|
Home / Home / Home Improvement
The Top 10 Deck Money Saving Tips
By:Richard Vande Sompel
Everyone likes to keep as many dollars as possible in the bank. Listed below are 10 great strategies for accomplishing this during the deck building process.
1. Develop an itemized list of deck materials with precise quantities and services included. Visit suppliers and large retail stores and give them an opportunity to bid on the entire list. Specialty suppliers may be able to offer competitive prices because they are dealing with one larger order as opposed to several small orders. In cases where the bids are beyond the budget, inquire about alternative materials that are less expensive. If neighbors or friends are also contemplating construction of decks, work together to consolidate orders and reap the savings together. Look for seasonal specials or end of season discounts and take advantage of them.
2. Purchase nails, screws and other hardware in larger quantities as opposed to buying them individually or in packages. Significant money can be saved by looking for suppliers who sell building hardware by the pound or case. Take the time to make accurate estimate of quantities needed so there will be little if any left over.
3. Redesign the deck. Increase the number of joists so that a thinner decking board may be used. Design the deck so that standard dimensional lumber (8, 10, 12, 16 foot lengths) is used in the deck structure rather than odd sizes. Reduce the dimensions of the deck to the nearest 2 foot increment to avoid waste and extra material expense. Construct a 12 foot wide deck instead of a 13 foot deck. Avoid complex angles or protuding shapes in the deck design. Avoid wasteful decking patterns such as diagonal decking. Consider carefully furniture arrangements and traffic patterns to find better ways to configure the deck and make it smaller.
4. Consider hiring a professional to design the deck within budgetary limits. Make it clear that the idea is to find ways to save money without sacrificing too many items on the must have list. Discuss fees and make an agreement in advance on what is to be spent and what it will buy. Participate in the process by verifying measurements and pricing materials. Be flexible where possible. The idea is to end up with a deck that still has style and suits the tastes of the owners.
5. Examine the list of all of the materials and discover as many less expensive alternatives as possible. Instead of ordering a delivery of ready-mix concrete for deck footings, order a load of aggregate, bags of cement and mix and pour the concrete on site. Use a cheaper grade of deck lumber where possible.
6. Incorporate modest railings into the deck design. Instead of turned colonial balusters, glass panels or balusters made of aluminum, use standard 2x2 wood balusters. Build the deck slightly lower so that a railing system is not needed. Construct a transition step from the patio door down to this lower deck to accomodate the change.
7. Consider constructing a detached deck especially if the project involves changes to the house such as installing new patio doors. Connect it to the rear door by means of a small bridge structure. Placing the deck at a lower elevation can eliminate the need for a railing system and the costs associated with it.
8. Make an effort to look for ways to shrink the project. Size can definitely be an illusion. Small decks do not feel small when they are in scale with their surroundings. A deck does not have to be large in order to be a successful outdoor living space as long as it is soundly built and has a sense of style associated with it. Examine the deck's functions. Look for activities that could be accomodated somewhere else in the yard to reduce the size of the deck. The creation of a smaller deck that adjoins a large open patio area can provide ample room for the entertainment needs of larger groups.
9. Consider designing the deck project so that parts of it can be built at a later time when funding is more readily available. If a combination deck, hot tub and patio are the overall project components, construct the deck first and add the others later over a period of years. If an overhead shade structure is part of the deck projects, use patio style umbrellas or a portable gazebo until the financial resources are availble to complete the project. Make a point to build the footings for the overhead structure at the same time that the deck is being constructed.
10.Consider renting a tool or piece of equipment for use during the deck building process. Do it especially if the tool or equipment piece is not likely to be used much in the future. Home improvement centers and tool rental outlets have a wide variety of tools and equipment that consumers may rent at competitive prices as opposed to purchasing them.
Taking the time and making the required effort during the deck building process is an excellent way for any homeowner to save significant amounts of money.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: deck building, deck, money saving tips, deck design, redesign, deck materials
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Richard Vande Sompel is a professional deck builder of 35 years and over 850
decks built and is the author of "How to Plan, Design and Build a Deck from
Start to Finish". To Discover More About
Money Saving Tips and Claim your 2
FREE Deck Plans, Insider Report, MP3 Audio and discover everything to know about
building a deck visit:
http://www.DeckBuildingRevealed.com
|
|
| Top Home Improvement Articles |
- 1). Installing Ceramic Tile in a Shower By : Mark J. Donovan
Installing ceramic tile in a shower starts with a proper foundation. The foundation consists of WonderBoard or Durock cement board on the walls and a Shower Pan Membrane Liner in the base of the shower, if the shower floor is to be tiled too.
WonderBoard or Durock cement board, also known as backerboard, are resistant to water and are ideal materials for applying ceramic tiles to high-moisture areas.
|
- 2). Ideas For Kitchen Nooks By : T Agee
For many, the most popular room in the house is the kitchen. If you have a kitchen nook that goes along with that, then you’re lucky. But you may also be stumped for how to decorate your nook. Luckily, there are countess options available to you.
