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Steps in building a patio deck for your new furniture

Location is your primary concern and should be your first step in building a deck or backyard patio. After you know where the deck is going have a very close look at the surrounding landscapes, especially the slope and soil.

Most decks are built out of wood and patio's are normally built using concrete. Patio building is done on the ground and wood decks can be either.

If you are going to build your new deck on slight hill or you have a slope that is close to the patio a retaining wall is probably the first order of business.

Choosing the what materials to build the retaining wall out of will decide on how hard the landscaping project will be.

Next look at what type of soil you are going to build your new patio on. If you have clay compact soil or sandy soil. This will tell you how far in the ground your footings will have to go and how much concrete is going to be used.

Will your patio be attached to the house or sitting out by itself near a garden. If it is attached to your home or porch then you may need a building permit, so you need to check with your local building inspector.

The easiest way to calculate your materials in building a deck is to find a magazine that has deck building plans in it. These will have a complete list of materials you will need to buy.

These next pages are to help you choose the type of materials you will use in your retaining wall construction.

Retaining Wall
Most homeowners build fieldstone or timber walls because they are the most popular materials in my area, but modular-block and poured-concrete (or concrete-block) walls also are excellent options.