MERRILLVILLE, IN…
Baseball, the sound of the first lawnmower, flowers and trees in bloom, and the roar of a circular saw from a neighbor’s backyard. In the dead of winter, these sights and sounds seem quite far away. Yet for those do-it-yourselfers planning to build a deck as their big home improvement of the spring, it’s the perfect time to get started.“In the spring, a lot of folks see the weather start to get nice and want to jump right in to that first big home improvement project—them and everybody else. With a deck, it’s not that simple. It requires some legwork before you can start building. That’s why starting the planning process now is critical to getting a deck built in time to enjoy it for most of the nice weather months,” said Sara Shragal, of DirectBuy.
Many cities and towns consider decks a permanent structure, thereby requiring building permits and an on-site inspection and subject to setback regulations (distance of buildings from property lines). Decks can also be subject to regional building codes. Doing your homework by checking with your local municipalities first can help you avoid delays or, worse, be forced to tear down your new deck once it’s built because it’s not up to code.
Besides paperwork, you’ll also need plans. There are many resources online, including some with free designs, like www.deckplans.com. Most home improvement stores offer some level of design assistance. DirectBuy has designers on staff who assist members as well as connections to building professionals who provide design services, usually at a discounted members-only rate.
Finally, there’s the matter of the wood and tools. For a wood deck—with you buying the materials and doing all the work—you can expect to spend anywhere from $5 to $7 per square foot on wood; up to $20 per square foot for a composite deck. For tools, you’ll need a:
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Chalk line
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Circular saw
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Combination square
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Framing square
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Hammer
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Hand saw
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Level
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Power drill
“As you can see, building a deck may seem like a straightforward project, but there’s a lot to it. By planning now, during the middle of winter, you can be ready to go once the weather improves,” said Shragal.
Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuycares.com.
For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.
Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.
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