A deck and fence share more than a view. The gate may be the route for construction materials, the fence may shape privacy from the new seating area, and the deck edge may change how you reach the rest of the yard. Plan those connections before treating either part as a finished design.
BigDecks builds real-wood decks and wood and steel fencing in Austin and Central Texas, with carpentry, welding, and metalwork handled in-house. A combined project starts with your yard and priorities, not a fixed package of features.
Mark what stays and what changes
Begin with photographs of the entire fence line, the proposed deck location, and the approaches from the house and street. Identify any existing fence or gate you hope to keep. Note where the new work would meet it and ask what needs to be assessed before that connection is designed.
List the deck and fence separately in your brief. For the deck, describe where you want to sit, dine, or gather. For the fence, describe which views you want to screen and which entrances you use. This makes it easier to see where the two sets of needs overlap.
Review privacy from the future deck
A fence that feels private while you stand in the yard may create a different view from an elevated seating area. Review the proposed deck level and the places where people will sit before deciding the fence's height, openings, or location.
Bring the views you want to keep into that discussion, too. Privacy near one seat does not necessarily require the same treatment around the whole property. A wood or steel detail can be considered at a particular sightline while another area remains open.
Confirm the property boundaries and any applicable restrictions before finalizing the fence design. Where a pool, pet, or other access concern is involved, identify it explicitly. Appearance alone does not establish barrier performance or compliance.
Keep the gate useful during and after construction
Think beyond the person walking through the gate. Show the route needed for bins, furniture, garden equipment, and items you may bring into the yard later. The team can also assess construction access and decide how that affects the sequence of work.
Review the gate opening with the path on both sides. Steps, a planting bed, or the corner of the deck may affect how easily something can turn through it. Discuss the gate's operation and proposed hardware as part of the fence scope rather than assuming a reference image establishes those details.
For more on this part of the project, read wood and steel fence gate planning.
Give the materials a clear relationship
BigDecks OG 4×12 is the flagship surface-board arrangement in Douglas fir or Western red cedar. The little g uses 2×10 surface boards in the same woods. Those dimensions describe the deck surface, not the fence boards or a universal structural specification.
Standard Decks is the secondary pressure-treated pine option for both structure and surface, built with ring-shank nails and supplied as an unfinished base. Finish is available separately. A deck profile does not dictate a particular fence style or mean that fencing is included in its price.
Look at proposed wood and steel details beside the house and any existing fence. Board direction, spacing, color, and the visibility of metalwork can create a relationship without making every surface identical. New wood may also look different from an older fence that has already weathered.
Confirm preparation, wood finish, steel coating, and care expectations separately for each part of the project. A finish decision for the deck should not silently become an assumption about the fence.
Separate today's work from later phases
If you want to build in stages, describe the future project before the first stage is specified. A later pergola, bathing area, or path may affect today's gate location or deck opening even when it is outside the current construction scope.
Ask the team to identify the connections that need planning now and the decisions that can wait. The sequence should follow the actual site and access needs. There is no universal rule that the fence or deck must always be built first.
Make the quote easy to review
The written quote should make the deck and fence scope understandable together. Confirm:
- Which existing elements remain and which are removed or replaced.
- The deck surface, fence materials, gates, and selected finish options.
- How access, paths, and transitions between the two are addressed.
- Who handles any required approvals and separately coordinated work.
- Which features belong to this phase and which are future ideas.
The deck pricing tool can help frame an early deck budget. It does not establish a combined fence-and-deck package price. A written project quote confirms the final scope and price.
Decide whether the project needs Design Assist
Design Assist is paid 3D design and a plan for projects with a site plan or multiple components. Its fee is credited toward the build if you proceed with BigDecks. Straightforward builds do not have a design fee.
Share the full project, including privacy, access, and any later phases, so the team can identify the appropriate planning approach. Send your project details with photographs and approximate dimensions. John reviews the information and helps arrange the next step.
Common questions
Does combining a deck and fence guarantee a lower price?
No fixed saving should be assumed. The combined scope and sequence need review for your property, and the written quote establishes the price.
Does the fence need to use the same wood as the deck?
The materials can be coordinated without being identical. Review samples, existing finishes, proportions, and care expectations together before choosing them.
Can an existing fence remain beside a new deck?
That depends on its condition, location, and relationship to the proposed work. Identify what you want to keep at the start so it can be assessed before the design is settled.
Planning a project? Explore real-wood deck building in Austin, estimate your deck, or work through your layout with Design Assist. Material availability, pricing, and site requirements are confirmed for your project.