Should You Build Your Deck Level With Your Home?

Decks are a fantastic addition to your living space, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors without having to leave the comfort of your own home. If you’re thinking of designing your own deck, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

If you’re new to the world of indoor-outdoor living, you’ll have a lot of questions before you start building your deck. One of the most important is whether or not your deck should be level with your home.

In a nutshell according to vinyl siding installation experts, no, your deck should never be level with your home. This is due to the issue that even the most daring DIYers and homeowners fear the most: water damage.

If your deck or patio is the same height as your house, water will have an easy time getting inside and wreaking havoc. We’re not only referring to puddles in your front door. Water will eat away at foundations, corrode door frames, and make maintaining a hardwood deck much more difficult.

Building Raised Decks

Raised decks, like custom decks, are based on your home’s design. Elevated ranch-style ramblers with split-level flooring often feature raised decks attached to the second floor. Outside stair access to this deck can match the height of the internal stairwell.

Raised decks can be added to the foundation of traditional house types including Colonial, Victorian, and Cape Cod. The crawl space beneath counts as a level, despite not being one. Their height matches the backdoor for simpler access. Outside stairs can also be erected to provide a second entry point to the deck from the backyard.

Grade Level Decks

Building a deck “at grade” implies building it on the same level as the ground. Generally, a ground-level deck is a constructed box of floorboards supported by joists a few inches above the ground.

Platforms are at-grade decks that are not joined to the rest of the house. Platforms under 18 inches in height may not require railings, depending on local building requirements. Ask your vinyl window installation specialist and deck builder about the code requirements before you start.

Which One Should You Build?

Each deck type has its own benefits and drawbacks, therefore there is no clear winner. In the end, everything comes down to personal style and existing home design. It’s true that some architectural styles work better with raised decks than others.

Finding a good and reliable contractor to help you with the entire process from start to end is the most critical stage in building any deck type. This is why you should hire a qualified specialist to help you build your deck with the least amount of stress.

Timberland Exteriors™ is the go-to company for storm damage restoration! We are happy to have received multiple honors for our dedication to our work and consumers, and our resolve to always deliver the best products.

Call us at (651) 374-9858 or (218) 849-6675 for more information. You can also fill out our online contact form! We serve home and business owners in Saint Paul, MN.