Owner-operated · Homeowner guide
How to Prepare Your Yard Before Deck Construction BeginsHomeowner guide · Georgia decks
How to Prepare Your Yard Before Deck Construction Begins Picture a quiet morning on your deck, coffee in hand, with the grill, two chairs and a row of herb pots all still in their usual spots, and then a truck backs up with a load of lumber.
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Homeowner guide
How to Prepare Your Yard Before Deck Construction Begins
Short answer: So how do you prepare your yard before deck construction starts? Clear a path for materials, move everything breakable out of the work zone, mark what is buried, and keep pets and kids well away from the work.
- Owner-operated: Breno visits and writes your estimate himself
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Guide
Clear a Path for Materials
Lumber arrives long, heavy and awkward, so the first job is a clear route from where the truck stops to where the deck will go. Whether your home sits on an older in-town block near downtown Acworth or on a larger lot with a long driveway, that route matters. Walk it yourself before we visit. Look for low branches, hose reels, trash bins, garden edging and gates that are too narrow. Move cars out of the driveway on delivery morning. If a gate must come off its hinges, tell us at the start so we can plan around it.
A delivery truck needs room to stop, and a car parked on the street can force a much longer carry across your lawn. Soft, wet ground tends to rut under a heavy truck, so tell us if part of your yard stays soggy after rain. Trim small branches that hang over the route, but talk with us before any larger tree work, because wooded lots can have protected trees. If you run errands along Cobb Parkway and know the delivery window, try to be home to point out the best spot.
Guide
Move Furniture, Grills and Planters
Anything on or near the old deck needs a new home before work begins. That means chairs, tables, cushions, the grill, the propane tank, umbrellas, string lights and every planter. Crews will be carrying long boards and swinging tools, and a clay pot or glass table is easy to break. Move these items well away from the work area, ideally into a garage or a shed. Take down hanging baskets, wind chimes and bird feeders near the house, too. Empty cabinets or storage boxes that sit under or against the deck, since demolition can shake them loose.
Plants deserve the same care. Shrubs and flower beds close to the deck can be crushed by dropped boards or boot traffic, so move small ones to a shaded spot and water them there. For plants that cannot move, tell us which ones matter most and we can work around them. Take a few photos of the yard as it looks now, which helps everyone remember what was where. Also check the windows and the siding near the deck, and clear off the wall anything you would not want a stray board to bump.
How it works
Five steps. No surprises.
Call, text, or send the form
Tell us what is going on: a new deck, a repair, or “not sure yet.” We reply the same day.
Free on-site visit
Breno looks at the deck or the yard himself, measures, and goes over your options with you.
Written estimate
Scope, materials and price come in writing, so you know the plan before anything starts.
Schedule and permits
We agree on a start date and confirm any city, county or HOA requirement for your address first.
Build and final walk-through
Breno is on the job, and we go over the finished work with you before we call it done.
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Guide
Pets, Kids and Daily Routines
A work site is no place for curious paws or small feet. Open gates, loud saws and strange trucks can send a dog bolting, and screws, nails and offcuts are hazards for kids. Decide ahead of time where pets will stay during work hours, such as indoors, in a crate or with a friend, and do not count on a latch that has failed before. Check the fence line and any gate the crew will use. A sign on the gate asking visitors to knock first can save everyone a lot of worry.
Talk with children about the rule in plain words: the work area is off limits, even if the crew steps away for lunch. Take the old deck out of the daily routine too. If your back door opens onto the deck, plan another way in and out, and keep a path to the driveway clear. Let your neighbors with pets or small children know when work begins. When work stops each evening, we tidy the site, but we still recommend a quick walk through before anyone plays outside.
Guide
Utilities, Irrigation and Buried Lines
Before a post hole is dug, you should know what is underground. Sprinkler lines, drip tubing, low-voltage landscape lighting, gas lines, electric service, septic parts and drainage pipes can all run through a back yard. Walk the area and flag what you know about, including heads and valve boxes that sit near the deck footprint. If you have an irrigation system, shut it off for the work period and tell us where the zones run. Dig-safe utility marking is a standard step before digging, so ask us how to set that up for your address.
Outdoor outlets, hose spigots, air conditioner units and dryer vents near the deck also need attention. Tell us whether anything must stay running, such as a cooling unit, and we can protect it with care. If you have a lighting transformer or a buried dog fence wire, point those out as well. Permits and inspections depend on your address, so confirm with the City of Acworth building department what applies before any work is scheduled. We confirm that for you, but you know your property best and your notes help.
Guide
Trees, Roots, Neighbors and Where Materials Will Be Stacked
Trees change how a deck gets built. Roots can sit just under the surface and hold up better when they are not cut, and a wooded lot or a creek behind the house is something we check before laying out a deck. Acworth's tree protection and stream buffer rules can affect where a deck can go, so please do not remove trees or clear brush on your own first. Homes near Lake Acworth may have extra water-related concerns, and your city or county office can tell you what applies to your lot.
