If you are looking for a way to add more living space to your existing home, but don’t want to build an addition, you might consider adding a deck. Punch! Home Design Software contains an extensive toolset for designing outdoor living areas. You will learn how to design multi-story and multi-level decks, including options for handrails, skirt trim, and steps.

The Deck Tools are available in the left sidebar. For information on accessing the left sidebar, and controlling the display of the tools that appear, see “Left Sidebar”.

Adding a Deck

Adding a deck is a great way to add living space to your home. With Punch! Home Design Software, you can build deck sections on the fly, with or without railings, or use wall trace tools to create a deck along an existing wall. All sections can be altered if you change your mind in the middle of the design process. There are two wall trace deck tools that make designing a deck against an intricate set of exterior walls simple. At any time during the designing process, you can view your work in 3D. When a deck tool is active you can edit the deck properties on the Properties pane in the right sidebar. You can also change the properties after the deck has been placed by selecting the deck to access its properties. Some deck properties are only available after the deck has been added, for example, stairs.

Freeform Deck

Using the Freeform Deck tools you can create a deck with a railing or a deck without a railing. The default drawing shape is a polygon. To create a deck using a different shape, choose the shape you want on the Properties pane in the right sidebar before you draw the deck.

To draw a freeform deck

1 Choose the deck tool you want from the Deck Tools group. To create a deck with railing, select this tool icon To create a Deck without a railing, select this tool icon

2 On the Properties pane, choose the shape you want.

3 Use the Define 2D Shape drawing method to draw a freeform deck.

Wall Trace Deck

Using the Wall Trace Deck tools you can automatically create a deck that traces an existing wall in your design. For rectangular deck shapes that conform to the existing perimeter, use the Wall Trace Tool. The start point for the deck defines the center of the deck.

Note: Only the edges of the deck that are away from the house perimeter will have railings.

To draw a wall trace deck

1 Choose the Deck Wall Trace button from the Deck Tools group.

2 Use the Drag-to-Size drawing method to drag the deck to the shape and size you want. The edge along the walls automatically conforms to match the shape.

Custom Deck Wall Trace Tool

For more complex perimeters, use the Custom Wall Trace Tool to trace the exterior and define points so your deck matches the unique shape you want perfectly. This deck must start along a wall, but then the shape is defined by the points you place as you draw.

Note: Only the edges of the deck that are away from the house perimeter will have railings.

To draw a custom wall trace perimeter deck

1 Choose the Custom Deck Wall Trace button from the Deck Tools group.

2 Drag along a wall to define the direction you want the deck to be drawn. A rubber band arrow is displayed and follows the pointer. Release the mouse button.

3 Click another point along a wall to define the last point of the deck along the wall.

Custom Deck Wall Trace Tool

For more complex perimeters, use the Custom Wall Trace Tool to trace the exterior and define points so your deck matches the unique shape you want perfectly. This deck must start along a wall, but then the shape is defined by the points you place as you draw.

Note: Only the edges of the deck that are away from the house perimeter will have railings.

To draw a custom wall trace perimeter deck

1 Choose the Custom Deck Wall Trace button from the Deck Tools group.

2 Drag along a wall to define the direction you want the deck to be drawn. A rubber band arrow is displayed and follows the pointer. Release the mouse button.

3 Click another point along a wall to define the last point of the deck along the wall.

4 Continue to click points to define the shape of the deck and then right-click to finish. The deck automatically conforms to the wall.

Deck Properties

Decks are defined by their height, skirting, and handrails. You can edit the properties before you draw or after the component has been added to your design by selecting it and clicking the Properties tab in the right sidebar.

Note: Always press Return to accept new values in a field.

Deck Height defines the distance from the base of the deck to the top surface. Enter the Height, in inches or feet and inches. A positive number raises the deck, while a negative number lowers it. Fractions of inches are entered in decimal form. By editing the height of a deck you can create elaborate designs using multi-level decks.

Skirting checkbox controls if skirting is enabled around the sides of the deck. When selected, skirting is enabled. You can choose to include skirt trim on only certain sides, and also customize the skirting by applying colors or materials.

Display Dimension checkbox controls the display of dimensions in 2D. If automatic dimensions are not displayed for the entire drawing, the deck dimensions are not displayed. For details on controlling the automatic dimensions display “Dimensioning”.

Adjust Curvature button controls curvature. For more information, see “Changing Curve Tension”.

Handrails Height defines the distance from the bottom of the handrail to the top.

Spacing defines the distance between each baluster or spindle.

