How to Design a Deck for a Sliding Patio Door
- 1). Read landscaping and home design books with photos of decks or deck plans. Figure out which style of deck would fit well with the architecture of your home or building. Choose clean lines that do not draw attention to the deck itself. Create a design that blends with your architecture versus standing out. Design a deck that looks as if it's always been in place versus added on later.
- 2). Use a sketch pad to draw the sliding door area of your home from several angles. Measure the actual space you will allow for the deck using a measuring tape or yardstick. Allow room in the yard area to maneuver around the deck. Design the deck to be built a couple of feet off the ground, so you can clean the deck with a water hose and allow for drainage. Avoid building the deck just a few inches from the ground, if possible, since leaves and debris can build up under the deck.
- 3). Decide activities you desire for the deck area. Allow room for grilling, sitting, reading or placing outdoor furniture with an umbrella. Envision how you want traffic flow to move from the sliding door to steps leading off the deck. Design the deck to be even with the sliding door threshold or a few inches below it.
- 4). Design the deck to be built of salt-treated lumber boards 2 by 6-inches. Make notes about storage you would like on the deck. Build or buy benches with lids serving as seats that can hold plastic toys or sports equipment, for example. Construct benches and storage from the deck material or exterior-grade plywood stained to match the deck. Design a wall unit that can hold grilling equipment or media equipment brought outside when you entertain.
- 5). Review samples of wood and samples of wood staining products. Use the color of stain that will look best with the exterior of your home. Purchase lumber in oak, cedar or any salt-treated wood recommended for your locale by home improvement stores. Buy upscale materials, since a deck should add market value to your home.