Neighbors matter too. If a fence, shared driveway or property line sits close to the work zone, let the people next door know when trucks and noise are coming. Check with your homeowners association about architectural review and any rules for materials, dumpsters or work hours, because those depend on your neighborhood. For stacking, pick a flat, dry spot close to the build, off the lawn if possible, with room for a tarp. Keeping stacks off wet soil helps lumber stay straight, and a plan avoids blocking your drive. We bring materials in from I-75 side routes or wherever the truck must come from, so we need your input on that.
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Local notes
Around Acworth and Kennesaw and nearby
Acworth. Acworth is a Cobb County city on Lake Acworth, with a historic downtown a short drive from I-75. Streets range from older in-town blocks to larger subdivisions, so the decks we see vary as much as the houses do. Communities in the area include downtown Acworth, Lake Acworth.
Kennesaw. Kennesaw's city code includes stream buffer requirements and landscape buffer standards, which can affect how close a deck can be to a creek or property line. We check those constraints before pricing. Communities in the area include Legacy Park, Ridenour, Pinetree Country Club, the Kennesaw Mountain area.
Woodstock. Woodstock is a suburban North Georgia city of established subdivisions with mature trees and, in some older neighborhoods, larger lots. Shade and fallen leaves keep wood damp longer, which matters for both framing and board choice. Communities in the area include Towne Lake, Eagle Watch, Wyngate, Bradshaw Farm.
Straight answers
Common questions
Should I water my lawn the day before the crew arrives?
Usually not. Soaked ground can turn into mud under a loaded truck, wheelbarrows and boots, and it makes the stacking area messy. If the weather has been dry, a light watering a day or so earlier is fine. If heavy rain is coming, tell us so we can talk about the delivery.
What should I do with the old deck furniture if my garage is full?
Move it to a driveway edge or the far side of the yard under a tarp, away from the work zone and the delivery path. Cushions and umbrellas can go indoors. Keep walkways open, and avoid stacking anything against the house or fence, where the crew may need to carry boards.
Do I need to cut back my shrubs along the path to the back yard?
Small branches that block a wheelbarrow route can be tied back or trimmed lightly. Do not remove larger shrubs or any trees until we have talked, since protected trees and buffer areas can affect what is allowed. We can mark which plants we will shield and which are in the way.
How do I find my sprinkler lines if I never saw the plans?
Start by locating the valve boxes, the controller and any visible heads, then follow the pattern across the lawn. Flag what you find with small markers. If you are unsure, tell us, and we can discuss having a pro trace the lines before posts are set near them.
Is it a problem if my dog usually stays in the back yard?
Yes, during work hours the dog should stay inside or somewhere else. Open gates, saws, dropped screws and strangers can be dangerous for a dog, and a bolting dog is a worry for the crew. Plan a safe spot, and think about outdoor breaks while the crew is on site.
Should I tell my neighbors before construction starts?
It is a kind and practical step. Let them know that trucks, saws and a dumpster may show up, and ask whether they park near the shared edge. Neighbors who are warned tend to be more patient, and they may also move their own cars or pets out of the way.
Where is the best place to stack lumber if my yard slopes?
A flat, firm, dry area is best, often near the driveway or the side of the house. Sloped or soggy ground can let stacks shift and warp. If no level spot exists, we can plan smaller, staged deliveries, so tell us at the first visit what your yard looks like.
Does an HOA need to approve the deck before I prep the yard?
Prep is simple and can wait for approvals, so do not clear trees or move landscaping ahead of time. Whether your association has architectural review depends on your neighborhood, so ask them directly. Tell us your neighborhood at the start, and we will help the approval fit your schedule.
What if we find a root or buried object when digging?
We stop and look before going on. Roots can be structural for a tree, and unknown objects may be lines or drainage parts. Breno can talk through options with you, which might include shifting a post location. A free written estimate from B&T can reflect what we learn on the site visit.
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Who’s doing the work
About B&T Properties
B&T Properties is run by Breno, who visits the job, writes the estimate and stays involved until the work is done. The crew has 10+ years of combined deck experience, and the company carries General Liability insurance. We work in Acworth and across Cobb County.
Upgrades
Add-ons to consider
Ask about any of these when Breno comes out for your free estimate. They are easiest to price in when we plan the project, not after it is built.
Stairs and landings
Stairs that are easier to use: more width, a mid-level landing, or a better path to the yard.
Cover or screens
Shade, rain cover or screens, planned in from the start.
Lighting
Stair and post lights that make evenings outside safer and nicer.
Multi-level layouts
Two levels can follow your slope and give dining and lounging their own space.
Written warranty
1-year workmanship warranty
B&T Properties warrants our workmanship for one year from completion and fixes failures caused by our work at no charge. Not covered: material defects (manufacturer warranty), normal wear, weather, misuse, lack of maintenance, or work by others. Claims in writing.
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