Homeowners choose the terrace style for their homes because they love its appearance. But more and more owners are designing terraces that suit their personal style, the house itself or the garden. You can think of these functions or your family's daily use, whether it's for fun, dining, playing or relaxing. Start with the first step to follow a list of things to consider, some useful tools for designing your terrace and a blueprint on how to give space and build the structure.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Choose your Style
Step 1. Choose your connection options
Do you want a terrace connected to the house (directly connected to the walls, with the foundations as a support and the roof shared)? Or do you want a detached terrace? The second option is the simplest and it will be easier to give it a professional look. If not designed correctly and with extreme care, the connected terraces can appear "additions" to the structure, false.
Step 2. Choose the height you prefer
How high do you want your terrace to be? If it is very high, and is linked to a second structure, you may have to ask your municipality for permits. If you have children, it would be better to add a railing with a certain design and a certain height and doors with special locks. Lower terraces need less support and are often easier to build.
Step 3. Evaluate the terrain
Is your house on a slope? Is the terrace affected? This can change the placement and cause you to revise the height, but if the slope is very steep, it may not be possible or not at all safe to build a terrace. If you are concerned about the slope, contact a local inspector to assess the facility. Different areas can be more or less geologically stable and only an inspector can know if it is safe to build a terrace on your property.
Step 4. Add more layers
The terraces of the past were as flat as the boards that made them up, but today there are multi-level terraces or sunken terraces or places to sit. If you want that, you need a lot of space and an extra project but it's a great add-on idea to any terrace.
Step 5. Plan your sun exposure
Do you want the terrace to be fully exposed to the sun? Always in the shade? A mix? What day of the week do you want it to sunbathe or stay in the shade? You have to place the terrace strategically, as well as the objects to create shade (roof, pergola, trees) very carefully.
- Place a shovel in the center of the terrace and see how it is hit by the sun throughout the day. You can use the cast shadow to vaguely understand where to place the roof.
- You should leave a finished project with your contractor anyway, as it will take a lot of calculations.
Step 6. Design the access points
Do you want to insert some steps to reach the rest of the property? Will the terrace have to meet a door or window on the side of the house? Designing these elements is important, as you will need to adjust the design for each type of access.
Step 7. Decide on the railings
Some terraces are simply platforms and have nothing along the sides, so you can move seamlessly from the terrace to the garden. However, it is possible to add a railing. This can be critical to protect yourself and your family and may also be required by law, depending on where you live and the height of the terrace.
Step 8. Schedule utilities
Do you want to add a barbecue? A kitchenette? A tub? Do you want to put lights along the railings? If you plan to have water, electricity or gas, it is important to plan this first, as these utilities must be transported from inside the house or even from the street if necessary. This can be expensive and affect your project.
Step 9. Be inspired
You can find inspiration from other terrace projects or by browsing some sites. Pinterest, Google Images, and design sites can have great images and give you lots of ideas to discuss with your contractor.
Part 2 of 3: Plan the Media
Step 1. Check with the public office
Cities and provinces have guidelines and parameters to follow to build terrace supports. It is a great way to start the project.
- Call town hall if you don't know how to contact the project office.
- Call the office even if you don't have to design the supports, as you may need to obtain permits and know the public utility lines so as not to damage them during the excavation.
Step 2. Plan to dig below the ice line
The holes for the supports need to be deeper than the ice line, so get the tools to do this, and try to figure out where the line is in your area.
Step 3. Space the supports
The distance can vary, but a good range is about 20cm along the edge and 12cm for the internal beams.
Step 4. Space the beams
The beams must be placed at intervals between 40 and 45 cm. Use a 70cm gap only if the wood you use is very strong and not very high from the ground (less than 60cm).
Step 5. Use the smallest beams possible
The standard sizes are 5x25, 5x30, 5 x35 cm. However, the smaller the beam, the stronger it is and the harder it is for it to bend.
Step 6. Use very thick supports
Standard options are 12x12cm or 12 by 18cm brackets. Generally, the thicker it is, the more efficient the support is, so choosing the thicker is the best idea. If the terrace is low, there is little to worry about anyway.
Step 7. Reinforce areas that need to support additional weight
If you know where to place a tub or a heavy object on the terrace, consider using other supports and connections, or beams, below the area that will hold the object. This will help prevent bending and bear the heavier weight.
Part 3 of 3: Use the Tools to Design
Step 1. Use Lowe's Deck Designer
These tools will help you choose the size and style of your terrace. They will calculate the space for supports and beams and create a basic structure, also calculating the costs of the operation.
Step 2. Use Timbertech's designer tool
It is similar to the first tool, but offers different results and less objective.
Step 3. Use the Autodesk Homestyler extension
Use this tool if you want to understand the space of your terrace to adapt the placement of furniture. You will be able to calculate the size of the available areas, in order to insert the furniture as you see fit. It is available on the internet and as a browser extension.
Advice
- Try putting some plants, maybe some sunflowers.
- Seal the terrace from the outside. If you use a wood dye, it can last even longer. The protection will make the structure resistant to shocks and atmospheric agents and will leave it looking always new for years.
