remodel?
- A deck remodel is decking boards, balustrade and size. The board and the rail decide how it looks; the dimensions decide whether it gets used, and most disappointing decks are simply too narrow to put a table on.
- What goes wrong most often?
- A deck sized to the budget rather than to a table, so it never holds one. Boards run diagonally, which makes a small deck look busy and wastes material.
- Will it work in a small deck?
- Under 10ft deep, drop the dining ambition and build in perimeter seating instead. Fixed benches give a narrow deck usable capacity that loose furniture never will.
- Can I see it on my own deck before starting?
- Yes — photograph the space and run it through the Studio. It is generated imagery, so compare the render against your photo rather than treating it as a plan.