This article is more of a reminder than exciting news about building a new deck. According to Wolf Spirit Deck, a deck-building company in Naperville, most of the time when they go to an estimate, homeowners have some ideas in mind for their new deck. The hard part is telling them that their ideas can’t become a reality due to certain limitations. People don’t usually think about things that could make their decking dream a challenge or an impossible task. That’s why we decided to write this article, based on Radu Oprea’s 10+ years of deck-building experience in the suburbs of Chicago.

Here are five common limitations that may affect how your new deck turns out:

1. Local Building Codes and Zoning Restrictions

Any deck design must comply with local building codes and zoning regulations before any physical work commences. Such regulations might control deck height, dimensions, site positioning, railings, and stair installations.

Effects on design are inevitable. Modifications may need to be made due to safety regulations concerning deck height, aesthetics, and guardrail or privacy screens design.

Tip: Collaborate with a contractor who knows the permitting process in your city so that design and legal requirements are both fulfilled.

2. Existing Landscape and Grade

The shape and physical characteristics of your backyard will considerably affect the layout of the deck. For your construction, there are trees, rocks, uneven terrain, or drainage patterns which can complicate it or limit your design options.

What this means for you:

Trees that you might want to keep may have to be removed and it may be required to compromise on shape or height. On sloped yards, multi-level decks may be required instead.

Tip: Designers are often able to incorporate natural features creatively, so embrace your yard’s natural features, as your deck will be unique and serve its purpose well.

3. Material Selection and Availability

The appearance of your deck is influenced by the materials and composites that you select. Besides their appearance, hardwood and composite decks have their own costs, availability, and maintenance considerations. Also, supply shortages or your budget might affect your initial plan.

Here’s what this means for you:

You might have to select a different color or finish. That contemporary, modern hardwood grey composite might not be available, or a tropical hardwood might exceed your budget.

Tip: Flexibility around designated materials for your deck can yield the best results. Ask your contractor for other similar options that were not your first choice for the deck.

4. Home Architecture and Attachment Points

our deck must securely attach to your house, and not all external walls will work. Windows, doors, vents, or even structural components might influence the connection integration and its approach.

What this means for you:

Your preferred layout might not be possible due to utility lines or other design restrictions. Placing the deck precisely where you envisioned it may not be feasible.

5. Budget Constraints

It is quite common knowledge that budget is one of the predominant factors of any home improvement project. Custom features like railings, lighting, or even material upgrades can expand a project’s budget exceedingly.

What this means for you.

Scaling back on features, finishes, or even the overall size of a project might be a necessity. Perhaps that built-in seating or the curved staircase can be saved for a later stage.

Tip: Focus on structure and functionality first. A well-built and strong deck always can be enhanced later with aesthetic features.

Final Ideas

It’s easy to get carried away with the dream: the perfect deck with the warm lights strung across the railing, overseeing your yard, with a built-in bench serving as a conversation nook for the long summer evenings. That vision is critical, as it serves as the inspiration to start the project.

As with anything built to last, a great deck starts with what is visually appealing, but the deck should also have lingers beneath the surface: considerations, practical expectations, and robust adaptability.

Take, for instance, the layout needing to be shifted to accommodate the old oak tree that needs to be preserved. Or needing to alter the layout of the project due to the materials that were ordered. Or letting go of some extras that were initially planned due to the budget constraints in the initial concept. All of these can feel like compromises but more often than not, that is where the best design is uncovered. Creativity flourishes not in a blank slate, but in the real world which are often accompanied by slopes and, for lack of a better phrase, hiccups.

The end result may differ from the envisioned design for the deck. However, if your priorities have remained unchanged—connection, comfort, beauty, function—then the deck will be a space aligned with your lifestyle. It will be a space where coffee is savored outdoors, where shoes are discarded, laughter abounds, and where memories settle like familiar wood beneath your feet.

Feel free to change your focus if needed. Your attention toward debilitative aspects should shift. Limitations are part of the process to be embraced. The beautiful memories surrounding the structure render it a stage, transforming it from merely a structure. It is those beautiful, little moments that render a space lovely.