As the outdoor living trend continues to sweep the nation, decks are getting bigger. But with television shows featuring 3,000-square-foot decks, the average homeowner is left to wonder, “Just how big of a deck do I need?”
Atlanta, Georgia-based deckbuilder Frank Pologruto, says it comes down to how homeowners intend to use their space as each “zone” of the deck will require a general square footage.
“People want somewhere to cook, and then eat, and then have a conversation, and you start adding up these areas and you realize you can’t do all this in a 16’x12’ deck,” said Pologruto, the owner of Decks & More.
Dining – 320+ square feet
Outdoor kitchens and dining areas are growing in popularity but require significant space. A grill with some counter space for cooking and a large table and chairs for dining will take up around 320 square feet of deck.
Seating – 250+ square feet
Including an additional seating area, whether a quiet morning coffee spot or an after-dinner conversation pit, will require even more space. A conversation area for about six people will add another 256 square feet to the deck. Adding a fire element to the seating area, will require not only the space for the actual fireplace or fire pit, but also appropriate distance between the fire and any seating. You might also choose to add built-in seating with composite benches.
Pool or hot tub – 150+ square feet
Homeowners looking to include a water feature like an in-ground pool or hot tub will require additional deck space. A four-person hot tub could take up as many as 100 square feet of deck, but Pologruto cautions homeowners to build in plenty of room to walk around, and enter and exit the hot tub, bringing the total to between 150 and 200 square feet.
Outdoor Bar– 81+ square feet
An outdoor bar can vary quite a bit in size, but for homeowners who want seating for three barstools and a back bar, plan for at least 81 square feet. This will allow for three feet per barstool, two feet for the bar and back bar, plus space to easily move in between the two areas. Don’t need a back bar? Opt for below- or above-bar shelving.
Planter Boxes
Although not as popular as they once were, planter boxes are a great option to fill extra space or create a feature area on a deck. Available in a variety of sizes and shapes from small square, ideal for flowers, to large rectangular or L shape for more of a statement or vegetables. Homeowners may want a small four-square-foot box or a larger 17.5-square-foot box.
Parties – 15 square feet per person
As a general rule, Pologruto said homeowners should determine how many people they expect to host on their deck and estimate about 15 square feet of deck per person. To comfortably fit around 20 people, the deck will need at least 300 square feet of open space.
“Remember though, if you plan to have 50 people over, they won’t all be out on the deck at the same time, so plan for your deck to hold about 30 people,” he said
Cost
Cost varies greatly depending on a number of factors, such as the materials you use, the region you live, whether you are doing it yourself or hiring a professional and, of course, the deck size.
Pologruto uses both traditional wood boards and high-end Envision Composite Decking and says if homeowners are already preparing to spend the money to build a large deck, they should go the extra step and upgrade to a composite board. There are composite options that are similar in price to pressure-treated lumber, such as Envision’s Ridge Premium Collection, which offers the beauty of composite with the budget-friendly nature of lumber.
“Do the composite – it just makes more sense,” he said.
Overall, from his experience, Pologruto said most homeowners don’t need a 3,000-square-foot deck and should be able to fit a small dining area, arbor, hot tub, and separate seating area in about 750 square feet, although some of the decks he builds are more than twice that size.
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