Deck Design

We think a deck in our backyard would really enliven our landscape design. What does Exterior Worlds think?
Decks add form, texture and interest to your landscape—and also value. Because of our topography, the most common deck design in Houston attaches the deck to the house. However, freestanding decks can be quite dramatic. The deck designs of today come in all shapes and sizes, from a small garden design to an unexpected urban landscaping project overlooking a bayou.

What materials are your clients using in their deck designs?
Within the world of landscape design, the term “deck” refers to both a deck around the house and the decking around a swimming pool. Materials used vary with design considerations, your desired budget and personal preferences. We find that the most popular choices are wood, stone (cut stone, flagstone, limestone, slate), concrete (colored or textured or both), pavers and brick.

When choosing wood for a house’s deck, pressure-treated pine is the go-to option. Another good choice is an engineered product like Trex. The original financial outlay is a bit more than with wood, but, if maintained properly, engineered wood’s longevity is one to two times that of wood. For pool decking, surfaces like stone, brick and concrete are practical and beautiful choices. Our clients value them because they can be roughed up and made to be non-slippery, which is essential for the wet areas around a pool.

Is there a material that we can select that will keep down maintenance?
Our climate is hard on everything, including decks. Your landscape service company can perform regular deck checks for any cracking or splintering. You can also request that your landscape maintenance contract covers regular deck cleaning.

In general, wooden decks can be cleaned with a special cleaner, which will remove the gray mildew, and then rinsed thoroughly. Concrete, brick and stone are relatively maintenance free. If your deck is deeply shaded, mildew can grow on these surfaces. A deck cleansing product or a mild bleach solution will take care of most problems.

What other design choices will we make?
You may want a complete outdoor kitchen. You will want to decide whether to include outdoor fireplaces or fire pits and outdoor water fountains. You should also consider deck railing and built-in seats. Decks present a great opportunity to enhance your landscape lighting. Given Houston’s infamous rainstorms you may want to cover the deck and also tie it into any existing drainage systems using French drains or decorative drains.

How do we find a designer or contractor?
The long list of decisions you will make concerning your deck design includes choosing who will build it. Fortunately, you have a wide choice of landscape designers and landscape architects to choose from here in Houston and Exterior Worlds will be happy to make referrals.

Here are some tips for finding someone suitable for your project:
• Ask friends for referrals.
• Ask for references and then follow up on them.
• Spend time interviewing the designer. Discuss the types of projects they’ve done and how long they’ve been in business.