Pre-historic people lived out of doors most of the time and got along without decks. On hikes in the mountains or at the seaside we get along just fine without decks. A cleared area, a flat rock or a log can serve as a fine place to rest or share a meal. "Roughing it" can be a lot of fun but it has its limitations. Decks can have many advantages over make-shift outdoor locations. For example:

• Their location can be selected, decks can take the best advantage of views, the weather, proximity to the house and yard.
• Decks can have nice flat areas that accommodate furniture, planters and BBQ's.
• Properly built decks can be easy to clean and maintain (less sand in the food!).
• Decks can enhance a home, they can be part of the "architecture" of the house, they can extend the living space, they can make interior spaces look and feel larger.

I love decks and have made sure that they are an integral part of my own home. I look forward to the warm weather when we open the doors onto the deck and thereby extend the living (and dinning) spaces into the yard. But I also enjoy our decks during the cold weather when the decks provide a visual extension to our home.

A raised wood deck Photo courtesy of our sponsor EB-TY® Hidden-Deck Fastening SystemsTM.

Our decks are raised wood decks like the one in the photo above, but there are many styles of decks:

Patios - Low to the ground surfaces made out of various types of stone, masonry or wood. Balconies - Cantilevered extensions to upper floor rooms (made popular by Juliet). Roof Decks - Flat roof surfaces that are designed as an outdoor living space (hint - this is a very demanding type of construction).

There are many materials that can be used in the construction of most deck styles. Wood is one of the most popular.