Deck styles & structures
Every outdoor space has a possibility.
Ground-level or elevated. Open to the sky or a little more sheltered. Explore layouts, support types and specialty uses—then combine them into your own plan.
Start your project brief
Ground-level & floating
A low deck can create a natural transition from your house to the garden. “Ground-level” describes its height, while “floating” generally describes a detached layout. The terms do not establish how the deck should be supported.
Explore the guide
Raised & second-story
An elevated deck can open a living room or kitchen to the outdoors, and create a useful space below. Its structure, guards, house connection and stair route deserve equal attention.
Explore the guideMultilevel decks
A multilevel deck can turn a change in grade into distinct outdoor spaces. The strongest layouts give every level a purpose and keep the route between them clear.
Explore the guide
Attached & freestanding
The location of a deck and the way it is supported are related, but different. A deck can sit beside a house while using an independent support structure, or connect structurally to the building when properly designed.
Explore the guide
Wraparound & courtyard
A deck that wraps a corner can connect different parts of a home and create places to follow the sun or find shade. Good circulation matters more than adding a narrow strip of decking everywhere.
Explore the guideCovered & screened
An overhead structure changes how an outdoor room feels and how it is built. A pergola, solid roof, screened enclosure and fully enclosed room are different projects with different design questions.
Explore the guide
Rooftop & balcony
A rooftop terrace or balcony can create outdoor space where ground-level options are limited. Here, waterproofing and structural design are fundamental parts of the project—not optional finishing upgrades.
Explore the guide
Pool & hot-tub decks
A pool surround and a deck supporting a filled spa are very different design problems. Define which project you need before comparing surfaces or borrowing a layout from a photograph.
Explore the guideSmall & accessible layouts
A useful deck does not have to be large. A thoughtful landing, a compact dining platform or a step-free route can make a bigger difference than extra square footage that is difficult to use.
Explore the guide
Curved & custom designs
Shape and board layout can add personality to a straightforward platform. Choose the design feature that improves your space, then confirm the material and structural details needed to build it.
Explore the guideMaterials and layouts work together.
“Composite” describes a surface; “raised” describes a layout. An attached, raised, covered deck can use cedar, composite or another suitable assembly. Framing can be properly specified treated lumber or an engineered steel or aluminum system. Choose the complete design with a qualified professional.
Compare surface materialsYour next chapter outside
Start with a good plan.
Tell us about your space, what you want to change, and the way you want to live outside.