Design Ideas for Custom Decks

When planning your new custom deck, there are a number of designs, patterns, and styles to choose from.  Below are a few of the more popular ideas.

  • 45-Degree Decking – the deck boards run at a 45-degree angle to the joists.
  • 90-Degree Decking – the deck boards run in the opposite direction to the joists.
  • Picture Frame Border – a board that runs around the full perimeter of the deck.  Usually the boards are a different color from the decking to create a contrast.  Can also be a double, triple, quadruple board design.
  • End Boards – boards that are placed at the end of the deck, running perpendicular to the decking.  In composite decks the end boards help create a finished look.
  • Dividing Deck Boards – also known as Breaker Boards.  They are dividing boards that separate the length of the deck and are placed perpendicular to the decking boards.
  • Multi-Angle Deck Boards (Herringbone) – utilizing boards in multiple angles resulting in striking designs.  The most popular of these is the Herringbone design.

With such a wide range in choice of materials, color, stain, and design, Decks by Schmillen can help ensure you get the custom built design to wish to achieve.

Composite deck with decking laid at 45-degrees and a double picture frame border in a contrasting color.

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45-Degree Decking Designs

Amazing outdoor living space with composite deck, gabled deck cover, and stucco wood-burning fireplace.

1 – This custom deck features Fiberon Ipe composite decking laid at a 45-degree angle and a gabled deck cover with vaulted ceiling in knotty pine tongue and groove.   The wood-burning fireplace is custom designed and built from stucco.

Redwood deck built with B-Grade redwood laid at a 45-degree angle.

2 – A Redwood deck built using B-Grade Redwood laid at a 45-degree angle to the joists.  The railing features wood components with metal panels and a ring top accent panel. We also added a stone firepit to create an area perfect for entertaining on cooler nights.

Redwood decking at a 45-degree angle with a four-board picture frame border stained in a contrasting color

3 – The owners decided to have the Redwood decking laid out at 45-degrees and added a quadruple picture frame border stained in a contrasting color.  The railing has wood components and drink cap with metal panels.

Multi-level Redwood deck with 45-degree angle boards. The railing is built with wood posts and metal panels between the posts.

4 – This Redwood deck has the boards laid at 45-degrees and uses camo screws.  The railing has wood posts with lighted pyramid post caps and metal panels between the posts.

This composite deck features 45-degree angle boards with a single picture frame border. We also installed a glass railing for the owners.

5 – This 45-degree composite deck is built with a double picture frame border and a glass railing instead of the usual wood or metal.

Composite deck with the boards laid at a 45-degree angle and a double picture frame border.

6 – A composite deck with the boards laid at a 45-degree angle with a double picture frame border in a contrasting color.  The railing has composite components and drink cap with Vienna style metal balusters.

Composite deck with the boards laid at a 45-degree angle and a double picture frame border. An antique bronze metal railing with balusters featuring a basket design.

7 – DBS built this composite deck with the composite boards laid at a 45-degree angle and a double picture frame border.  The railing is metal panel with basket-design balusters in an antique bronze color.

An unstained B-Grade Redwood deck with the boards laid at a 45-degree angle to the joists.

8 – This deck was built with the composite boards laid at a 45-degree angle with a double picture frame border.  The border, railing posts, and drink cap are in a color that contrasts with the decking material.

90-Degree Decking Designs

Wood deck built in the forest with B-Grade Redwood, tri-corner pergola in Cedar

9 – A custom, B-grade Redwood deck that has the boards laid out at 90-degrees to the joists with a double divider board and camo screws.  The railing has wood components with round metal balusters.  We also added a Cedar, tri-corner pergola.

A gorgeous, Cumaru hardwood deck with single wrap-around step featuring Genesis step lights.

10 – This Cumaru hardwood deck features the boards laid at a 90-degree angle with a divider board and end boards.  We installed Genesis step lights on the single wrap-around stair.

B-Grade redwood deck with the boards laid at 90-degrees. The railing is wood posts with metal panels between them.

11 – We built this deck using B-Grade Redwood laid at 90-degrees to the joists.  The railing has wood posts with black metal panels between them.

Composite deck built with Trex Tiki Torch boards laid at a 90-degree angle. The railing is a custom design by the owner created in wrought iron.

12 – Steel framed deck with Trex Tiki Torch material laid at a 90-degree angle with single divider board to avoid butt-seams.  The railing was a custom design by the homeowner, created in wrought iron and attached to stucco columns.

90-degree composite decking and railing with composite components and black metal balusters.

