How to Seamlessly Add a Deck to Your Home

A well-built deck is much more than just a space for your grill. It blends indoor and outdoor living, becoming an integral part of your home that can function as a kitchen, a dining room, a fitness studio and a quiet spot to sip a cup of coffee and read, all in the course of the same day.

And no matter its shape or size, every great deck starts with high-quality material. For homeowners who want decades-long durability without compromising on aesthetics, a material like TimberTech Advanced PVC Decking is a smart choice. Not only is it made with high-performance polymers for exceptional longevity and fade resistance, but it provides a luxury finish with its close match to the look and texture of real wood.

Ready to add an outdoor oasis to your home? Here’s what you need to know to create your dream deck.

Extend the indoors out

For a smooth transition between interior and exterior, try coordinating your deck with your home’s flooring, or choosing decking boards that go with your exterior siding. TimberTech’s premium wood-alternative offerings make it easy to match these types of finishes. The Vintage collection, for instance, echoes the rich, distinctive hues of prized tropical woods like ipe, mahogany and teak, right down to realistic highlights and lowlights on each board. And the Landmark collection features the rustic charm of French white oak and American walnut, in a crosscut finish that showcases beautiful cathedral-grain patterns and color variations. “The French oak is right on target with the trend we’re seeing around lighter-toned decks,” says Dan DiClerico, director of home improvement & outdoor at the Good Housekeeping Institute. So you can be sure that whatever TimberTech colorway you choose, it will look and feel just like real wood — without your having to sand, seal and stain your deck every year.

Stay cool

Heading outdoors means contending with the elements, and while you can’t engineer pleasant weather, you can make your deck more hospitable by providing shade. Consider adding a pergola: It’ll break up harsh sunlight, create a more seamless transition between indoors and out and bring a charming, cozy ambience to your open-air space. As long as your deck is properly constructed from solid boards like TimberTech’s, it won’t have any trouble supporting the weight of the additional structure.

Get cooking

Outdoor appliances like a grill or pizza oven can make your deck the hottest spot on the block, but it’s important to choose models that are built to last. Because they’re constantly exposed to the elements, these devices need to withstand quite a bit of wear and tear, or be portable and easily stored inside. If your deck doesn’t come right off your kitchen, you might even create an outdoor kitchen setup, with refrigerated drawers, a prep sink and room for trash. When shopping, think about the kind of entertaining you’ll be doing: A three-burner grill should work just fine for small family meals, but if you throw large dinner parties, a six-burner unit may be a better choice. TimberTech decking products have a Class A Flame Spread Rating (the highest ranking) meaning they are most likely to minimize the spread of an active flame so you can grill with confidence.

Keep it neat

A deck should always be open and inviting — you don’t want to be tripping over things or having to rearrange furniture every time you step out onto it. Be realistic about how many people it can fit, and focus on designing the optimal seating arrangement for the space and how you’ll be using it. A round table with chairs is great for alfresco meals, for example, while a wicker sofa with outdoor cushions makes a comfy spot for relaxing with a book. Storage solutions can also double as seating: A wooden deck box, say, can house garden tools and also, topped with a cushion, serve as a bench. “I used this strategy on my deck, and the storage bench does wonders to contain clutter,” adds DiClerico.

Use your green thumb

Your outdoor space won’t be much of a private retreat if it’s not private. But a little creative gardening can make your deck feel secluded while also adding considerable charm. Long planters along the sides filled with tall grasses or shrubs will break up sight lines and make everything feel more intimate. Or you can install a decorative fence along one side and train vines to grow up its posts. Whatever your strategy, consider using plants and flowers that are native to your area: Since they’ve adapted to thrive in your environment, they’ll require less water and maintenance, and also can serve as critical habitat for wildlife.

Opt for sustainable materials

TimberTech Advanced PVC Decking has another advantage over hardwoods: It’s sustainable. In fact, the brand’s Landmark collection won a Good Housekeeping Sustainable Innovation Award for its thoughtful use of repurposed materials. Each board is made from approximately 60% recycled material, including discarded vinyl siding that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. In addition, TimberTech’s proprietary PVC blend offers exceptional durability with very little maintenance, so there’s no need to worry about fading, warping, rotting or mold damage. “For a building material to be truly sustainable, it also has to have an exceptionally long life span, and TimberTech promises just that,” says DiClerico. The company backs up its products with its 50-Year Fade & Stain Limited Warranty and Lifetime Limited Product Warranty. That means you won’t have to rip out your deck and replace it after a few years — a serious reduction in both waste and stress.