It’s
probably well known to anyone living Deck Builder in West Omaha, NE that our backyards are kind
of colorful characters. Some folks have to put up with soggy patches after
every rain. Others are the owners of the yards, which slope just enough to make
them ask themselves whether a deck will be at a right angle or not. And then
there is the clay soil—hard, sticky, and varying its nature with the season.
Over the years we have been building decks here, we have found out that these
little things actually determine the manner in which outdoor spaces are getting
designed.
This
article is not one of those highly polished, “expert” articles. You could
consider it more like neighbor-to-neighbor advice—just a bunch of things we
have seen while working with the families all over West Omaha. No frills. Just
real-life and a few stories from homes that probably look a lot like yours.
The One Issue We See All the Time: Backyard
Drainage (Especially After Spring Storms)
If
there is one thing that almost every homeowner mentions at some point, then it
is drainage. And the issue of drainage is always brought up right after we had
a heavy spring downpour—the kind that leaves puddles in the yard and
temporarily turns grass into a sponge.
West
Omaha is a place where yards can keep water longer than expected. There are
some neighborhoods in which yards slope toward the house; some slope toward a
fence line and many have low spots where water likes to settle after a storm.
The reason for this is that our area has such clay-heavy soil that water does
not drain as fast as people would like.
A Real Story From a Family Near Millard Who
Thought Their Yard Was “Too Wet for a Deck”
Not
that long ago we met a couple near the Millard area who were convinced that
their backyard was not going to work for a deck. "It’s like a mini lake
back here," one of them said jokingly as we were walking across the yard
and I immediately sank into a soft patch of mud.
The
joke is on them? Their yard was not actually as bad as they thought—it only had
that one low area where water collected every time it rained. After we observed
the water movement and identified the water collection point, the fix turned
out to be very straightforward. We changed the grading in a small area and
designed the deck to be a little higher in the spot that was usually soft.
Later
on, they said, "We thought that fixing drainage meant tearing up the whole
yard… it was way more straightforward than we thought."
That
is the thing: drainage looks scary, but sometimes just a few small changes can
make a huge difference.
Why West Omaha Soil Makes Drainage Tricky
The
local soil here is primarily clay—tight and water is not easily absorbed. After
a heavy rain, it seems like the yard takes a very long time to dry. And when
winter comes, all that moisture that is trapped turns to ice and expands, which
can cause the ground to shift just a little bit.
This
is not a reason to give up on deck building. It is only something that you have
to realize before putting up a deck. Here, the deck design and location are
more of a water management strategy.
The Practical Steps We Usually Recommend When
Yards Get Mushy or Hold Water
Homeowners
are under the impression that drainage problems demand intricate solutions, but
most of the time, only a few careful changes are needed.
Simple Yard Adjustments That Actually Make a
Difference
These
are the things we frequently recommend when a yard is prone to water retention:
1.
Notice How the water flows throughout a heavy storm. Although it seems
elementary, it is actually the most effective way of knowing what your yard is
up to.
2.
Make downspouts longer, and put them at a farther place from the house. Short
downspouts are the main reason you will find soggy yards without being aware of
it.
3.
Work on the depressions instead of the whole yard. There is no need to regrade
the entire yard - sometimes just a single dip is the problem.
4.
Do not put mulch right next to the deck. Mulch is a material that can be
transported, shifted, and changed even when there is a pool of water. Gravel or
river rock is a better choice for the nearby.
These
are not pretty tips — just small things that make life easier on a daily basis.
When a Deck Design Can Work With the Water
Instead of Against It
One
thing that we realized is that the best deck is not always the one that is
located at the driest part of the yard—because sometimes that place just
doesn’t exist.
It
is often enough to just raise the deck a little or to select a footing system
made for difficult soil to solve the problem of water. There are also instances
when the deck is cunningly placed at one side thus avoiding the wet zone that
is perpetual.
We
have constructed decks that are there for the purpose of being over a low spot
because it is simpler (and more reasonable) to create the design based on what
the yard naturally does. A deck can be the answer to a drainage problem by
giving you a surface that you can use above the area that usually stays wet.
What Years of Building Decks in West Omaha Have
Taught Us About Weather and Wear
The
longer your stay here, the more you are convinced that Nebraska weather is
quite a character. Hot summers, windy evenings, icy winters—it all contributes
to how a deck can withstand.
How Freeze–Thaw Cycles Affect Footings and
Stability
Our
freeze–thaw cycle should not be taken lightly. The soil, when it freezes, gets
bigger. When it thaws, it gets smaller. The continual movement can shift the
footings gradually if they are not placed deep enough or if they are not made
for our local soil.
There
is no need for a detailed explanation—however, we are bringing this up because
many homeowners are not aware of how much the ground beneath their deck moves
within a year. When you get this, the requirement of proper footing depth (and
at times even deeper than you think) becomes very logical.
Material Choices That Hold Up Best With Nebraska
Moisture and Temperature Swings
We
are not here to convince anyone to use a given material. But, we can reveal
what we have observed:
1.
Composite decking generally is very resistant to humidity, rain, and
temperature changes. The material does not warp or fade as quickly.
2.
Cedar is the most popular choice of people who appreciate the natural look and
do not mind some yearly maintenance.
3.
Pressure-treated lumber is good for frames; however, it should be allowed to
dry before staining.
Compare
it to the choice of floor inside your house—what is good for one family might
not be good for another.
The Unexpected Things Homeowners Often Overlook
(But Make a Big Difference Later)
We,
over the years, have come to the realization that the biggest surprises are not
primarily structural—they are lifestyle-related ones.
How Sun, Shade, and Wind Change How You Use the
Deck
A
neighbor near Lake Zorinsky once said, "My deck is gorgeous... I just
didn't know how windy it gets back here." We chuckled because, frankly,
that is West Omaha for you.
Some
of the things that one should take into consideration are:
1.
A west-facing deck will get very hot during summer afternoons.
2.
If a place is shaded in the morning, it does not mean that it will be in the
evening as well.
3.
Even the tiniest breeze can be a big factor when you are grilling.
An
easy pergola, a privacy panel, or even moving the deck a few feet can make the
space a lot more comfortable.
Why Planning for Water Runoff Keeps Decks
Looking Better for Longer
Decks
require only little maintenance, but they would certainly benefit from being
careful about where water is going to. Overflowing gutters, heavy downpours, or
even sprinkler heads can slowly but surely wear away at deck boards or cause
staining over time.
Most
of these things can be fixed easily at the beginning, but they become difficult
to change later.
A Final Neighborly Thought for Anyone Planning a
Deck in West Omaha
At
the end of the day, building a deck in West Omaha is not the matter of choosing
the most luxurious design or the trendiest railing—it is about putting up
something that is suitable for your yard, your family, and the way you live.
Every
yard here has its peculiarities and every family uses their outdoor space in
their own way. The greatest decks that we have seen were not the largest or the
most costly ones. They were the ones that seemed like a natural extension of
the house and made everyday life a little easier.
In
case you are planning your own deck, you should take some time to simply watch
how your yard behaves through a couple of storms, hot days, and windy evenings.
Those small things cannot be told by any brochure or Pinterest board.
If
at any time you want to talk about ideas—just neighbor to neighbor—well, we’re
always around.
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