13 – This composite deck was laid out at 90-degrees to the joists.  The railing is built using composite components and drink cap with round metal balusters.

Custom deck featuring composite boards with double end and dividing boards. The railing is a metal panel system with gate installed at top of steps.

14 – This custom deck was built with steel deck framing and Trex Tiki Torch decking material.  The boards are laid at 90-degrees with double end and dividing boards.  The railing is metal panel system with a gate installed at the stairs for safety.

A close up view of 90-degree composite boards with double end boards.

15 – This picture shows a close up of 90-degree composite with double end boards.

Redwood deck with the boards laid at 90-degrees. The railing features Vienna style balusters which bow out a little

16 – This beautiful Redwood deck has the boards laid at 90-degrees with a single divider board (no butt-seams) and camo screws.  The railing features wood components and drink cap with matte black, Vienna-style, metal balusters.

Composite deck with end boards. The railing features composite components and vertical steel cables.

17 – A 90-degree angle composite deck with end boards.  The railing features composite components with horizontal steel cables.

90-degree composite deck with end boards and a Fortress Fe26 metal panel railing in Black.

18 – 90-degree composite with end boards and a Fortress Fe-26 metal panel railing in Black Sand.

Herringbone / Muti-Angle Decking Designs

Redwood deck in a herringbone pattern with a double picture frame border in a contrasting color

19 – Redwood decking in a herringbone design with double picture frame border in a contrasting color and camo screws.  The railing is metal panel system in matte black with a drink cap.

Gorgeous, ground-level Cedar deck in a herringbone pattern with no divider board.

20 – A beautiful, ground-level Cedar deck laid out in a herringbone pattern with no divider board.

This is a multi-level Redwood deck. Each level is laid at a 45-degree angle that is different from the previous level.

21 – A multi-level Redwood deck which has opposing 45-degree angles for a herringbone look.  We used face screws to secure the decking boards.  The railing is a Redwood snow fence railing with a drink cap.

Elevated composite deck with a herringbone design and double divider board. There is also a double picture frame border in a contrasting color.

22 – We laid the composite deck in a herringbone design with double divider boards, and a double picture frame border in a contrasting color.  The railing is made of composite posts and drink cap with metal panels between the posts.

This composite deck is laid out in multiple angles with the double divider boards and picture frame border in a contrasting color.

23 – Our customers chose to design their deck in multiple angle with double picture frame border and divider boards in a contrasting color.

Composite deck with a herringbone pattern and double picture frame border in a contrasting color.

24 – Fiberon Ipe composite decking is laid out in a herringbone pattern with Fiberon Tudor Brown decking for the double picture frame border.  The railing is composite components and drink cap with round metal balusters featuring a basket design.

Heart Redwood deck laid at a 45-degree angle with a double picture frame border that is stained in a contrasting color. It also features a custom built wrought iron railing.

25 – A custom-built, Heart Redwood deck built in a herringbone pattern with a double picture frame border and camo screws.  The metal railing is a custom design in wrought iron with 2×2 posts and Vienna style balusters.

Misc Items to Consider

The edge of a composite deck that has not been built with end boards.

26 – This shows what the edge of a composite deck will look like if it is built with no end boards.

When building a composite we make sure to use screws that will match the color of the decking material.

27 – When building a composite deck, we make sure to use screws that will match the color of the decking material.

This shows the close up of a screw matched to the color of the composite decking.

28 – This shows the close up a screw that is color matched to the composite decking material.

A composite deck built with a divider board. The view is from the edge of the deck.

29 – A divider board added to a composite deck as seen from the edge of the deck.

The edge of a composite deck with no end boards, shows how the grooves of the board are visible.

30 – Another example of why end boards should be used when building a deck with composite material.

This shows how the framing is built for a deck with a picture frame border.

31 – This is how the deck framing will be built for a deck with picture frame border.

Framing for a deck with a picture frame and divider board

32 – Framing for a deck that is being built with a picture frame border and a divider board.

Composite decking will expand and contract with temperature changes. This shows the contraction during the cold.

33 – Composite decking will experience expansion and contraction with temperature.  This shows the contraction that can occur in the cold.  It can move up to 1/8″ to 3/16″ depending on the temperature.

Composite decking will experience expansion and contraction with temperature.  This shows the expansion that can occur when it warms up.  It can move up to 1/8

34 – This is the same deck as the previous picture, taken just a couple hours later.  You can see that when the day warms up, the composite decking material expands back to the original spot.