When it comes to deck building there are a lot of basic construction practices that have held true for decades. However, technology has drastically changed the design process. Now high-tech tools that even builders didn’t have are easily accessible for all homeowners and user-friendly enough for anyone to use.
We’ve played around with many deck designing tools, and the ones below are some of the best we have ever seen.
DeckTools Inspire
If you’ve browsed our site you may have noticed information on the DeckTools Inspire deck designing tool. You can sign up for a free account through our website and be designing within minutes. One of the biggest advantages of DeckTools Inspire with that its super easy to use. There’s a great tutorial for learning the basics as well as a DeckTools YouTube channel with additional information and tips.
So what can you do? The software produces stunning renderings that can be completely built out with vegetation, furniture and an outdoor kitchen. It goes well beyond a simple layout to allow you to select different finishes of wood, railings and more. It’s no exaggeration to say you can build an entire world around your deck design with detailed lighting and even weather. You can look at it in a 2D overhead view or 3D side views from virtually every angle.
Just click on elements then drag and drop them into the work area. Changing the footprint is as easy as clicking on an edge and pulling it out to where you want it. Zoom in and out with ease so you can see the deck in its entirely or get in close to work out the fine details. Once you’re done you can save the design and access it later on your computer, tablet or smartphone. You can even use the designs to get accurate quotes from lumber providers.
Trex Deck Designer
Interested in using Trex decking materials? The Trex color visualizer is a cool tool for exploring all of the finish options, but when you want to get serious about creating an outdoor living space the Trex Deck Designer is a must. It only takes a few minutes to download the program to your computer so you can start creating a Trex deck. (At this time the program is only supported by Windows operating system.)
Once the system is loaded you can begin designing a deck with one or two levels built using any of the Trex decking options. Choose the plank color, profile and direction then start adding the fine details like facia, lighting and a railing system. The Perspective tool allows you to view the deck design from different angles while the Zoom tool allows you to look at the deck from a distance or up close.
A handy feature of this design software is the deck report it produces. The report will list the materials needed to build the deck you’ve designed, layout diagrams and information on where you can buy Trex decking – like at Timbertown Austin if you’re in Central Texas.
TimberTech Deck Designer Tool
TimberTech also has a design tool created especially for its composite decking materials. It’s very similar to the Trex tool in that you can build a 3D model choosing everything from the deck finish to the lighting. The tool allows you to create multi-level decks and there’s no limit to the number of designs you can make, save and edit later.
The tool makes it easy to get off and running with basic layouts that you can build off of so you don’t have to start from scratch. In addition to a materials list the TimberTech Deck Designer tool will also generate installation guidelines and provide construction tips for each deck design you create.
Have a design all laid out and ready to go? Visit the Timbertown Austin lumber yard to stock up on everything you need to build your dream deck. Our decking experts can even discuss your design ideas and provide additional advice on how to get the best bang for your buck!
Image Source: ingimage.com/imagedetails/60456004_extInt0/02J84509-Ingimage-Couple-in-park-on-laptop
Original Source: http://timbertownaustin.com/landscaping-and-design/top-3-deck-designing-tools/
