Today we're going to look at a different ways to dress up the back yard. Over a quarter of the homes in America have a wood deck, and we're going to put one in.

Michael Holigan: What are some of the special things you are going to do to make it a better deck?

Keith Powell (Deck Builder): We're going to set the piers, a 10" pier, two feet deep, which is just a huge concrete pier, and our girders are going to be set on 4-foot centers. We are going to go back with 2x6 joists (a lot of the do-it-yourselfers, they come in... I know my first deck many years ago, I came in with 2x4 joists, and it is not sturdy enough. So they may make the mistake of not building it sturdy enough).

MH: When designing a deck you need to keep in mind the shape and the look of the home.

KP: If they have a tall, blocky house, you don't want to add a lot curves and things to it. If the house is contemporary, you want to add some curves and things to it to make it accent the house.

MH: So incorporate the whole look in the backyard.

We used wolmanized lumber, a pressure treated pine. Before purchasing your wood, talk to the lumber supplier to determine what wood is best for your particular geographic area.

Just a few quick tips when you are building a deck, don't worry about lining up the actual decking itself. You need to come back afterward and cut it after you have pulled a chalk line so you know you have a straight line. Plus, below the deck, put down some sort of matting or plastic to prevent growth. You don't want a bunch of weeds coming up on your deck after it is finished.

And remember, a deck is not like a house, it's okay to go ahead and build around trees, as a matter of fact, it even looks better. Don't knock down the trees.

You can spend as little as several hundred dollars to several thousand dollars for a deck, and it should last about fifteen years. Your deck should also be sealed with a protective coating, but be sure to check with a lumber supplier in your area to see how soon that treatment should be added and during what season of the year.

I'm Michael Holigan, About The House.