Decks & Patios for Dummies - Softcover

Beckstrom, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0764550756 ISBN 13: 9780764550751

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 1998

Synopsis

Life is just so much sweeter when experienced from a good deck or patio. Breezes, sunlight, the smells of the garden, birdsongs...just a few minutes in your own backyard can enliven the senses and rejuvenate the spirit. Meals become relaxed affairs. Food tastes better. Conversations are richer. Time eases its hectic demands and drifts by at a more congenial pace. Whether for a neighborhood barbeque or just a quiet afternoon with a paperback, decks and patios offer us the perfect space to kick back and let the good times roll.

Decks and Patios for Dummies contains everything you need to know to design and build your dream deck or patio. Full of practical tips and clear, simple instructions, it shows the do-it-yourselfer how to solve problems in design and construction while avoiding pitfalls and unnecessary expenses. You’ll find useful information on:

• Choosing the location
• Sizing
• Choosing materials
• Preparing the site
• Building
• Adding barbeques, fireplaces, etc.
• Maintenance

This is a start-to-finish guide on all aspects of deck and patio construction – including when you should seek help from the professionals! Designed to make the most of your budget, it walks you through:

• Dealing with contractors, codes, and feasibility
• The building checklist
• Lighting, outlets, faucets, and other add-ons
• Decks – from frames to finishes
• Patios: concrete, flagstone, or brick?
• Steps, stairs, and benches
• Special details and decorations

Whether your project is a patio just big enough for two chaises-lounges or a screened-in, wraparound deck on the side of a mountain, Decks and Patios for Dummies makes building understandable and fun with illustrations, diagrams, helpful sidebars, and a color insert of photos to stir the imagination. Take advantage of this comprehensive guide and build your dream deck today.

About this title

Review

Beckstrom, a nationally known home-remodeling and improvement expert, has put together an A-to-Z book about pretty near everything one needs to know about planning and building decks and patios: the choices of materials, tools, finishes, and accessories like planters, decorative railings, and benches.

Covering all construction techniques literally from the ground up--from foundations, supports, and basic structural guidelines all the way to final finishes and maintenance--this book offers information on everything the do-it-yourselfer could want to know. Throughout, the book is highlighted with special tips and shortcuts, cost-saving tips and tricks, warnings about pitfalls and common mistakes, and a special emphasis on "learning the lingo": explaining the terminology of tools, hardware, and materials, as well as common building words and expressions. At 356 pages and with hundreds of useful illustrations, color photographs, and a detailed index for easy reference, this is the book you need if you are fantasizing about or planning a deck or patio for your home. --Mark A. Hetts

From the Back Cover

"The guidebook to turning your yard into your favorite getaway destination." — Bill Crosby, Editorial Director, ImproveNet "An outstanding reference for beginners and first-time homeowners." — Boston Globe "A concise, well-put-together summary of everything do-it-yourselfers need to know to build their dream decks." — Pamela Allsebrook, California Redwood Association

8 Pages of Colorful Photos to Motivate the Do-It-Yourselfer!

Build a Great Deck or Patio Without Breaking Your Back — or the Bank! Planning a backyard bash but have nowhere to put the barbecue? Let this fun-filled, practical guide help you design, build, and maintain the outdoor space of your dreams. Written with the do-it-yourself builder in mind, Decks & Patios For DummiesŪ brings you everything you need to know to do a top-notch job — including tips on when to get help! Before you know it, you'll be flipping burgers out back. Time to Hit the Deck!

• Plan the functional and fun outdoor haven that works best for your space
• Find out about basic rules of design so you can create your own layout
• Choose your surface — wood, concrete, brick, flagstone, or tiles
• Treat your deck with the right sealant for the surface you've selected
• Build a solid patio foundation that won't flood with the first rain
• Don't forget the amenities — barbecues, benches, overheads, planters, and more

About this edition

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0764550756
• ISBN 13: 9780764550751
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 355
• Editor: National Gardening Association (U. S.)