Design

Deck Design Programs for the Ultimate Outdoor Room

February 11, 2012 By Peter Leave a Comment

Having fun designing a new deck using deck design software.

Like patios, decks may be constructed to form an outdoor room, extending the inside of your home into your backyard.

But decks are undoubtedly even more versatile than patios because they can be build in just about any environment however steep or rocky.

Of course a deck is a solid structure, and you’re going to need some sort of plans to work from both for setting out and for the building process.

The good news is that whether you want to build your own deck or call someone in to do it for you, there are plenty of free deck design programs that will help you create exactly what you want. Not only will they give you details of the materials you need to buy, but they will usually give you visuals that show exactly what your new deck will look like when it’s complete.

Software that Allows you to Design Your Own Deck

Look no further than the World Wide Web for a multitude of free design-a-deck software options. Similar, but usually a lot less complicated than the software used by professional landscapers, architects and designers, free deck design software will normally allow you to choose the size, shape and even the color (and sometimes wood or other material) of the deck of your dreams. You can add different levels as well as stairs, railings and other features, until you are happy with what you have created.

Of course you are probably thinking, “Free – nothing comes free nowadays”. But there are various reasons that companies have set up web sites that offer free software for garden and other structures, including the fact that many sell the materials required to build the design you have chosen. Others will provide you with a checklist of what you need, plus a materials list, tips of how to put the deck together, and then suggest several reliable retailers in your area. Most will be working on a commission basis, getting a kickback of some sort from the supplier. This is not a bad thing because it’s also their reputation on the line.

Generally you will be required to register with the web site offering the free software. This means, of course, that you are going to be included in their database and can expect to get news, product information and so on from them in the future. This should be an advantage if you are into home improvement. However you will almost always be given an easy option to stop receiving mail.

There is also software that you can buy, that is not linked specifically to any company. These programs will usually enable you to create both 2D and 3D home deck design plans. I’ve got one of these and it was pretty cheap to buy, and not difficult to learn to use.

If you do decide to buy a program, it’s a good idea to search the Internet for reputable review sites which point out the advantages and any disadvantages of different programs. Alternatively go into a real store where staff members are able to show you how the different types of software work … or otherwise do a short study course before you get started.

Deck Design Programs Used by Designers:

Perhaps the greatest advantage of allowing a professional designer to design a deck for you is that they already have examples of work they have completed using their deck design programs. Most also have the experience to create a virtual image of your backyard using a digital photograph of the property. So instead of looking at a deck in a nebulous location, you are able to visualize exactly what the deck will look like in your own outdoor space.

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Decks, Design, How To

The Top Seven Landscape Ideas for Backyards

August 1, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment

Most of us consider our patios and gardens to be an extension of our home; a place to relax, entertain, and generally have fun with friends and family. For this reason most of us are constantly on the lookout for landscape ideas for backyards and even for our front yards.

Even if you have no experience in the field of landscape designing, there are many ways that you can improve your backyard. Some ideas involve construction work, while others necessitate planting. At the other end of the scale there are some ideas that can be instantly applied.

While some of the ideas that follow will take more time, effort and financial input than others, all are guaranteed to make your outdoor spaces more beautiful and enjoyable than they might already be. Just remember that swimming pools and solid structures like gazebos, pergolas and decks are the costliest part of any backyard; so plan carefully before you make any sort of investment in terms of time or money.

Top Seven Ideas For Landscaping Your Backyard

Decks not only look great, they also enable you to extend your home outdoors. They are also the ideal solution on a sloping property that is difficult to plant and impossible to use. If you want to design your own deck you should look at deck design software.
Fountains add the magical sound of water and can be incorporated in even the smallest backyard. The choice is immense so be sure to choose a design that melds with the style of your home and garden.
Barbecues also come in numerous guises, both freestanding and built with bricks or stone and mortar. If you don’t have bricklaying skills but want a permanent built-in barbecue, consider a ground-level fire pit in the form of a shallow saucer dug into the soil. Line the edge with a single course of pavers and make your fire in the centre. Use loose bricks on either side of the fire to hold a grill or grate. If you can lay bricks consider a full-on outdoor kitchen. Al fresco meals will never be the same again.
An arbor will add structure to your garden plan, whether constructed over a bench or seat of some sort, or built at the entrance to a pathway. A simple timber latticework structure becomes the perfect foil for climbing plants, like sweet-smelling jasmine or a flowering vine like wisteria. For arbor plans, review outdoor plans.
A lattice screen made with slats of wood is a great idea for adding privacy to a backyard patio. Lattice panels are available off-the-shelf, or you can make your own.
A pergola, topped with nursery shade netting or even smothered with climbing plants, offers shade in the sunny months. If you want to use a pergola during winter or during the rainy season (depending of course where you live), you will need to consider a more solid covering. Fiberglass sheeting is a suitable option, but you will need to ensure the beams are positioned so that there is a slight runoff for water (a 1:20 gradient is ideal).
A garden pond for koi or even ordinary goldfish is the last of our top seven landscape ideas for backyards. These may be built with a range of materials from solid bricks to relatively inexpensive flexible plastic pond liners. While any design must be waterproof, a koi pond also needs to be deeper and you should incorporate a pump and filter to keep the pond water clean and healthy.

