Deck Properties

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Deck Properties

The properties used to modify a deck are located to the right of the screen when your deck is selected. These deck properties can either be adjusted right before adding the deck to your landscape or after it has been added. Below is a description of each available deck property in the order that they appear in the software:

Options	Description
Style	The Style property determines the group of pre-set deck properties that are used. To change the deck style, click the picture that displays the current deck style.
Elevation	The Elevation property determines the distance of the deck from the ground. To change the elevation, move the Elevation slider or type a value in the text field.
Board direction	The Board direction property determines the angle of the deck boards. To change the direction of the deck boards, move the Board direction slider or enter a value in the text field.
Toggle railing	To toggle portions of the railing on and off, first click the Toggle railing button. Next, click on the deck edge underneath the railing you wish to toggle. When finished, click the Toggle railing button again to exit railing editing mode.
Save Style	Click the Save Style button to save your current deck configuration as a style that can be used in future designs.
Edit points	Click the Edit points button to enable or disable point editing mode, which will allow you to modify the deck’s shape. See Editing Points for details.
Shape options	Click the Shape Options button to save the shape of the deck, or to load an existing shape. For more details, see Saving and Loading Shapes.

Material	Description
Material	The Material property determines what type of surface the deck will use. To change the material, click the small image that displays the current material.
Material options	The appearance of the deck can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the material image.
Size	The Size property determines the scale of the deck material. For example, if the deck has a wooden board material, then the Size slider will adjust the size of each board.
Offset X	The Offset X property determines the deck material’s left and right orientation. To shift the material left or right, move the Offset X slider or enter a value in the text field.
Offset Y	The Offset Y property determines the deck material’s forward and backward orientation. To shift the material forward or backward, move the Offset Y slider or enter a value in the text field.
Shininess	The Shininess property determines how glossy the material will appear. To change the appearance of the material, click the Shininess drop-down menu and select from the following options: Default, Off, Low, Medium, or High. The shininess property only affects the appearance of the material while in the 3D view.
Enable enhanced surface detail	The Enable enhanced surface detail property determines whether or not the deck material will have increased detail when viewed up close.

Framing	Description
Use default material	The Use default material property determines whether the deck framing will use the primary deck material or a different material specified by you. To enable selection of a separate framing material, click the Use default material checkbox.
Material	The Material property determines what type of surface the deck framing will use. To change the material, click the small image that displays the current material.
Material options	The appearance of the deck framing can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the material image.
Add joists	The Add joists property determines whether lateral supports are placed on top of the deck beams. To toggle the appearance of joists, click the Add joists checkbox.
Add posts and beams	The Add posts and beams property determines whether deck posts and large beams are placed underneath the deck. To toggle the appearance of posts and beams, click the Add posts and beams checkbox.
Add cement footings	The Add cement footings property determines whether cement blocks are placed at the base of each deck post. To toggle the appearance of cement footings, click the Add cement footings checkbox. Cement footings will not appear unless the Add posts and beams property is checked.
Hide deck boards	The Hide deck boards property determines whether the deck surface is shown or hidden. To hide the deck boards and expose the deck’s frame structure, click the Hide deck boards checkbox.

Railing Posts	Description
Use default railing posts	The Use default railing posts property determines whether the deck railing posts will use the primary deck material and style or a different style specified by you. To enable selection of advanced railing options, click the Use default railing posts checkbox.
Material	The Material property determines what type of surface the deck railing posts will use. To change the material, click the small image that displays the current material.
Material options	The appearance of the deck railing posts can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the material image.
Placement	The Placement property determines whether the deck railing posts are placed within the perimeter of the deck or are attached to the outside of the deck. To toggle the location of the deck railing posts, click the Placement drop-down menu.
Cap style	The Cap style property determines the style of cap that is added to the top of each deck railing post. To select a new cap style, click the Cap style drop-down menu.
Base trim style	The Base trim style property determines the style of the trim that is placed at the bottom of each deck railing post. To change the trim, click the Base trim style drop-down menu. Base trim can only be added when the railing post placement is set to “Inside”.
Post size	The Post size property determines the width and length of each deck railing post. To change the width and length of each deck railing post, move the Post size slider or type a value in the text field.
Max spacing	The Max spacing property determines the maximum distance between each deck railing post. To adjust the distance between posts, move the Max spacing slider or type a value in the text field.

Top Railing	Description
Use default top railing	The Use default top railing property determines whether the top railing will use the primary deck material and style or a different style specified by you. To enable selection of advanced top railing options, click the Use default top railing checkbox.
Material	The Material property determines what type of surface the top railing will use. To change the material, click the small image that displays the current material.
Material options	The appearance of the top railing can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the material image.
Type	The Type property determines the shape of the top railing. To change the top railing’s shape, click the Type drop-down menu.
Height	The Height property determines the distance from the top of the top rail to the surface of the deck. To adjust the distance from the top rail to the deck surface, move the Height slider or type a value in the text field.

