ud83dudcda Wood Deck Build Log u2014 5 of 45
u2190 What Is a Wood Deck? (Part 2) u00b7 Series Index u00b7 Floor Material Selection u2192
→ See the complete Wood Deck DIY Guide
2026 Update from DIY Dad: Planning the Wood Deck Project
ud83duded2 RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
Pressure-Treated Deck Lumber
Pressure-treated lumber is the baseline u2014 skip it and you’ll be rebuilding in 5 years.
With the interior renovation winding down, it was time to start on the wood deck. Building a wood deck in the garden had been a long-held dream of DIY Dadu2019s u2014 and now the planning begins in earnest.
What Is a Wood Deck?
ud83duded2 RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
Deck Stains & Waterproof Sealers
Stain every 2u20133 years. It’s the single cheapest way to double deck lifespan.
A wood deck is a wooden floor platform installed outside the house u2014 in the garden, on a terrace, or as a balcony extension. It serves as a transitional space connecting the living room to the garden, effectively expanding your living area.
Common uses for a wood deck:
- Outdoor living room (table and chairs for relaxing outside)
- BBQ space
- Play area for children
- Laundry drying area
- Sunny spot for pets
A rental property with a wood deck is a rare find and a strong differentiator. DIY Dad decided to install one at his owner-occupied rental property.
Key Decisions When Planning a Wood Deck
- Location (south-facing? east-facing?) and dimensions (width x depth)
- Deck board material (natural wood or composite)
- Structural frame material (joists, beams, posts) and construction method
- Roof or no roof (pergola? patio cover?)
- Railing or fence?
- Budget
DIY Dad sketched out multiple layouts. With so many combinations of location, size, and material, it helps to start by defining your non-negotiable requirements.
Site Check Before You Build
ud83duded2 RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
Deck Screws & Fasteners
Use stainless screws only u2014 standard screws rust and stain the deck within one rainy season.
- Ground condition (concrete slab, bare earth, gravel)
- Drainage (will water pool under the deck?)
- Relationship to the building (height of the sash door versus deck surface level)
- Distance from property boundary (Japanese civil law recommends at least 50 cm)
- Location of buried water, drain, and gas pipes (check before driving posts)
The relationship between the sash door height and the deck surface is especially important. Matching the deck level to the bottom of the door frame creates a seamless flow between indoors and outdoors.
Cost vs. Value (From a Landlordu2019s Perspective)
- Material cost (DIY): approximately u00a5150,000u2013250,000 depending on deck size
- Tools: mostly covered by existing equipment
A contractor-built deck can run u00a5500,000u20131,000,000 or more. DIY means paying only for materials. A deck is the kind of feature tenants love u2014 one that can justify raising the rent by u00a33,000u20135,000 per month.
Hi, this is DIY Dad.
The rain has been relentless lately. Cherry blossoms are about done for the year. As always, the bloom season feels heartbreakingly short u2014 maybe thatu2019s what makes it so beautiful.
One of my three big projects for 2017 has hit another wall. I handed it off to a contractor for a while, but things are looking shaky again. Somehow Iu2019ll get through it.
Now, continuing the wood deck series. Iu2019ve gotten a clear picture of what a wood deck is. So what kind of deck do I actually want?
Our family has three dogs, plus the kids. I want a space where they can all run around freely. And once itu2019s built, I want to keep regular maintenance to an absolute minimum.
After talking it over with my wife, hereu2019s what we landed on:
- The space under the deck should work as a dog run
- The deck surface should be safe to walk on barefoot
- As maintenance-free as possible
- Room to hang laundry
- A roof for shelter from the rain
By those specs itu2019s a fairly standard wood deck u2014 except for the roof, the elevated platform height, and the requirement for high-durability materials. The vision looks something like this:
This is the kind of deck I have in mind. It looks great u2014 but thinking it through calmly, given the footprint Iu2019m working with, this could get very expensive very quickly. Plenty of room for rethinking.
ud83dudcda Wood Deck Build Log u2014 5 of 45
u2190 What Is a Wood Deck? (Part 2) u00b7 Series Index u00b7 Floor Material Selection u2192
DIY Renovation Quote Review Manual
How to read, compare, and negotiate contractor quotes. This manual saved me u00a5800,000 on a single renovation project.
ud83cudfe0 More from DIY Father
15 years of landlord experience u00b7 3 apartment buildings u00b7 DIY renovations that saved millions of yen. Browse all articles at diytosan.com
