How to Build a Transitional Deck

A good deck can capture a view, create a comfortable outdoor room, and add a feeling of spaciousness to your home by blurring the boundaries between inside and out.

Decks are economical, too; for a fraction of the cost of most interior remodeling projects, you can build a deck that expands your living area.

This partly sheltered deck serves as an indoor-outdoor space connecting a family room with a patio. Classically simple, it is a great transitional element for nearly any style of house. 

Look below for plans from Sunset‘s Complete Deck Book.

You can wrap this deck plan around almost any house on fairly flat ground. The key lies in establishing the shape of the deck.

Wide places invite socializing, while traffic areas are narrower. If the floors in your home are higher than in this design, you can set the beams on posts with appropriate piers and footings, and then add steps as needed.

For a higher deck, check whether a railing may be necessary. This plan includes a perimeter foundation to support the beams, an arrangement that provides maximum support and ease in leveling the structure, but you could use individual piers and footings instead.

Building note: Where a perimeter trim board runs perpendicular to the rest of the decking, an extra joist must be provided beneath the joint.

Next: Materials for this deck plan 

Lumber:

• Beams 4×6, or doubled 2x6s
• Joists and ledgers 2×6
• Decking 2×6, with 2×8 trim boards
• Steps 2×12 treads; 2×6 risers; 1×4 and 1×6 fascias

Masonry:

• Concrete Perimeter foundation
• Hardware
• Nails 16d (framing), 10d finish (blind-nailed decking); as appropriate for
• connectors
• Connectors Joist hangers
• Other #4 rebar

Slide show: Great ideas for decks