Bottom Railing	Description
Use default bottom railing	The Use default bottom railing property determines whether the bottom railing will use the primary deck material and style or a different style specified by you. To enable selection of advanced bottom railing options, click the Use default top railing checkbox.
Material	The Material property determines what type of surface the bottom railing will use. To change the material, click the small image that displays the current material.
Material options	The appearance of the bottom railing can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the material image.
Type	The Type property determines the shape of the bottom railing. To change the bottom railing’s shape, click the Type drop-down menu.
Add support blocks	The Add support blocks property determines whether a small wooden support is added between every two deck railing posts. To toggle the appearance of support blocks, click the Add support blocks checkbox.

Balusters	Description
Use default balusters	The Use default balusters property determines whether the balusters will use the primary deck material and style or a different style specified by you. To enable selection of advanced baluster options, click the Use default balusters checkbox.
Model	The Model property determines what type of baluster is used. To change the baluster model, click the small image that displays the current model.
Material options	The appearance of the baluster can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the baluster model image.
Width	The Width property determines how large each baluster is from left to right. To adjust the size of the balusters, move the Width slider or type a value in the text field.
Spacing	The Spacing property determines the distance between every two balusters. To increase or decrease the distance between balusters, move the Spacing slider or type a value in the text field.

Fascia	Description
Use default fascia	The Use default fascia property determines whether the fascia will use the primary deck material and style or a different style specified by you. To enable selection of advanced fascia options, click the Use default fascia checkbox.
Material	The Material property determines what type of surface is applied to the deck fascia. To change the fascia surface, click the small image that displays the current material.
Material options	The appearance of the fascia can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the fascia material image.
Size	The Size property determines the scale of the fascia material. For example, if the fascia has a wooden board material, then the Size slider will adjust the size of each board.
Angle	The Angle property determines the rotation angle of the fascia material. To change the material angle, move the Angle slider or type a value in the text field.
Offset X	The Offset X property determines the fascia material’s left and right orientation. To shift the material left or right, move the Offset X slider or enter a value in the text field.
Offset Y	The Offset Y property determines the fascia material’s forward and backward orientation. To shift the material forward or backward, move the Offset Y slider or enter a value in the text field.
Shininess	The Shininess property determines how glossy the material will appear. To change the appearance of the material, click the Shininess drop-down menu and select from the following options: Default, Off, Low, Medium, or High. The shininess property only affects the appearance of the material while in the 3D view.
Enable enhanced surface detail	The Enable enhanced surface detail property determines whether or not the fascia material will have increased detail when viewed up close.
Height	The Height property determines the distance between the top of the deck’s surface to the bottom of the fascia. To adjust the height of the fascia, move the Height slider or type a value in the text field.

Skirting	Description
Add skirting	The Add skirting property determines whether a lattice is placed below the deck fascia. To enable or disable skirting, click the Add skirting checkbox.
Material	The Material property determines what type of surface is applied to the deck skirting. To change the skirting surface, click the small image that displays the current material.
Material options	The appearance of the skirting can be modified by clicking the small button that appears to the right of the skirting material image.
Size	The Size property determines the scale of the skirting material. For example, if the skirting has a wooden board material, then the Size slider will adjust the size of each board.
Angle	The Angle property determines the rotation angle of the skirting material. To change the material angle, move the Angle slider or type a value in the text field.
Offset X	The Offset X property determines the skirting material’s left and right orientation. To shift the material left or right, move the Offset X slider or enter a value in the text field.
Offset Y	The Offset Y property determines the skirting material’s forward and backward orientation. To shift the material forward or backward, move the Offset Y slider or enter a value in the text field.
Shininess	The Shininess property determines how glossy the material will appear. To change the appearance of the material, click the Shininess drop-down menu and select from the following options: Default, Off, Low, Medium, or High. The shininess property only affects the appearance of the material while in the 3D view.
Enable enhanced surface detail	The Enable enhanced surface detail property determines whether or not the skirting material will have increased detail when viewed up close.
Height	The Height property determines the distance between the top of the deck skirting and the bottom. To adjust the skirting height, move the Height slider or type a value in the text field. If the Auto-calculate height property is checked, then the height may not be adjusted manually.
Auto-calculate height	The Auto-calculate height property determines whether the skirting height automatically extends to the ground, or can be adjusted manually. To toggle the deck skirting height calculation, click the Auto-calculate height checkbox.
Add trim	The Add trim property determines whether solid trim is placed on the deck skirting below each deck railing post. To toggle the appearance of the skirting trim, click the Add trim checkbox.
Trim color	The Trim color property determines the color of the deck skirting trim if the Add trim property is checked. To change the color of the trim, click the small swatch that displays the current trim color.

Information	Description
Area	The Area property displays the total size of the deck in square feet or meters.
Perimeter	The Perimeter property displays the total distance around the deck in feet or meters.