Decking: The floor bears the brunt of rot on decks. Because deck boards lie flat, water collects in the cracks and knots and soaks into the end grain, especially at splices. Because these areas stay wet for long periods of time, they are the most vulnerable to decay. Choose a composite decking for your flat surfaces and natural wood for privacy walls, planter trim and other exposed wood to give your projects a more natural tactile character, and look. Because these items are largely vertical, they can be made of wood and will last a very long time.

Lumber: The wood for all of the above-ground framing should be .40-grade pressure treated lumber, which will last for decades without any maintenance. Posts and planter framing that are underground call for foundation-grade .60-treated lumber (stamped FNDN), the same material used for wood foundations. FNDN material may be a special-order item in you part of the country, but most lumberyards can get it for you.

Hardware: Plan on spending a few extra dollars to get quality hardware designed for outside use. That means using double-hot-dipped galvanized nails, or better yet, stainless steel nails for all nailing and exterior-rated joist hangers nails. Install a drip cap above your ledger and behind any siding. Don’t scrimp on hardware; remember that for the first time ever, the deck’s structure could outlast the hardware. Design: Take pains to plan your deck for the long term. Think far into the future to get the size and the shape right. Think in terms of a room addition more than a deck.

Footings: Make sure your footings are deep and wide enough for your climate. When you take your plans in to get a building permit, your inspector will let you know about the local requirements. In the upper Midwest, that means 42-in. deep footings, but I recommend 48 inches to ensure that the deck will be able to handle the next ice age.

Structure: Build with shorter spans, narrow spacing and heavier materials than you would for a normal, wood deck. Super-size the structural components to give a more beefy, permanent feel to what I expect to be an often-used outside living room.

For additional information on deck construction, please visit www.FlooringOutdoors.com, a major resource for decking construction materials and outdoor flooring ideas.