Because we specialize in deck construction and creative deck design, local homeowners ask us a lot of questions. One of the questions we hear most often is how big is the average deck?
On one hand, that’s an easy question to answer. Locally, decks average between 400-600 square feet. Front decks tend to be slightly smaller than back decks. Second and third story decks are smaller than ground floor decks. Multi-level decks can be much larger than average, and decks that surround another feature, such as a pool or fire pit, can wind up being quite large in their own right.
But these answers don’t really answer the true question that’s being asked, which is “How large should the deck for my house be?” We’ve never met the homeowner who truly felt their home was average. Every house has its own unique character and charm, and there’s no one right deck design that works on every structure.
This means that on some houses, a small, cute deck is exactly what’s wanted. Other houses – and the family that lives there – may require a gigantic spacious deck with lots of room for entertaining, outdoor living, and lots of kids and pets to play.
Creative deck design principles dictate that the deck should fit the house and the family. This means that a deck should be in scale with the structure it’s attached to. You wouldn’t want to stick a tiny deck on a huge house, nor vice versa: the disconnect in scale would create an unpleasant, jarring visual.
That being said, it’s important that the deck be large enough to accommodate all of the family’s needs. If you’re planning on using the deck to entertain large parties, it needs to be quite large – even if the house it is attached to is on the modest side.