One thing that you will want to do is choose a style for your nook that won’t overwhelm the kitchen itself.
|
|
|
- 4). Vanities Are Not Just Plain Wood Anymore By : T Agee
It used to be that a bathroom sink vanity was a fairly plain piece of cabinetry with doors underneath and perhaps a set of drawers for storage on one side. Not anymore. Homeowner’s today are leveraging all sorts of interesting materials to create a custom vanity.
In fact, one of the most popular bathroom styles these days is to forgo a vanity all together by utilizing old-fashioned pedestal sinks.
|
- 5). Benefit From The Stylish Look Of Vertical Blinds By : Peter Wilson
Every homeowner wants to make his or her property look as good as possible, both inside and out, and part of doing this is to select the right décor. Selecting the right window coverings is an integral part of getting the right look for home, and can make a big difference to the look and feel of any room. The contemporary look of vertical blinds is a valuable addition to any home improvement, and whatever type of decoration theme you have in the room these window blinds can give the perfect finish.
|
- 6). 10 Tips For A Window Coverings Makeover By : Rob Carlton
You cannot stand it. The same old dreary windows that do little to add life to your home. It is time for a change. But, where do you start? How do you keep from making an expensive or embarrassing mistake? In fact, how can you know what you really want?
1.Start with one room at a time.
There may be the temptation, especially when moving into a new home, to decorate all of the rooms at once.
|
- 7). Closet Organizers - Bringing Order To Messy Closets! By : Caroline Smith
Closet organizers are cleverly designed to optimize the use of the space available, and can work wonders at transforming a cluttered closet into a neat and tidy storage place. We all know how annoying it is to have an a closet crammed full of old clothes and to never be able to find what we're looking for. Or when we do find that favorite dress, all too often it's lying in a crumpled heap at the bottom of the closet.
|
- 8). The big surprise with a Sectional sofa. By : Kenneth Langlet
Have you ever had a sectional sofa in your home? If not you are in for a big surprise. The sectional sofa that you can decorate your family living area with is one that is going to complete your style. You can find a sectional sofa that uses plants, animals, that is a solid color that will be made of stripes and even a sectional sofa that will be customized to match your drapes.
|
|
|
- 10). Making A Splash In The Kitchen: Suggestions For Spicing Up Your Backsplash By : Jason Flintstone
If it's true that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, then it should come as no surprise that women want a beautiful yet practical kitchen with all the comforts and amenities the queen of the castle deserves. Let's face it, trendy, healthy meals take time and space, and part of creating beautiful meals means creating a beautiful environment to prepare them in.
|
| New Home Improvement Articles |
- 1). Basement Finishing Ideas For DIY Enthusiasts By : Isabel Baldry
Basements can be a major selling point when it comes to real estate. Many people like having a finished basement for many different reasons. For those with a little DIY knowledge the basement can easily be turned into the best spot in the house.
|
- 2). This Is Why You Should Choose Solar Power By : Bryan Wong
The amount of solar power that the Earth receives from the sun is estimated to be 770 trillion kilowatts or an amount 5,000 times bigger than the sum of all energy resources we are using. You can also profit from this and save money read here how...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
- 6). Methods to Control Mosquitos By : Gail Metcalf
You need to protect yourself from mosquitoes. When you think about mosquito pest control by netting, you could break it down into individual control and public control.
|
- 7). Kitchen Remodeling from a Tropical Paradise By : Chris Campbell
Having your kitchen remodeled is really no big deal, as long as you do it while your lying on the beach. Preferably a beach on a warm tropical island, with a pleasant trade wind keeping your margarita cool from the oh so scorching rays of the sun.
|
- 8). Get Yourself A Home Improvement Book By : William King
A home improvement book can help you with all of your remodeling needs. A good book will be full of information on how to get the job done right. If you are unclear about how a job needs to be done, referencing it in a book can be a major benefit to you.
|
- 9). Ideas For Kitchen Nooks By : T Agee
For many, the most popular room in the house is the kitchen. If you have a kitchen nook that goes along with that, then you’re lucky. But you may also be stumped for how to decorate your nook. Luckily, there are countess options available to you.
One thing that you will want to do is choose a style for your nook that won’t overwhelm the kitchen itself.
|
- 10). Vanities Are Not Just Plain Wood Anymore By : T Agee
It used to be that a bathroom sink vanity was a fairly plain piece of cabinetry with doors underneath and perhaps a set of drawers for storage on one side. Not anymore. Homeowner’s today are leveraging all sorts of interesting materials to create a custom vanity.
In fact, one of the most popular bathroom styles these days is to forgo a vanity all together by utilizing old-fashioned pedestal sinks.
|
|
|
