Know the Law Before Building a Deck

If there's one thing you don't want to skip when buying a new home, it's the building inspection. A thorough inspection will look closely at the decks on a property, ensuring that they are up to code. That way, you never have to worry about any unpleasant surprises later on.

Understand the Local Laws -

One of the first things that you should do before building a deck is to obtain approval from the local council. Depending on your specific circumstances, you may need to get a Building Approval and a Planning Approval. Either way, you shouldn't spend a penny on supplies before obtaining that approval. These specifications have been put in place to ensure that your new deck will be safe and so that it will also fit in with the reminder of the neighbourhood.

Several criteria are inspected when it comes to obtaining a building approval. The primary goal of a building approval is to ensure that a structure will be safe. As such, it will be inspected very thoroughly. Your plans must show that your deck won't exceed the size limitations that are in place; those limitations vary by area, though, so you'll need to check with your local council for more details.

Planning approvals are used to ensure that a deck will fit in well with the rest of the neighbourhood and city. Most cities have regulations in place concerning the way various structures look. This is done in order to achieve an appealing and cohesive look. After all, if every neighbour used a jumble of different deck styles, a neighbourhood will look unorganized and unappealing. Planning approvals are an important part of the deck building process, so make sure that receive one. Down the line, when you go to sell, your pest inspection will go off without a hitch.

Get Everything in Order -

Once you have received the proper approvals, you can move forward with confidence that your deck will not pose any problems for you in the future. After all, your deck should be an asset to your house; when designed properly, it should actually increase the value of your house. If your deck violates local ordinances, it will actually be a liability and could end up costing you an exorbitant amount of money. It is very likely that you will be able to select a deck that not only you will love, but also one that will be approved in the event an inspection was to be conducted on your property; just take your time and plan ahead, and everything should go off without a hitch!