Deck Design Software

It’s pretty simple actually. Design and build a treated lumber deck or composite lumber deck based on the types of activities planned for the outdoor living space. But a good rule of thumb is that you should not exceed twenty-percent of the home's interior square footage. Take time to consider how your family will spend time enjoying the deck, because if you build an expansive deck that’s too big you’ve wasted money on unnecessary material and space that won’t be used. And conversely, if you build a deck that’s too small, it’s going to cost even more to add on to the existing structure. Your goal should be to build a deck that suits your lifestyle just right and fits within your building budget.

If you plan to host dinner parties consider building a separate section where a table with plenty of seating will fit. If an outdoor kitchen is in the plans you’ll want to make sure it’s positioned near the dining area for easy access. Keep relaxation and reading areas simple with smaller spaces. And for adding a raised fire pit area, a cozy round deck space works great—size of this area will vary, but should be large enough to host friends and family. This deck area should allow for guests to move around while not getting too close to the hot surface of the raised fire pit.

Reviewing deck plans on paper my be hard to understand, so consider laying out the space to get comfortable with its shape and size. Use a tape measure and some spray paint to layout the design's outline. You can also arrange furniture within the outline to help you visualize how the space will be used. Do this to help determine if you need to adjust the plan.

If you're planning on designing and building the treated lumber deck or composite lumber deck area yourself, I recommend consulting with a building professional, landscape designer and before any footings are poured.

Use deck design software or the FREE online deck visualization tool from Deckorators to help conceptualize your space. Get inspired by viewing photos of decks from past Deckorators best deck contests.

You’ve probably heard the expression “God is in the details.” Well, when it comes to creating a truly unique and beautiful deck design, the right mix of details can create a heavenly result.

Every deck is essentially a blank canvas. Adding design details such as ornamental post caps, decorative balusters and deck inlays, can turn your blank canvas into a custom deck that is a work of art.

Not sure which details will work best for your tastes and design parameters?

Deck design software can help you envision how your deck will look with the addition of certain details. The Deck Visualizer is a free online program that allows you to choose from a selection of scenes and then dress up each with a variety of designer details, such as wood color, railing design, and baluster and post cap accessories.

Designer touches are limited only by your imagination – and creativity in forming combinations. In addition to ornamental post caps and decorative balusters – which we’ve talked about before in this blog – there are many other ways to customize your deck, including:

• Deck inlays – A deck inlay can be anything from decorative stone or ceramic tile to a design made up of different colored composite deck boards placed at interesting angles.
• Reversible boards – Unlike standard deck boards, Latitudes Intrepid composite deck boards can be placed with either side facing up. Each side has its own unique texture (woodgrain or brushed) and color variance, allowing you to create an interesting design while using just one type of decking material.
• Picture framing – By installing a trim board around a deck, you can give your wood deck surface a unique appearance, and protect plank ends that can deteriorate over time when exposed to the elements.
• Hidden fasteners – Strategically placed nails or screws can be incorporated into a deck’s design, but for an ultra-clean look, consider Latitude’s Equator hidden fastener. Concealed below the deck surface, Equator composite deck hidden fasteners fit into the groove on the side of the deck board secured at each joist to eliminate pre-drilling and allow for quick and easy installation, leaving a deck looking smooth and sleek. Installing the right hidden fastener will make your composite deck barefoot friendly.
• Recessed lighting – Deckorators recessed lighting kits use compact, ultra-bright, low-volt LED lights to make decks more appealing and accessible after dark. Build them into stairs, step-downs and anywhere you need illumination both for looks and safetypurposes.
• Benches and boxes – Built-ins are a hot deck trend and you can use Latitudes composite decking to build curved composite benches and planter boxes around your deck.

Whether you choose to add just one detail or many, designer touches can truly make your deck one-of-a-kind – and make you feel like you have your own little slice of heaven in your own backyard.

Recently a highly acclaimed architectural firm in Texas published an article that helps identify ways for new and existing homeowners to make their dwelling "green friendly". Gary Gene Olp, Founder and President of GGO Architects outlines steps to becoming energy efficient. Olp and his firm promotes green and energy savings by installing a radiant barrier in the attic. Read on!

Dallas - Sustainability and energy efficiency have become significant selling factors during the home-buying and home-building process. In honor of Earth Day, Gary Gene Olp, Founder and President of GGO Architects, offers key questions to ask when that infamous word “green” makes its way into the conversation.

“Sustainable living is about interpreting natural processes in a modern way,” said Olp. “Many homebuilders and sellers make green claims, pointing to green products utilized in the building process. However, it’s the overall design that constitutes a sustainable design, not just the products used.”

Olp’s involvement in the “green” movement dates back to the early 1970s. He lays claim to the design of the first LEED Platinum home in Texas in 2007, further substantiating his “green authority.” Here are three questions to determine if the home you are buying or building is truly green:

1. How energy efficient is it really? Ask the builder to quantify what the expected annual utility cost will be. With current green building codes, Energy Star ratings and online energy modeling software, this is easily derived from the R value of insulation installed, the quality of the windows and the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) rating for hot water, heating and air conditioning. If they cannot provide a reasonable answer, perhaps their claims are more guesstimates than engineered performance. Windows should be insulated Southern Low-e, walls should have a minimum of R 24 and the roof should have a minimum of R 40 insulation. The heating and air conditioning can easily have SEER ratings of 16-18 for little extra cost.
2. Demand that a radiant barrier is properly installed on the underside of roof decking. This simple feature is perhaps the most significant design component in our hot Texas climate. Properly installed, it can repel up to 75 percent of the heat gained from the sun in the summer. Every British thermal unit (BTU) of heat reradiated away from the attic of your home means fewer BTUs of cooling required to keep it comfortable, which means smaller utility bills. It is important to make sure the radiant barrier is the metal foil type, and not a faux spray-on paint coating.
3. Do not fall pretty to smart Eco gadgets; instead look for the real thing. Take a compass with you when looking at a new home, and check to see which direction most of the windows are facing. Large amounts of windows on the west are certain to spin your smart electric meter into a frenzy. If most of the windows are on the north, the home may be cooler but generally dark with little natural light. The best orientation for windows is on the east and south for good natural light. Be sure any windows on the south are properly shaded with broad overhangs or large deciduous trees to block out the intense summer sun from passing directly into interior spaces. That same southern sunshine will be appreciated as it reaches deep inside to provide warmth and daylight on cold, gloomy winter days.

And for those who already own a home, it’s not too late to achieve energy efficiency. Homeowners can:

• Install a radiant barrier in the attic. It works equally well for an existing home as it does for new construction.
• Shade the windows facing south and especially those facing west. The easiest, albeit shower way is to plant native deciduous shade trees to block the intensity of the summer sun. Consider adding alternative shading devices like a fixed awning with decorative brackets, hurricane shutters or those really great aluminum awnings from the 30’s and 40’s, which bounce wonderful diffused light back inside.
• Upgrade lighting to compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or LED lamps, replace aging appliances with newer high efficiency Energy Star models, and maintain your HVAC equipment and/or at the end of its useful life replace it with a higher SEER rated unit.

Olp, (American Institute of Architects, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, LEED AP) is the 2011 chairman of the North Texas Green Council Chapter of The U.S. Green Building Council. Olp’s work has been published extensively for the quality of design and to substantiate efforts to push the concept of sustainability.

“The amount homeowners can save with an energy-efficient home is mind-boggling, and it is not just for the elite – green is affordable and attainable for everyone. You just have to know the questions to ask to get started on the right path,” Olp said.

Read more about metalized film radiant barrier in this past blog post.

About GGO Architects
GGO Architects is a highly acclaimed private architectural practice in Dallas, Texas. Recognized for its innovative contemporary designs that feature a sustainable approach, each project represents a commitment to environmental responsibility. GGO Architects is noted for cutting-edge “Green Buildings” that incorporate energy efficiency, passive solar techniques, natural day lighting, non-toxic materials, advanced building science and enhanced indoor air quality. Sustainability and long-term durability influence every aspect of project development. www.ggoarchitects.com

Credit: dBusinessNews.

Turn your deck design ideas into reality with the Latitudes Deck Visualizer interactive deck program. This deck design software allows you to freely design a unique, conceptual composite decking and railing layout.

The Latitudes Deck Visualizer is an intuitive program that allows users to create a custom look in just a few minutes. This unique deck design tool can be used on virtually any computer or mobile device and allows you to print your custom deck design, save it, e-mail it to your contractor or share it with friends and family.

Latitudes Deck Visualizer incorporates real life background scenes and gives the user control of selecting decking types and color, railing styles and a multitude of railing accessories like baluster infills, post caps and more.

Three simple steps for creating your custom deck design
 

1. Choose from hundreds of decking and railing product combinations
2. See how your choices look on various deck scenes.
3. Select a different deck scene and compatible product selections will transfer to the new scene

Program Features

• Information Icon: Click on the information icon to learn more about a product
• BOOKMARK: Save your design for future reference or additional changes
• EMAIL: Send your custom deck design to your builder and friends
• PRINT: Print a summary of your customized design—complete with a rendered image list of selected decking and railing products
• SHARE: Post your custom designer deck on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter

Create the look of your dream deck in minutes with the latest deck design tool.

The sky’s the limit with this new Deck Visualizer deck design software. The Deck Visualizer lets you explore your imagination by selecting from hundreds of decking and railing combinations, designed with two industry-leading brands in mind: Deckorators and Latitudes.

Deck Visualizer deck design software lets your imagination take over. Simply select a deck scene, then begin to drag and drop (or click) endless combinations of decking and railing products to create your custom deck design. Along the way to your finished design, you can find out more details on any of the products simply by clicking the information icon.

Choose from wood decking, composite decking, deck railing and accessory options. Before you’re done, add some pizzazz with deck railing accessories such as baluster baskets or centerpieces and solar post cap lights. Want to know what your selections look like on a different deck scene? It’s easy. Simply select a new deck and any compatible product selections will transfer to the new scene.

The Deck Visualizer is compatible with most any computer or mobile device and allows you to print your custom deck design, save it, e-mail it to your contractor or share it with friends and family. Your Deck Visualizer print out will generate a summary of the products you’ve chosen as well as a final image, so you’ll know exactly which decking and railing products you’ve selected for your project.