Dry decks and rain decks – Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus

If you look underneath most decks during a rainstorm, you will see lines and puddles where the water funnels to the spaces between the boards and then falls to the ground. This doesn’t matter if the only ones having dinner down there are insects or the occasional cat, but if you want to create a 2-story outdoor living space, there is a better solution.

Luckily, Archadeck has you covered, so to speak. We build what are known rain decks or dry decks. They include gently sloped layers built within the structure to help gravity divert rain and water away from the living area. Let me illustrate with a recent backyard 2-story deck in Dublin.

Our client had an existing Columbus paver patio built just outside the back door and surrounded on three sides by the stone facade of the home. The owners thought that they could get even more use from the space by adding a second story deck. This would double their outdoor living space and give them a large area protected from the elements. By swapping out a window for a door on the second floor, we also gave them outdoor access on two floors instead of just one. It’s hard to overstate how valuable an amenity that is.

Before and after a new second story dry deck at this Dublin OH home

The new raised deck is ideal for enjoying morning coffee or an evening glass of wine. The bronze railing and tempered glass offer a wonderful view of the yard and don’t restrict any light to the 2nd-story windows. On the ground floor, we covered the inner workings of the rain deck with a beadboard ceiling, canister lights and a ceiling fan. Now the space is suitable for outdoor entertaining in all but the harshest of winter weather. Even with this added protection, you are never more than a few steps from a view of the sky and stars.

I’d like to point out a few design details. We had to rebuild the seating wall because we needed to put a support column in the space occupied by the old one. We wrapped both the column and the support beam in cedar and painted it to match the home. Similarly, we tied new gutters into the existing system so that it looks like it was always part of the home. We work hard to integrate all our upgrade projects so that they look original to the home. In this case, we used Timbertech Legacy in Tigerwood and Mocha for the decking; they nicely complement the stone facade.

Kudos to our electrician on this job. In addition to wiring the lights and the ceiling fan, he got a little extra work when we pulled out the window on the second floor to exchange it for a door to the kitchenette. When we cut into the wall we were surprised to find that wires had been routed just under the windows in the original construction. Archadeck’s strong relationships with tradesmen of all kinds mean that we are able to respond quickly and professionally to these kinds of situations.

If you are thinking of adding a second story deck onto your homes, or if you presently have an existing second story deck we can create an under deck space that will double your outdoor living enjoyment. Our outdoor living combinations make all other “two for one” deals in your life pale by comparison. Call Archadeck of Columbus for a free consultation today (740) 879 – 3730 or email westcolumbus@archadeck.net.

See more examples of outdoor oasis project that are a result of using the area under a second story deck by visiting our covered patio gallery and our screened porch gallery, both located on our website.

DrySnap rain deck — This gorgeous Columbus under deck space was created by using a DrySnap system.

Whether you have an existing 2nd story deck or are considering adding one from scratch, taking advantage of the area below your deck can be a great way to get two outdoor living spaces out of one. Normally, the spaces between the deck boards will cause water to drip down below which can keep you from enjoying the space under your deck in wet weather. We are able to add an under decking system to your deck that prevents any water from dripping down through the decking boards. This is critical when creating a under-deck outdoor living area but also when building a porch under a deck.

Columbus screen porch dry roof — This Columbus 2nd story deck contains a lovely screened porch underneath.

There are several different ways to make your under deck space watertight. If you have an existing deck, there are products that we can retro-fit to your existing structure to ensure no water gets through your decking. Keep in mind when you retrofit that it will not always be a 100% solution, but it will be 99% effective. The idea behind using a retrofitting system is to create a slope which feeds water down to a gutter to drain the water. When using retrofits, theses systems have components that create the slope needed to divert water. This means you will not have a flat roof, it will be slightly sloped. The slight slope is hardly ever noticeable. Some of the retrofitting products available are InsideOut, DrySnap, and Dry Space by TimberTech. Inside Out is a high-end premier aluminum product that comes in a variety of colors. Dry Space by TimberTech and Dry Snap are both plastic products, with a more limited color palette of white, bone and off-white. We have used each of these products to retrofit and each has shown beneficial results. You can even retrofit lighting and ceiling fans to keep the wiring safe and dry, but the key is to make sure it is done right.

If you are starting your structure from scratch then you will have the ability to install a rain deck. With a rain deck, there are layers built within the structure with a slope that will divert the rain and water away from the deck. Comparatively speaking it is more expensive to install a rain deck than it is to retrofit an existing deck, but it is easier. By installing a full-fledged rain deck you take care of the cavities that are in-between the layers of the structure. You are able to create the slope needed and use rubber roofing and a cavity under which is the non-sloping ceiling. Because you have this cavity and layers of framing, there is more flexibility with adding accoutrements. Rain decks make the most sense when you are considering a finished lower level such as a porch or patio underneath your deck.

Category: Dry decks and rain decks

One deck can get you two outdoor living spaces. Take a look at this one in Dublin OH!

The sense and sensibility of creating a dry space that delivers function and beauty under your Columbus second story deck