Deck Designer and Tool

You've heard the expression measure twice, cut once. The same principle applies to deck design. Before you install your first joist or deck board, you'll want to have a deck design that's completely planned out from the foundation to the ledger board. But you probably don't want to spend your entire spring or summer designing it. You want to go outside and build.

So use SmartDraw's deck planner to design a deck to be the envy of your neighbors.

Start with a deck design template and quickly drag-and-drop deck elements like boards, railings, planters, and even patio furniture. Deck designing made simple!

• Don't Forget to Get a Permit
  You could face fines or may even have to tear down all your hard work if you don't get the right permits before you start building your deck. Find out what codes you have to follow in your area and make sure you create your deck plan accordingly.
• Use Protection
  Protect your hard deck design work from the elements whether it be rain, excessive sun, or frost. Make sure you apply both paint and an oil or water-based sealant.
• How to Make Sure Your Deck is Flat
  Your boards won't always be perfectly flat. To help flatten them out, always install them with the curves or crown going upward. That way as the deck sags over time, they will flatten out.