If you’re going to add a wood deck around your pool, you’d better be sure your Austin deck contractor knows what they’re doing! That’s why these homeowners in Austin’s Zilker Park neighborhood hired Archadeck of Austin to design and build their wood deck addition.
Our clients wanted an inground pool with a deck bridging the entire area from the home’s back door to the pool. After the pool was completed, Archadeck of Austin came in to add the deck. The home originally had a small wooden deck at the back door, but the new deck needed to be much larger.
Before image of area before Archadeck of Austin began the project.
The deck we designed for them is elevated but not high enough to require railings. In the areas where a step down was needed, we created a wide, deep step running the length or width of the deck. These wide steps can even provide a convenient place to sit!
After – wow!
Austin’s Wood Decks … It’s All About the Wood
We used two types of wood for this custom deck project. The deck surface is made of beautiful cedar, and the substructure is made of pressure-treated pine. Each requires specific treatment to ensure the wood is protected from rot and other damage.
For the substructure, we laid a bed of gravel for proper drainage so the lumber won’t sit in water. Rock underneath the structure will allow those boards to dry out. We also applied wood guard to the wood here for increased durability and to ward off decay, fungi, mold and termites.
We used cedar for the deck’s surface, a beautiful choice for a wood deck. To protect the wood deck surface and steps, we used a deck product called Velvet CDF – Cabin & Deck Finish. This product is a non-VOC stain, meaning it does not emit volatile organic compounds. It’s a semi-transparent wood finish that repels water—great for reducing the chance that the wood will warp or crack. That’s important around a pool! Velvet CDF deters mold growth and allows the wood’s natural beauty to show through. The homeowners will need to re-apply the finish when the deck shows signs of weathering.
Archadeck of Austin Designs the Decks We Build
At Archadeck, we don’t just build, we design AND build. We enhanced this wood deck’s natural beauty with a board pattern that includes picture-framing at the edges. Where two sections meet and the boards change direction, the picture-framing becomes a parting board as well. We set off the square section nearest the back door with boards running diagonally.
Finally, how do you like these tiny LED deck lights we installed along the borders of the deck? These little lights add safety and provide ambiance after dark. They are actually inserted into the surface of the boards.
Are you looking at replacing an existing deck or adding one for the first time? Contact Archadeck of Austin to schedule your free design consultation.
Jim Schallon, senior designer Archadeck of Austin.
