Change can often be a good thing; and for this very old wood deck that was literally falling apart, change was the only option.
Continually exposed to the hot Texas summer sun, the wood deck had definitely seen better days. When we arrived in the backyard for the family’s complimentary design consultation, the bi-level deck showed obvious signs that it needed to come down.
Before.
Many of its wooden deck boards were cracked, peeling, and splitting. The three-step bottom stair case from the rear lawn up had sunk to the ground on the left side. The saddest looking item of all was the privacy screen on the lower level of the deck, on the right side of the structure, which also served as a sun shade.
A Transformative Outdoor Living Space Solution With A New Deck Covered And Protected By A Shed Roof With Stone Columns
This new covered deck design follows the extended footprint of the rear of the home for architectural symmetry.
After.
Below the covered deck a shed roof now proudly stands three support columns beautifully build out of white limestone to match the home’s exterior. Paying homage to the original house structure to make it appear that the new covered deck was always there, our team even used old world style mortar surrounding the new limestone joints.
This stunning combination of the homes soft white and gray exterior surrounds the covered deck with contrasting real wood accents for contrast and architectural definition.
Weather Resistant Cedar Adds The Crowning Touch To This Covered Porch And Deck
To bring visually strong elements of nature into the new construction, we chose cedar instead of pressure-treated lumber.
Cedar is a trusted friend of outdoor structures. It is one of the world’s most durable woods, as it has a natural resistance to moisture, decay, and insect damage.
It has twice the stability of most commonly available softwoods due to its low density and shrinkage factors. It produces long, lightweight lengths of timber with a fine straight grain and uniform texture. This makes it easier to cut, saw, and nail with common tools.
It also can be planed to a smooth surface or machined to any pattern. It can hold glue bonds and also provides a good base for many types of paints and stains since it lacks pitch and resin.
Most notably by many outdoor living space homeowners, cedar is valued for its distinct aroma that is commonly believed to discourage moth and carpet beetle larvae infestations. All of these factors make it the premier choice for either interior or exterior home use.
This distinct cedar scent is caused by the oils and acids produced by the wood species. These are known scientifically as polyphenols which give cedar its clearly unique and pleasant aroma. The “phenols” also are responsible for cedar’s natural resistance to moisture, decay, and insect infestation. This natural resistance provided by the oils and acids are what make cedar extremely popular in outdoor applications. Properly finished, cedar will last for decades even in harsh environments.
That being said, cedar was our go-to choice for two strategic applications – top and bottom. At the top, our architectural artisans crafted the covered deck interior ceiling with cedar, for both its multiple weather and insect resistant properties, as well as for its luxurious look. Down below, we continued the homage to cedar by building the safety picket railing with it. The natural warmth and texture of the wood brings a cozy, comforting feeling to the backyard living space.
AZEK Low Maintenance Decking And A Privacy Screen Completes This Covered Deck Success Story
Further inspired by the durability and look of cedar, we chose AZEK Harvest Collection decking in Slate Gray as it complements the new design exquisitely – so much so that this covered porch and deck reinvention was awarded the Porch Roof Structure Winner of the Archadeck Design Excellence Award.
We also replaced the aged privacy screen from the formed open deck with this resilient and beautiful low maintenance synthetic decking material.
Proud to be a part of AZEK’s TimberTech contractor family, we are honored to have achieved Platinum Contractor status with this world leader of the outdoor building industry.
Our Outdoor Living Ace Transformations And Recreations Are All Winners, No Matter How You Look At It
If you have finally concluded that you can do better – much better – than putting up with the old deck and porch that is literally falling apart in your Round Rock backyard, it’s time to call this stellar team of outdoor living space design and construction experts.
A complimentary design consultation to talk about the smartest ways to replace, redeck, and upgrade your outdoor living spaces is yours for the asking. In fact, you can ask right here.
Jim Odom, owner Archadeck of Austin.
