You need to start with a daydream. Dreams aren’t built with lumber and rails and stones. They are visions of what you will do in a place and the people who will be there with you. Will it be friends? Family? Pets? Neighbors? Will you be kicking back around a firepit? Sharing a grilled dinner on an open porch? Would you prefer to curl up with a good book inside a screened porch with an overhead fan? It’s the people and the activities that are central to creating the perfect outdoor living space. They drive what kind of setting will help you fulfill that dream. So you don’t design your new space for them. But you design your new space thinking about all the fun and enjoyable activities you want to do with friends, family, and pets in your new space.
We at Archadeck of Columbus believe that an outdoor space should be a realization of the homeowners’ dreams about how they want to live outside. We recently completed a gorgeous TimberTech deck and cedar open porch in Powell, Ohio. We designed and accepted deposit on the project late last year and built it over the winter. The family entertains quite a bit and was looking for a large deck with multiple living areas broken up into sections that occupied different levels. We helped them imagine and build a low-maintenance outdoor living area that is both efficient in its use of space and beautiful to look at.
The entire deck measures over 1,400 sq. ft. There are multiple seating areas– great for accommodating both large and small groups. The owners chose TimberTech Evolutions Terrain brown oak color for their flooring material. This capped composite decking is very easy to clean and is naturally scratch, stain and fade resistant, while maintaining the look and grain of real wood. They went with a white vinyl railing and black aluminum pickets. The darker pickets really draw the eye into the yard and the aluminum has great strength. The rail was completed with TimberTech decking board for the rail cap. TimberTech also has an color-match screws and hidden fasteners available, depending on the look desired.
We went with diagonally oriented decking for this project. Diagonally oriented decking gives us three advantages. First, it provides the deck superior architectural strength. Boards that are run at a 45 degree angle to the structure are stronger than those set at 90 degrees. Second, it’s very functional. We alternated the direction of the boards on the various levels to give people a visual cue about the change in elevation. Third, it’s a very attractive look that our customers love. We used parting boards to eliminate splicing.
There is a generously proportioned open porch over the top of one section–16’x20’. We took an existing gable roof bump out and continued it so that it looks seamless– like it was always part of the home. It was done in cedar with interesting trim work on the supporting columns. The porch has enclosed rafters with bead board and is fully wired for low voltage lighting, ceiling fans and other amenities. The customer selected a cultured stone skirt that is a visually stunning finishing touch. It unifies the living areas with the rest of the yard and is vented for circulation. The whole thing is as lovely from the ground level as it is from above.
While this is the architectural plan, the real plan begins with how you want to live in your new space.
We are so thrilled that we were able to design and build an outdoor living area that will provide this family so much fun and flexibility for enjoying their home in the years to come. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your dreams for your outdoor space.
(740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net
Visit: columbus.archadeck.com
Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus 