Summer days are just better in a lounger on a deck. We know that.

A deck also changes the way you live from indoors to outside, adds a new dimension to outdoor comfort and, best of all, it can be designed and sized to suit your lifestyle.

That’s why, whether you’re creating an outdoor deck for a pair of loungers and a drinks table, or whether you’re thinking of incorporating the braai, an outdoor dining area and easy seating, you need to know the basics.

OK, maybe a little more than the basics, so let’s see what you need to know before you take the plunge.

For additional resources and ideas on enhancing your outdoor living spaces, consider exploring RTA Outdoor Living. With their expertise and quality products, you can transform your property into a more valuable and inviting space.

The look, size and traffic density

Your first consideration should be to consider the style and architecture of your house in relation to the proposed deck. Your new deck should either blend in, or complement the existing structure.

Secondly, if you’re hitting for the fences, with big-time entertaining or lots of children’s parties, we would definitely recommend that you make contact with an experienced professional to advise on deck style and size.

On the practical side, you would want to engage a decking specialist, because building a deck is not the same as building a patio or a pool. Different approaches are required for each.

Privacy

If your neighbours are maybe too close for comfort, an outdoor deck can become a stage.  Our recommendation is the addition of a screen on the “viewing” side. Timber screens can be latticed, angled boards or solid, and all the options allow for the addition of some gorgeous greenery both as an added feature and additional privacy.

Choose your material carefully

Whilst wood remains a South African favourite for decks, not all timber is made the same. Regular softwoods are high maintenance and lack the longevity of highly desirable hardwoods like teak, mahogany, oak and balau.

However, the drawback of these hardwoods is that they are sourced from endangered tropical rainforests in Asia, Africa and the Latin Americas. We know today that it simply does not make sense for the future of the planet to cut down precious and rare 200-year old trees so that we can have longlasting timber decks at home.

That’s why Rhino Wood is the perfect sustainable solid timber alternative for decks, cladding of buildings, privacy screens (inside and out) and every other timber application.

Proudly homegrown and naturally modified, Rhino Wood’s key benefits are its durability, resilience and its low maintenance requirements. In fact, left to nature, it gradually develops a hugely attractive silver grey patina without losing any of its inherent and desirable qualities.

Its density increases its dimensional stability and the entire modification process reduces warping, cracking or cupping. This makes it functional, hardwearing, and ideal for high traffic areas such as decks, balconies and walkways.

Rhino Wood is also available in a highly effective slip-resistant brushed option. It’s no wonder that, in addition to being a residential deck favourite, it’s increasingly being used in commercial projects such as green office developments, game lodges, guest houses, boutique hotels, green urban spaces and shopping centres where safety is paramount.

Building your own deck?

While a deck can certainly be a DIY project, it does require a great deal of experience, keeping in mind that a lot goes into a deck to make it look right and stay level.

A decking installation guide can be found here.

Whom to hire

A professional deck designer-builder is recommended for this project. What’s more, if you’re doing a deck, try to find someone who specialises in this department. Because deck additions can recoup anywhere between 80% and 100% of their cost when you look to sell your home, it’s often worth it to invest in a skilled professional.

Now that we’ve nailed down the need-to-knows, and just in case you’re still on the fence, here are a few reasons why you should consider adding a deck to your home:

A Deck Enhances the Value of Your Home

Few things add hard value to your home more than outdoor living areas, and they’re one of the hottest trends in the home-buying market.

A Deck Makes It Party Time

If you like to host parties for friends, a deck is the perfect way to add functional space, where people can gather and still breathe freely. Decks are less claustrophobic than crowded rooms, and spills and other potential damage are less costly to repair or clean up.

Add an outdoor grill or a portable bar, and raise the level of a simple deck to a real outdoor entertaining space.

A Deck Adds Outdoor Enjoyment

Decks give a whole new perspective to outdoor comfort. Far from the simple porches of the past, modern decks offer a versatile and comfortable way to enjoy your own little slice of nature.

Strategically placed plants offer privacy and a feeling of nature, even in the city. Enjoy the wood under your feet, the greenery around the edges, and the open sky to create a peaceful haven to escape from the stresses of life.

A Deck Offers A New Look

There are more decking materials on the market now than ever before. Express your design aesthetic with natural or composite materials, from exotic hardwoods to rustic pine, from stone flooring to a brick fireplace, and from a simple, traditional diagonal to a complex geometric design.

There are also a variety of construction choices, starting with traditional brass or steel screws and hardware, and including fasteners that are entirely hidden.

A Deck Adds More Functional Possibilities

Outdoor living is such a popular trend, that the market has responded with a huge variety of products built for outdoor living, from fire pits and fireplaces to outrageously comfortable seating arrangements designed to make your outside spaces as beautiful and versatile as the inside of your home.

A Deck Increases Your Living Space

Two words: form and function. Many homeowners use decks as places to plant herb or container gardens, to enhance the dinner table while adding natural beauty to the outdoor décor.

Installing a deck is easier than ever with today’s materials and deck plans are readily available. Almost any homeowner can elevate an ordinary, boring cement porch to a trendy modern living space by adding a deck-style flooring in an afternoon. If you like the idea of expanding your life to include the outdoors, adding a deck is a great idea.

Family Gatherings Are Easier To Arrange

If you’ve always wanted to host a family gathering, but lack the indoor space, then having a deck is a great idea. A well-built deck can hold a decently sized group of people, and the ones who won’t fit on it can mingle on your back lawn. You’ll have a lot more useful outdoor space to utilise.

Even better, the fewer the people indoors, the less mess you’ll have to clean up. Really, people will be indoors to raid the fridge and use your powder room, and that’s it.

As long as the weather holds up, you can keep everybody corralled in the yard and on your deck. You’ll have much more fun, especially when family-wide games of frisbee or football break out. Think of the family memories that you’ll make while on your deck. Everyone will have more fun when they aren’t cooped up indoors.

A Deck Is Customised To Your Needs

A deck is more than just another item that you purchase and place in your backyard. Instead, it’s completely customised for your space. You can choose the type of wood and stain, go with or without railings (depending on the height of the deck, of course) and even go for a custom shape.

If you want your deck to wrap around your swimming pool, then we can make that happen. There’s no shortage of custom elements that can be added to your new deck in order to make it one that you’ll proudly use for years to come.

A robust 100% real wooden deck that can accommodate the Weber, the bar and the outdoor couch is top-of-the-outdoor-living-list for most South Africans, but the catch often is that they are often made from timber.

That’s where Rhino Wood comes in as the perfect sustainable solid timber alternative for decks and every other timber application.

Proudly South African, Rhino Wood is durable, resilient and requires very little maintenance. Over time, it will gradually develop a silver grey patina, which gives it a wonderfully natural finish.

If you’re going to treat yourself this summer, and add some value to your property, make sure you’re doing it right and with a clean conscience.