Ten Steps to Design a Patterned Deck
- Begin with the end in mind. Imagine yourself with friends enjoying special events in your own backyard.
- Choose your pattern to personalize your deck.
- Choose your size of deck.
- Draft your deck to scale (1 inch = 1 foot).
- Determine best orientation and fit of pattern to deck. Pay attention to design aspects. Does your pattern blend with the directions of view and uses of the deck?
- Determine orientation of deck boards within pattern for simplest end cuts on boards. Start with sharpest transition point of pattern.
- Determine pattern supporting boards (blocking) so each deck board end has a minimum 1.5" footprint on a supporting board.
- Determine spacing of joists as required to stay under the maximum span allowed by the deck material manufacturer's specifications.
- Add cross-bracing to the design to stabilize all joists and blocking. At this point the patterned platform of the deck is designed.
- Finally, create support structure like all other decks except to support your patterned platform.
