Design Ideas for Custom Decks

 

When planning your new custom deck, there are a number of designs, patterns, and styles to choose from.  Below are a few of the more popular ideas.

  • 45-Degree Decking – the deck boards run at a 45-degree angle to the joists.
  • 90-Degree Decking – the deck boards run in the opposite direction to the joists.
  • Picture Frame Border – a board that runs around the full perimeter of the deck.  Usually the boards are a different color from the decking to create a contrast.  Can also be a double, triple, quadruple board design.
  • End Boards – boards that are placed at the end of the deck, running perpendicular to the decking.  In composite decks the end boards help create a finished look.
  • Dividing Deck Boards – also known as Breaker Boards.  They are dividing boards that separate the length of the deck and are placed perpendicular to the decking boards.
  • Multi-Angle Deck Boards (Herringbone) – utilizing boards in multiple angles resulting in striking designs.  The most popular of these is the Herringbone design.

With such a wide range in choice of materials, color, stain, and design, Decks by Schmillen can help ensure you get the custom built design to wish to achieve.

Composite deck with double divider boards and picture frame border and a steel deck railing in Colorado Springs

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45-Degree Deck Designs

Amazing composite deck in Monument Colorado featuring a custom built stucco wood-burning fireplace gabled deck cover and outdoor kitchen

1 – This custom deck features Fiberon Ipe composite decking laid at a 45-degree angle and a gabled deck cover with vaulted ceiling in knotty pine tongue and groove.   The wood-burning fireplace is custom designed and built from stucco.

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B-grade redwood deck with 45-degree decking metal deck railing with ring top accent panel and a stone firepit in Colorado Springs

2 – A Redwood deck built using B-Grade Redwood laid at a 45-degree angle to the joists.  The railing features wood components with metal panels and a ring top accent panel. We also added a stone firepit to create an area perfect for entertaining on cooler nights.

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Redwood deck with 45-degree decking a four board picture frame border and a wood and metal deck railing in Colorado Springs

3 – The owners decided to have the Redwood decking laid out at 45-degrees and added a quadruple picture frame border stained in a contrasting color.  The railing has wood components and drink cap with metal panels.

Redwood deck in Colorado Springs with 45-degree decking metal deck railing and solar lights post caps

4 – This Redwood deck has the boards laid at 45-degrees and uses camo screws.  The railing has wood posts with lighted pyramid post caps and metal panels between the posts.

Composite deck with 45-degree deck boards and a glass railing in Colorado Springs

5 – This 45-degree composite deck is built with a double picture frame border and a glass railing instead of the usual wood or metal.

Composite deck with 45-degree deck boards and double picture frame border in Colorado Springs

6 – A composite deck with the boards laid at a 45-degree angle with a double picture frame border in a contrasting color.  The railing has composite components and drink cap with Vienna style metal balusters.

Composite deck with 45-degree deck boards and metal horizontal deck railing in Colorado Springs

7 – This gorgeous deck features TimberTech Legacy Tiger Wood decking laid at a 45-degree angle.  The railing is a Fortress Fe26 Axis Horizontal Infill panel system in matte black.

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A cedar deck with 45-degree deck boards that is being built in Colorado Springs

8 – This deck was built with the composite boards laid at a 45-degree angle with a double picture frame border.  The border, railing posts, and drink cap are in a color that contrasts with the decking material.

90-Degree Deck Designs

Composite deck in Deckorators Sedona with single board frame in Deckorators Ironwood and black metal deck railing in Colorado Springs

9 – This deck features Deckorators Voyage Sedona laid at a 90-degree angle with a single-board picture frame border in Deckorators Vista Ironwood.

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Custom Cumaru hardwood deck in Colorado Springs with a single wrap around deck stair and deck lighting

10 – This Cumaru hardwood deck features the boards laid at a 90-degree angle with a divider board and end boards.  We installed Genesis step lights from High Point Deck Lighting on the single wrap-around stair.

Composite deck featuring a metal deck railing seating area with a fire pit and amazing mountain views in Colorado Springs

11 – We built this deck Fiberon Sanctuary Moringa decking laid at a 90-degree angle.  the railing is a Fortress Fe26 Traditional powder-coated panel system in Black Sand.  The owners also added a double picture frame border in Fiberon Espresso.

Composite deck with steel deck framing custom wrought iron deck railing and stucco columns with a great view of Colorado Springs

12 – Steel framed deck with Trex Tiki Torch material laid at a 90-degree angle with single divider board to avoid butt-seams.  The railing was a custom design by the homeowner, created in wrought iron and attached to stucco columns.

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Outdoor living area created in Colorado Springs by building a composite deck with steel deck railing

13 – This 408 SF composite deck is built using Deckorators Voyage Mesa decking laid out a 90-degree angle to the joists.  The railing is an RDI metal panel system in matte black with 3″ x 3″ posts and a drink cap in the Mesa material.

