Sloping yards are a common feature of Triangle-area homes. Depending on the pitch and orientation, a slope can make it challenging for homeowners to fully enjoy their property. This is especially true when a slope runs alongside the home, as was the case with one Cary backyard. The homeowners asked us to help maximize usage of their sloping landscape and to provide some protection from the trees surrounding their home. To achieve these goals, we designed and built a composite wrap-around deck with an Eze-Breeze 3 season porch. We also advised the homeowners to arrange for additional grading to eliminate standing water at the foot of the deck stairs.
TimberTech Legacy Deck in Ashwood
Our clients came to us requesting an outdoor living space for their Cary home with more usable square footage than their sloping yard currently allowed. To achieve this, we built an expansive deck along the entire length of their house and then partially wrapped it around the side.
Thick woods line the sides of our clients’ home and deck. Although the trees can provide useful shade at various times of the day, the thick foliage also means constant moisture and leaf litter – both hard to keep clean on natural wood decking. For easier upkeep, our clients chose a low-maintenance decking material that washes easily and does not require regular staining, painting, or sealing. This beautiful TimberTech Legacy decking in Ashwood allows them to enjoy their spacious deck and reclaim their weekends from deck maintenance.
Our Cary clients can use the time they will save in deck maintenance to enjoy an outdoor hot tub, one of their initial design goals. Nestled in a nook of the wrap-around porch, we made sure that the deck’s structure could safely support the additional weight load. This is a key factor we plan for whenever we design a deck that includes a hot tub, porch, or outdoor kitchen.
Three-Season Room for Pollen Relief
Not only will our clients’ wooden lot provide a bounty of falling autumn leaves, in the spring it will also provide an abundance of pollen. In order to provide them with an outdoor living area that offers some protection against the pollen and leaf litter, we designed and built a three-season porch at one end of their lengthy deck.
This Cary three-season room features Eze-Breeze windows, a tongue and groove pine floor, ceiling fans, and recessed lighting. With vinyl porch windows, the homeowners can choose to close the windows during pollen season and open them as much or as little as they wish during the rest of the year. Depending on the occasion and weather, this feature gives them the flexibility to use the three-season room as either an indoor space or a screened porch.
Addressing Standing Water
Standing water can be a challenge for many homeowners. In this case, the basin of the sloping yard – right where the deck stairs meet the ground – is a prime spot for pooling. Pooling water can become a mud, drainage, and/or mosquito problem. To mitigate such issues, we advised the homeowners to have the yard graded so that the new deck would open into a manageable landscape and functional space.
No matter what the size and shape of your property is – or how much shade, sun, or pollen it receives –the Archadeck of Raleigh-Durham team can guide you through your best options for outdoor living. If you're ready to update or build a new outdoor living space in your backyard, call our team for an initial design consultation: 919-973-1523. We look forward to working with you!
