Maximize Your Yard’s Potential With Wilson Woodscape
Transform your backyard into a stunning oasis with a custom-designed, free-standing deck by Wilson Woodscape. This approach enhances your outdoor space and increases property value. Unlike traditional decks, our designs don’t rely on your home for support, providing the freedom to create a beautiful deck without burdening your house.
You can trust that your free-standing deck will be built with precision and utmost care, ensuring a seamless addition to your home. This deck will not only beautify your space but also breathe new life into your yard, offering you and your family a fresh perspective on outdoor living. Call our San Diego, CA, landscape company today, at 619-838-1398 to get started on your project!
What Is a Free-Standing Deck?
A free-standing deck is not attached to a home or other structure. Instead, our San Diego deck builder will design your deck as self-supporting, with sturdy posts or piers anchored directly into the ground. Free-standing decks are an excellent option to create an outdoor living space separate from your home or if your home’s structure can’t support an attached deck.
These decks have more design and placement flexibility, as you don’t have to rely on your home’s structure. However, they do require careful planning and construction to ensure they’re safe and stable, particularly in areas with harsher weather conditions.
Choose Wilson Woodscape for Your Free-Standing Deck
If you’re considering building a freestanding deck, look no further than Wilson Woodscape. With 25 years of landscape construction experience, Jeff Wilson specializes in custom woodwork and innovative designs for freestanding decks. His full-service landscape construction offerings ensure that your project will be handled with professionalism and attention to detail, resulting in a deck that exceeds your expectations.
Wilson Woodscape’s unique and captivating designs are complemented by Wilson’s use of custom ironwork, woodwork, and other finishing touches, elevating the appearance of your deck. By choosing Wilson Woodscape, not only you’re investing in a high-quality, durable deck but also a work of art that will add value and enjoyment to your property for years to come.
Advantages of Freestanding Decks
Freestanding decks offer numerous advantages over attached decks, such as:
- Design Flexibility: Freestanding decks provide unique design opportunities, as they aren’t bound by the constraints of being attached to a building. This allows for custom shapes, sizes, and layouts, including features like multi-level decks, curved designs, built-in seating, outdoor lighting, pergolas, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens.
- Reduced Moisture Damage: Since freestanding decks aren’t attached to the house, there’s no need for complex flashing and ledger attachment. This reduces the risk of moisture infiltration and rot in your home’s framing. Additionally, better airflow around the deck can prevent mold and mildew growth and extend the lifespan of the decking materials.
- Suitability for Various Properties: Freestanding decks are adaptable to different property types, including those with uneven terrain, stuccoed houses, or uncertain house wall construction. They can be built on adjustable supports or stilts, making them suitable for properties with sloped or uneven terrain. This ensures that the deck remains level and functional regardless of the challenging landscape.
Free-Standing Deck Materials
Wood
Wood is a popular choice for decking materials due to its natural appearance and relatively easy workability. Redwood, cedar, and treated wood like pressure-treated lumber all have distinct pros and cons for freestanding decks.
- Redwood, cedar, and cypress are naturally resistant to rot and decay, making them excellent for outdoor use. However, they need regular staining and sealing for upkeep.
- Pressure-treated lumber and Southern yellow pine are more budget-friendly choices, offering good resistance to rot and decay with lower maintenance needs than untreated wood.
Composite Decking
Composite decking is a popular alternative to traditional wood decking due to its low-maintenance properties and diverse range of colors and textures. Made from a blend of wood fibers and plastic, composite decking materials offer the following benefits:
- Resists moisture damage
- Resists insect infestation
- Resists fading
- Durable and long-lasting option for freestanding decks
While composite decking offers numerous benefits, it’s typically more expensive than wood decking materials, and some homeowners may find the surface slippery when wet. However, for those seeking a low-maintenance and visually appealing option, installing composite decking can be an excellent choice for a freestanding deck.
