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Under-Deck Roof

One of our readers, Rune Eriksen, sent us photos of his design for a home-built deck drainage system, and we were impressed enough to check it out. His low-cost, easy-to-build system catches the water that drips through the deck boards and redirects it to the outside of the deck. Now, Rune can use the area under the deck as a covered patio, where he can enjoy warm summer rainstorms without getting wet. Several commercial systems are available to create a dry space under a deck, but Rune’s seems to be just as effective. And it’s inexpensive and easy to build using materials found at any home center.

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Built-In Planters

Planters make a striking addition to any deck, and also create more privacy, making the outdoor space feel almost like a separate room. These deck planters are another easy project you can tackle yourself with the plans.