Although it’s roughly three months (give or take a snowstorm) until vinyl deck building season begins, now is the time to get started. Even if you only have a hunch that this year will involve a new deck for your home, cottage, or condo, you need to start planning now in order to be positioned to complete your project this year; especially if you actually want to enjoy your new vinyl deck surface before the snow begins to fall again. Here’s what Tuff Industries recommends:

Step One: What is it you want out of your new vinyl deck?

It can help to get your ideas down on paper, so you can get an idea of the scope of the project and easily communicate to a contractor (if required) what you would like so you can get an accurate estimate. Are you looking for an entirely new deck, an extension, or just a new waterproof vinyl deck membrane? How about vinyl deck railings? Sketch out what you are looking for so you can begin the budgeting process.

Step Two: Start budgeting your vinyl deck project

Once you know what you want, you can start looking at a budget for your project. Decide whether you want a single contractor to manage your project or simply want one to do the “heavy lifting” while you complete the rest. Also, what type of materials do you want for this project? For example, you could choose luxury glass panels to enjoy your view or more affordable vinyl deck railings. You can request a range of quotes, to find one that matches both your desired budget, as well as your vision for your new vinyl deck.

If you’re planning a second story deck extension or installation, consider the space underneath as well, as it presents an opportunity to develop a second outdoor living space or storage, depending on your needs.

Step Three: Consider regulations for vinyl deck building

The advantage of starting early is that it gives you time to consider all the various issues that can arise with a building project. If you are building a new vinyl deck, or extending an old one, then odds are that you’ll need a building permit, which can take a few weeks to issue. If you start early, you’ll be able to ensure that your permit is in place in time for the project’s commencement, instead of the possibility of encountering lengthy delays.

While you might be tempted to skip this step, don’t. Besides the alarming trend of unsafe decks, building without a permit may cost you down the road if your deck or vinyl balcony isn’t up to code.

Step Four: Book your vinyl deck contractor, now!

Once you have the details, permit, and a detailed estimate, you’ll want to book your vinyl deck contractor as soon as possible. Once the weather begins to warms, they will quickly book up and you might not get your project completed.

Step Five: Prepare your vinyl deck for construction

Even if there is still snow on the ground, you can start gradually preparing your deck for spring construction. Remove as much snow as you can (as this will speed up the melting process when the weather warms). However, ensure that you aren’t blocking access to the deck or filling in areas where your contractor may require access, such as around the footing area of the deck, or the base where an extension is going to go. Remove all furniture, barbecues, plants, etc. The clearer everything is, the quicker your project can get started.

Once all this is done, all you have to do is sit back and wait for spring! In the meantime, you might want to browse Tufdek’s vinyl deck photo gallery for ideas on vinyl decking colors or check out the latest trends for vinyl and roof decks for inspiration.