Plant Combinations for an Abundant Garden. A. & G. Bridgewater

      • The structure of a deck is dictated by local codes and they vary somewhat depending on where you live. Find out about yours before buying materials.

      A small area of decking positioned in a sunny spot right outside the back door provides a relaxing place to unwind with a refreshing drink.

       DECKING DESIGNS

      This stepped decking has an integral bench and railing, together with handy underseat storage space.

      Low-level decking is ideal for a pondside patio, and here the established tree will provide welcome shade in summer.

      Raised porch decking with a fancy handrail and trellis – the steps also provide a pleasant way to enter the garden.

      This large raised deck with steps and handrail is made more private by the addition of the trellis screens.

       HOW TO BUILD A RAISED

      Dig holes and set posts to follow your local codes. Take extra care to make sure the posts are plumb. Bolt joists that run around the perimeter to the posts, ensuring the joists are perfectly level. Add the interior joists using joist hangers. Cover the joists with decking and then add decorative railings.

      A raised deck like this is good for a wild garden where the ground is uneven.

      Plan view showing how the underframe supports the decking boards that are laid over the top.

       SPLIT LEVELS

      A split-level deck is a good option when you have a slightly sloping site, or when the upper step needs to be raised up above an existing structure – such as an old foundation or underground drain.

       MORE OPPORTUNITIES

      A deck is just a platform made from wood, so there are lots of interesting options. You could have a decking walkway snaking across the garden, a deck made from railroad ties, decking steps, a bridge made from decking, a decking-type area around a tree, a series of terrace-like decks running up a slope, a raised deck at the water’s edge, and so on.

       SLOPES

      Overlapping decking is a good solution for a sloping garden. All you do is build a series of decks that raise up and overlap each other like huge steps.

       Codes and deck construction

      Although some people consider following codes a hassle, you should remember that codes are developed to make sure your deck is up to the task of holding the weight of people and other items. A casual gathering of six friends could easily add a thousand pounds to the deck, and you want it to be sturdy. Also, if one follows the codes, it is much more likely that your deck will last much longer. Depending on the size of your deck, codes dictate the depth you must sink your support posts, the kinds of hardware you should use to hold it together and even the size of posts, beams, joists and decking. Codes dictate things like the size of gaps that are allowable in the railing to ensure a toddler doesn’t topple off the deck. Contact your local building inspector to find out where you can learn about your local codes.

       PLANK PATTERNS

      Laying the boards in different patterns will add visual interest to the deck.

      Angled 45° to the joists

      Angle-cut zigzag

      Square-cut herringbone

      Checkerboard parquet

      At right angles to joists

      Diamond frame

       BALUSTRADE OPTIONS

      The design of the balustrade can also transform the appearance of a deck.

      Horizontal plain

      Vertical traditional

      Traditional diamond trellis

      Modern square trellis

      Modern “Chinese” trellis

      1930s sunburst

       DECKING STEPS

      Simple three-tread steps are good for a low deck and easy to fix.

      Open-plane steps with a fancy fretted balustrade are more complicated but can look stunning.

       TERRACES AND VERANDAS

      Many bungalows and houses have a flat, all-weather surface at their rear which forms an outdoor leisure area. Correctly, a terrace is an open area, usually now paved but earlier grassed, that connects a house with a garden. It usually has a balustrade or low wall, especially if raised above the general level of garden. Verandas are radically different in nature, and the name has an Indian origin, meaning an open-sided gallery around a house.

       What are terraces and verandas?

      Brick pillars on either side of a path’s entrance onto a terrace add distinction and highlight the path’s position.

       FORMAL TERRACES

      Inevitably, these are covered with paving slabs