Nashville Home Improvement Help

Ready to add a new deck to your Middle Tennessee home? There are quite a few things to consider before you begin, and finding the right contractor is a critical choice. We’ve outlined some important tips that every homeowner should consider below:

Make Sure You Follow Building Codes
Local building codes vary depending upon lot size, deck height, and the type of land for the depth of post holes. Even though Nashville codes may approve things like a floor joist of 2×6-inch dimensional lumber to always go 1-step higher such as a 2×8-inch joist.

Consider Your Trees
Make sure you consider sun positions at the times of day you will be using your deck the most. Trees are great for natural shade, but they also can mean berries, leaves, and bird poop that can stain the surfaces of your deck, furniture, and railing. A trellis roof can be added to help shade the sun if you have a particularly sunny spot chosen for your deck location, and often doesn’t cost much more.

Privacy?
The view is important, and so is privacy. If your house is on a wide-open space, then you have nothing to worry about, but if you are in a tightly packed neighborhood, trellis railing can really make a difference when sunbathing or if you plan to place a hot tub, etc.

Smart Design
Whoever designs the layout of the deck don’t forget built in flower boxes, or even better, seats. Built in seats are great for storing garden hoses and items that are often used on or around your deck. Make sure you do not forget to add electrical receptacles for use of electrical items on your new deck.

Materials & Finishes
This is perhaps the most critical choice you make. A deck can last ten years and up, but it isn’t going to be a permanent addition. After your deck is built there will be some upkeep required to keep your deck in top shape. Any material you choose is subject to maintenance and will require at least a yearly cleaning to keep it looking good. Wood of any type should be cleaned and sealed with water seal every two years or so. Sealing finishes are a wise choice and can add a pleasing tint that improves over time as wood ages.

While the new recycled plastic boards are a bit more expensive, you can count on the fact that plastic is not biodegradable and will last for a long time to come. Plus your helping keep PET bottles out of landfills where they will sit for millions of years.

Find The Right Contractor
We can’t rave enough about the new online services that allow you post your job for local contractors to bid on. Of all the companies out there, we recommend BeaverBids.com because they are a truly free service for both homeowners and contractors alike. There you can search for contractors for hire, read their profiles, reviews and more. It’s kind of like a combination of Ebay, Craigslist, and MySpace for home improvement. Since it is free, there’s no reason not to try it!