Handrails checkbox controls if handrails are included on the selected edge. When selected, handrails are enabled. You can include or remove handrails from one side of the deck or multiple sides.

Posts checkbox controls if posts are included at each point you clicked when drawing the rail. When selected, posts are included; when deselected they are excluded. You can add or remove individual posts using the Add Point and Remove Point Tools. For more information, see “Editing Detail Shapes”.

Open Steps checkbox controls if step risers are included. When selected, risers are excluded; when deselected they are included.

Insert Steps button allows you to add steps to any side of your deck by selecting the deck edge and clicking Insert

Steps. By default, steps are added to the center of the deck side but can be moved easily into any position. To edit step properties, see “Staircase Properties”, on page 106.

Editing Deck Step Options

Using Punch! Home Design Software, you can add steps to any side of your deck and customize them to meet your needs. By default, steps are added to the center of the deck side but can be moved easily into any position.

Note: Steps are added to a deck by clicking the Insert Steps button when a deck edge is selected.

Note: Always press Return to accept new values in a field.

Width defines the distance from one side of the steps to the other side.

Height defines the distance from the base of the steps to the top step. This is especially useful when designing multi-level decks when you do not want the steps to reach the ground, just the next deck level.

Left Handrail and Right Handrail checkboxes control the display of the left and right handrails. When selected, the handrail is enabled; when deselected it is disabled.

Adding Custom Deck Railings

Customizing railings is easy with Punch! Home Design Software; you can simply add railings to any side of your deck. The shape and configuration of railings can be customized, and you can apply different materials to the rail, post, and balusters. You can specify the railing height and baluster spacing before or after drawing on the Properties pane in the right sidebar. As you draw a railing, each point you click as you draw creates a post.

To draw a deck railing

1 Choose the Straight Railing button from the Deck Tools group.

2 On the Properties pane, choose the shape you want.

3 Use the Define 2D Shape drawing method to draw a deck railing.

Deck Railing Properties

Once you have drawn a railing, you can modify features and location to suit your needs. Using Punch! Home Design Software, you gain total control over railing handrail height, baluster spacing, and railing posts. Deck railing properties are similar to the properties of railings created using the Railing Tool. For more information, see “Railing Properties”.

Placing a Custom Staircase

In addition to the Insert Steps feature, Punch! Home Design Software gives you the option of easily drawing custom staircases. Straight staircases and curved staircases are drawn using the ceiling height unless you specify a different height on the Properties pane in the right sidebar before drawing the staircase. The center line defines the direction and shape of the staircase, while the staircase height value defines the distance to the top of the staircase. To create an opening for the stairway on the upper floor, see “Creating a Deck Cutout”. After you’ve drawn your staircase, you can apply different colors and materials to the steps, railing spindles, posts, and handrails.

You can draw the followings types of staircases:

■ Straight Stairway

■ Curved Stairway

Straight Stairway

You can draw a staircase along a straight line or add multiple points to create an L-shaped or U-shaped staircase with landings. Either way, the number of steps depends on the overall height of the staircase.

Note: After a staircase, if drawn you can reverse the direction by right-clicking the center line and choosing Reverse Staircase Direction.

To draw a straight staircase

1 Choose the Straight Stairway button from the Deck Tools group.

2 Click to set the start point and drag in the direction you want the stairs to rise, then click again to set the next point.

3 Continue to click points and drag to define the shape of the staircase and then right-click to place.

Curved Stairway

Curved staircases are a single segment that curves in the direction you draw. The number of steps depends on the overall height of the staircase.

Note: After a staircase, if drawn you can reverse the direction by right-clicking the center line and choosing Reverse Staircase Direction.

To draw a curved stairway

1 Choose the Curved Stairway button from the Deck Tools group.

2 Click to set the start point and drag to set the curve in the direction you want the stairs to rise, then click and again to set the endpoint and place the staircase.

(optional) Hold down the Shift key while drawing to constrain stairs to a perfect arc.

Deck Staircase Properties

Once you have drawn a staircase, you can modify features and locations to suit your needs. With Punch! Home Design Software, you have total control over stairway width, riser, and tread dimensions, as well as handrail height and placement. Deck staircase properties are similar to the properties of staircases created using the Stair Tool. For more information, see “Staircase Properties”.

Creating a Deck Cutout

You can easily create a space in your deck to insert a pool or hot tub by using the Deck Cutout Tool.

To create a deck cutout

1 Choose the Deck Cutout button from the Deck Tools group.

2 On the Properties pane, choose the shape you want.

3 Use the Define 2D Shape drawing method to draw a deck cutout section.