Swimming Pools And Spas

The idea of incorporate a swimming pool, spa or hot tub into a backyard landscape design is one that appeals to many people. The only reason these are not included in our top seven ideas list is because they involve a level of expertise and don’t generally fit the realm of DIY. Still, a hot spa tops my favorite backyard feature list.

There’s nothing quite like soaking in the bubbling water either in summer, after swimming in a nice cool pool, or in winter, while the rain drizzles down on your face. If this doesn’t appeal to you, a spa may also be located on a covered patio.

Filed Under: Arbors/Pergolas, Articles, Blog, Decks, Design, How To

Plans Chicken Coop And Ideas On Economical Outdoor Lighting Solutions For Your Coop

June 16, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment

The economy is starting to affect more and more people and therefore people are looking for different ways to save money. This can be done by a lot of different ways but two popular ones are growing your own food and getting animals to produce food. For example, many people are getting chickens to produce eggs.

While this is something minor, it is also a healthier option and more organic. It can also become a fun hobby and way to make a little extra money. I have a friend who brings his extra eggs into work and has no problem selling them. One tip here, he has people bring him the egg containers so he can reuse them. Another way to go green and save some money.

Since raising chickens to produce eggs is becoming more popular, so are plans chicken coop. There are several ways to build one without going broke and soemthing else you should consider is a cost effective way to install and run the outdoor lighitng.

Chicken Coop Designs

You can find a variety of designs online to build your own chicken coop. Or you can choose to create your own. If creating your own design I recommend you do some research on existing plans or built coops to understand what is a good design. There are several resources online that can help you find the designs you like. You can find some free plans and some detailed plans that you will need to pay a few dollars for.

The design you have to choose is all going to depend on a few different factors. You need to consider the size of your flock to determine the size plans chicken coop you are going to need. You can find portable coops for smaller flocks as well and these ones usually don’t have floors to them. They can be relocated if you have to move or if you choose to move them to a different part of the yard or barn. Additionally, dropping from chickens are a great source of fertilizer for your yard.

Lighting Your Chicken Coop

When you have designed your chicken coop, you may be thinking about lighting around it or even inside it as well as what to make it from. Many people who have larger coops like to have a small amount of light inside the coops. This is where low voltage outdoor lighting can help you out. You can find small bulbs or small lights that are low voltage to light your coops. This helps the chickens to walk around if they need to or to get outside.

You can also opt for utilizing low voltage outdoor lighting to surround the coop. This means you can always see what is going on and a better way to keep an eye on your flock in the evening hours. This is helpful if there are any predators in the area like coyotes. If you have an outside feeder for your chickens, outdoor lighting that is not too bright can help with seeing in the evening if they decide they want to eat.

Another option for lighting your coop is solar powered lighting. The battery on the solar lighting will charge during the day and then come on when it’s dark. This is a great way to save money on your electric bill. They also don’t have to be turned on and off, and some people tend to forget to flip a switch.

The lighting you choose should be installed properly and the cable should be buried or in a location that the chickens can’t peck at it. This is another advantage to solar powered lighting because there are no wires. For low voltage lighting you can run the wires up high or dig it deep enough that the chickens can’t get to it.

Overall, you can find plans for chicken coop online and another great resource is your local library. When it comes to lighting you should look at your local garden or hardware store. There are also great lighting options available online.

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Design, How To, Outdoor Plans

Deck Plan For Free

April 22, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment

Finding free deck plans on the Internet is always fun

I just found this great site that has a couple of deck plans for free. If you are thinking about building a deck and looking for plans you should check it out.

The free plans are in a PDF and you can download them today. I downloaded both plans with no problems. They also have a free plan to build a shade cover for your deck that I’m thinking of adding to my deck.

The one thing I like about these plans compared to some other free plans I’ve found on the Internet is that they are very detailed. There is step by step instructions and lots of pictures and diagrams to explain the complete construction process.

This includes attaching the 2×10 ledger board to the side of your house and attaching the joist hangers in the plan to build the stone deck. It is still using wood for the floor, but the sides not attached to the house are made of stone.

The Dream Deck plan is for a 16 feet x 18 feet and it includes a bay. This set of deck plans also has detailed information and includes a full material list. The floor is made of a composite material, but I’m pretty sure you could change this for a cedar or other wood material. Here’s the link for the deck plan free: Family Handyman.

More Free Deck Plans

If you are looking for more free plans I found a deal where you get 70 free deck plans when you purchase a package of deck design software. The nice thing about having the plans included with the software, is that you can use the software to make changes to the plans to get your dream deck.

So if you want your deck a bit bigger, smaller or whatever, you can change it with the software. I’ve reviewed this software before and here’s the link: Design a Deck Software.

Filed Under: Blog, Decks, Design, How To