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Composite deck with 90-degree angle deck boards double end boards metal deck railing and a gate in Colorado Springs

14 – This custom deck was built with steel deck framing and Trex Tiki Torch decking material.  The boards are laid at 90-degrees with double end and dividing boards.  The railing is metal panel system with a gate installed at the stairs for safety.

Close up view of a composite deck with 90-degree deck boards and double end boards in Colorado Springs

15 – This picture shows a close up of 90-degree composite with double end boards.

Composite deck with double picture frame border and divider boards and a metal deck railing in Colorado Springs

16 – Working with our customers, we designed a striking, two-tone composite deck.  The main decking is Deckorators Voyage Tundra with double picture frame and divider boards in Deckorators Dark Slate.

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Composite deck with single end board and deck railing featuring composite posts with horizontal stainless steel cables in Colorado Springs

17 – A 90-degree angle composite deck with end boards.  The railing features composite components with horizontal steel cables.

Composite deck with 90-degree deck boards single end boards and metal deck railing in Colorado Springs

18 – 90-degree composite with end boards and a Fortress Fe-26 metal panel railing in Black Sand.

B-grade redwood deck with cedar pergola and seating area located in Monument Colorado

19 – A custom, B-grade Redwood deck that has the boards laid out at 90-degrees to the joists with a double divider board and camo screws.  The railing has wood components with round metal balusters.  We also added a Cedar, tri-corner pergola.

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Herringbone / Multi-Angle Deck Designs

Redwood deck in Colorado Springs with herringbone design double picture frame border and steel deck railing

20 – Redwood decking in a herringbone design with double picture frame border in a contrasting color and camo screws.  The railing is metal panel system in matte black with a drink cap.

Ground level Cedar deck with a herringbone design in Colorado Springs

21 – A beautiful, ground-level Cedar deck laid out in a herringbone pattern with no divider board.

Redwood deck with alternating 45-degree angle boards and a wood snow fence deck railing in Colorado Springs

22 – A multi-level Redwood deck which has opposing 45-degree angles for a herringbone look.  We used face screws to secure the decking boards.  The railing is a Redwood snow fence railing with a drink cap.

Composite deck in Colorado Springs with herringbone design picture frame border and gabled deck cover

23 – We laid the composite deck in a herringbone design with double divider boards, and a double picture frame border in a contrasting color.  The railing is made of composite posts and drink cap with metal panels between the posts.

Composite deck with multi-angle deck boards and a double board picture frame border in Colorado Springs

24 – Our customers chose to design their deck in multiple angle with double picture frame border and divider boards in a contrasting color.

Steel framed composite deck with herringbone design and a double picture frame border located in Glen Eagle neighborhood of Colorado Springs

25 – Fiberon Ipe composite decking is laid out in a herringbone pattern with Fiberon Tudor Brown decking for the double picture frame border.  The railing is composite components and drink cap with round metal balusters featuring a basket design.

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Redwood deck in Colorado Springs with herringbone design two board picture frame border and a custom designed wrought iron deck railing

26 – A custom-built, Heart Redwood deck built in a herringbone pattern with a double picture frame border and camo screws.  The metal railing is a custom design in wrought iron with 2×2 posts and Vienna style balusters.

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Replacing Columns that Look Intact

Elevated deck with stucco columns

27 – The stucco columns on this deck appear to be intact – from the outside.

Inside of stucco column that has rotted

28 – Once the columns are removed, you can see that after many years, the insides are rotted out.

Inside view of stucco column that was used to support a deck and it has rotted

29 – It would be unsafe to build a new deck using these columns.  They must be replaced.

Miscellaneous Items to Consider

Butt seams on a Fiberon Ipe deck

30 – This composite deck did not have a divider board added per the owners’ request.  You can clearly see the butt seams where two boards meet.

A composite deck with a single divider board used so no butt seams are visible

31 – On this deck, we installed a single divider board.  It provides a much more polished finish.

Composite deck with a steel deck railing and no end boards

32 – An example of why end boards should be used when building a deck with composite material.

A composite deck with a divider board but no end board

33 – A divider board added to a composite deck that did not include end boards, as seen from the edge of the deck.

A composite deck with a divider board but no end board

34 – Composite decking will experience expansion and contraction with temperature.  This shows the contraction that can occur in the cold.  It can move up to 1/8″ to 3/16″ depending on the temperature.

Corner of a composite deck showing what occurs with expansion

35 – This is the same deck as the previous picture, taken just a couple hours later.  You can see that when the day warms up, the composite decking material expands back to the original spot.

Composite deck boards that have been screwed with color matched screws

36 – This shows the close up a screw that is color matched to the composite decking material.

Wood deck framing for a deck that is being built with a picture frame border

37 – This is how the deck framing will be built for a deck with picture frame border.

Wood deck framing for a deck with end and divider boards

38 – Framing for a deck that is being built with a picture frame border and a divider board.