A deck can quickly become one of the most-used spaces around your home. It’s where the kids might eat popsicles, where you enjoy dinner on a warm evening, or where everyone gathers when friends come over.
But choosing the right decking material can be surprisingly complicated. What looks great in a showroom may not be the easiest choice for a busy family, especially when you factor in pets, children, weather, maintenance, and how often you actually plan to use the space.
Instead of choosing a material simply because it looks good, think about how your family lives. The best deck is one that works with your everyday routine.
What Does Your Family Need From a Deck?
Start by thinking about what you’ll actually be doing on the deck.
If you have young children, you may want a surface that is comfortable for bare feet and easy to clean. If you have a dog, you’ll probably be dealing with muddy paws, water bowls, and plenty of running back and forth. If you love hosting summer barbecues, you may be more concerned with durability and cleaning up spills.
These details can make a bigger difference than you might expect.
The material itself is another part of the decision. When you’re looking at options like stone deck vs composite, consider how each one fits into the way you use your yard. Stone has a natural, substantial look, while composite can be easier to care for day to day. Things like the surrounding landscaping, how much sun the deck gets, and how much maintenance you’re comfortable with can help narrow things down.
How Much Maintenance Are You Willing to Do?
Some people feel the urge to clean, stain, or seal their deck over the weekend. On the other hand, others prefer a quick clean and use the deck.
Neither is right or wrong; however, it is important to remain practical.
Conventional wood decks require routine maintenance in order to maintain their appearance. Cleaning, staining, or sealing is required, depending on the type of wood used and the environmental conditions.
Composite decking requires relatively little maintenance compared to wood. It requires cleaning whenever there is a buildup of debris, dirt, food, leaves, and other materials, but it does not necessarily require staining and sealing like wood.
Stone requires special maintenance as well. The nature of the stone material, construction method, drainage issues, and environmental weather conditions determine its maintenance requirements. Some might require joint repairs as well as surface shifting.
Maintenance should depend on what one is comfortable doing and can sustain. It would be unfortunate to have an attractive deck but avoid maintaining it.
Don’t Forget About Heat and Comfort
However, appearance and maintenance are not everything. Consider the feel of the deck during actual use.
Some materials get very warm if exposed to sunlight throughout the day. This is an important consideration if you have children who play on the deck barefoot, or if you often lie on the deck during hot summer days.
Color makes a difference too. Darker materials become warmer, whereas the deck that is sheltered from sunlight remains cool.
Texture should also be considered because of comfort and safety. Consider the feel of the deck under bare feet, and think about whether furniture will stay on it without slipping.
If you spend lots of time outdoors, this aspect becomes just as important as appearance.
Think About How You’ll Furnish It
It’s easy to imagine an empty deck and think, that’s plenty of space. Then comes the patio table, grill, chairs, umbrella, children’s toys, and planters. Think about all the things you intend to store on the deck prior to picking out the design. Should you be one who spends time dining outdoors, then you will require space for a table and chairs. Should you be someone who likes entertaining friends and family, then you will require a good deal of space for maneuvering around. It’s always better to incorporate such requirements before building a deck rather than realizing after the fact that there was not sufficient space.
Look at the Rest of Your Yard
Your deck need not always blend in with each and every aspect of your house.
Consider the exterior of your home, including the lawn, fencing, pathways, as well as other outdoor spaces and patios that your house may have. If there is stone used throughout the property already, then perhaps another natural material would be appropriate.
Your house’s exterior design may also be an indicator of which material to use.
A traditional design might lend itself to one kind of material, whereas a contemporary design could be compatible with another.
Think practically of the lawn as well.
Proper drainage must always be considered when designing any outdoor space. It is essential that water does not pool on the deck or around the foundation of the house. Drainage could influence the shape and design of the outdoor area, and even the climate where you live can play a role.
Think About the Next Few Years
Since a deck will be with you for a long time, think of it in terms of future requirements, not only current ones.
Do you have little ones who love playing outdoors? As they get older, they will want to invite their friends over to play. Do you not host parties right now but will in the future when your children become older?
Your needs regarding the use of your deck may change just as your needs indoors may change with time.
Remember to also take into consideration the amount of maintenance you are ready to devote to the upkeep of the deck. The materials which look good at the moment may not look so appealing after several summers of maintenance.
The task is not to choose the most expensive material or the one which requires the least maintenance. The aim is to choose something which will fit your home, your budget, your climate, and your lifestyle.
Try to think of the things you will need in the future and not the things you do not need right now.