Metal Decking
Metal decking, such as aluminum or steel, provides a robust and resilient option for stand-alone decks. These materials offer the following benefits:
- Lightweight
- Easy to install
- Durable and long-lasting
- Resistant to rot, decay, and insect damage
- Low maintenance
However, metal decking materials may not offer the same warmth and natural appearance as wood or composite materials, and their cost may be higher than other options. Additionally, metal decking can sometimes become slippery when wet and may produce noise when walked upon.
Building Your Free-Standing Deck
Design and Preparation
First, our experienced San Diego contractor determines the location and size of the deck, taking into account any local building codes and regulations. We then design a plan customized to your yard and specifications. As we finalize your design, our landscaping crew prepares the site by clearing any vegetation or debris.
Leveling and Foundation
Once we’re ready to build, we’ll excavate the area to install the footings and piers. After determining the best depth for these post-holes, we install footings or piers in the excavated holes. Footings are concrete that provide a stable base for the deck. Piers are precast concrete or concrete blocks and can be adjusted to ensure the deck is level.
Framing
Next, our San Diego landscaper will attach post anchors set in wet concrete to the top of each footing or pier. These anchors hold the deck posts securely in place. We then install the deck posts into the post anchors, making sure they’re plumb and level.
Finally, we install the beams and joists to support the deck, attaching them to the tops of the posts, and our team ensures the beams and joists are leveled and properly spaced to support the weight of the deck.
Decking and Railing
Once we’ve completed the frame, we’ll install the decking boards, using screws or hidden fasteners to attach them to the frame. We may choose composite decking material for its durability and low maintenance requirements.
To make sure the structure is safe, we may install railings around the deck. We can create these railings from wood, metal, or glass, depending on your design preferences and budget.
Finishing Touches
If it’s a raised deck, we create stairs leading up to it. The stairs are built to code and securely attached to the deck. We’ll also add any finishing touches to the deck at this time, such as lighting, benches, or planters.
Throughout the construction process, our experienced contractor will take care to ensure the deck is level, sturdy, and built to last. We’ll also consult you throughout the process to ensure the final product meets your expectations.
Free-Standing Deck Maintenance
Maintaining a free-standing deck requires regular care and attention to keep it in good condition and safe for use. Here are some tips to help you maintain your free-standing deck:
- Regularly sweep or brush off any debris from the deck surface. Leaves, dirt, and other debris can accumulate on your deck and cause mold and mildew to grow, which can damage the wood.
- Clean the deck surface with a deck cleaner at least once a year. Choose a cleaner appropriate for the type of wood, and follow the instructions carefully.
- Check for any loose or damaged boards and replace them if necessary. A loose board can be a tripping hazard, and a damaged board can weaken the deck’s structure.
- Inspect the deck supports and framing for any signs of damage, such as rot or insect infestation. If you notice any problems, repair or replace the damaged parts as soon as possible.
- Seal or stain the deck every few years to protect the wood from moisture and UV damage. Choose a product appropriate for your deck, and follow the instructions carefully.
- Keep the area under the deck clean and free of debris. Leaves, branches, and other debris can accumulate under the deck, providing a home for pests like rodents and insects.
Frequently Asked Questions
The permit requirements for building a free-standing deck can vary depending on your location and the size of the deck. In most cases, a permit is required if the deck is over a certain size or height. Check with your local building department to find out the specific requirements for your area.
Free-standing decks can be built from various materials, including wood, composite, PVC, and aluminum. The choice of material will depend on your budget, style preferences, and durability requirements.
The lifespan of a free-standing deck will depend on several factors, including the type of wood or other material used, the climate in your area, and how well the deck is maintained. With proper care and maintenance, a well-built deck can last for 20 to 30 years or more.
For a basic 12-foot by 12-foot freestanding deck, you will need at least three 12-inch diameter deck footings. However, additional footings may be needed depending on the size and shape of your deck, the size of your footings, and the size of your beams.
Our San Diego Landscape Contractor Can Transform Your Outdoor Space
You deserve a space in your yard to relax and feel at home. That’s why Wilson Woodscape’s designers and contractors are proud to create free-standing decks your friends and family will love. We’ll work with you to accomplish your decking goals and find the best way to maximize your outdoor space. Discover how Wilson Woodscape can create your dream yard by contacting us at 619-838-1398.
