Archadeck Outdoor Living Gets Dream Backyard of its Own
We at Archadeck Outdoor Living pride ourselves on being the experts in outdoor living structures. Whether it is a deck, porch, patio, pergola or other project, we design and build the backyards of our clients’ dreams. I hate to admit it, but despite being America’s oldest and largest deck builder, our corporate office’s outdoor living space is lacking. Actually, it doesn’t really exist right now, but we 
are thrilled to say that that will be changing soon!
Since we are currently in the middle of a $70,000 dream backyard makeover contest, we decided it was time to build our dream space too! Our corporate design staff of draftsmen have designed the perfect outdoor living space for our corporate offices that will soon be underway. I, of course, will be sharing photos and details of how it is coming throughout the process. To start, I want to show you what the plans look like.
As you can see in the first 3D rendering and the photo, our corporate office’s property doesn’t look like a place the outdoor living experts work. We, along with the other companies that we share our building with, wanted a place to enjoy the outdoors when the weather permits. Since we would be the ones designing and building the space, we created a combination structure to show our corporate partners, franchisees and potential franchisees.
The first step in the process is to get permission from the building owners to make the significant enhancements to the property. Much like our system of porch, patio and deck builders do with their clients, our corporate team presented them with several options to consider. An outdoor living project is a significant investment and it’s important to us that our clients feel confident in their purchase when they sign a contract. To ensure that is the case, our design options are presented in 3D renderings that depict what the space will look like on their property. These renders have our entire office waiting impatiently for the space to be available.
These renderings show the final design that is currently with the county for permits. The project will consist of a new paver walkway that leads to an upper paver patio surrounded by seating walls and a fireplace. There will be two entrances off the patio to a 900 square foot composite deck loaded with benches throughout. Since Virginia can bring plenty of hot summer days, a large pergola will cover and shade a large part of the deck. On the far end of the deck there will be a set of stairs that lead to a lower paver patio with outdoor an outdoor kitchen (company cookouts, here we come!)
For the detail-oriented, here are the specifications of the space: The deck will be a little over 900 square feet. In addition, it will have 105 linear feet of white, vinyl railings, 38 linear feet of composite bench, composite trim and solid board skirting. There will be a total of two pergolas, an entrance one, comprised of 34 square feet and the second one that covers part of the deck will be 484 square feet.
As for the paver component, the space will have a total of 1,020 total square feet of Belgard Holland Stone, 108 linear feet of seating wall and 4 stone columns. On the upper patio there will be a 9 foot wide fireplace and an outdoor kitchen on the lower patio.
We are all excited to build and enjoy the new outdoor living space. We are currently waiting for all of the local permits to go through before we break ground on the space. Sit tight for updates!
Enjoy Your Neighborhood from Your Front Porch
I have two rambunctious nephews that cannot sit still. They’re 5 and 3 and as you can imagine, full of energy. They live in a great neighborhood with a ton of young kids. Like clockwork, when everyone is home from school, the kids race outside to play. I was visiting them a little while ago and watched the outdoor antics all from my brother’s front porch.
My brother lives in a newer subdivision in South Carolina. There are five or six floor plans for people to choose from, but it’s the outside finishes which stops them from looking all the same. One of those finishes is the front porch. Some have just a simple stoop, others have a front porch that spans the width of the home and others have wrap around porches.
Front porches and porticos are a great way to add personality and function to your home. My brother’s porch was the perfect place sit back, catch up and still have a clear view of my nephews. Neighbors stopped by for a few minutes, chatted and went on their way. What can I say? Porches make great outdoor living spaces for spur of the moment visitors.
Growing up in Maine (yup, I just made the jump from South Carolina to Maine), our front porch was where we took off our muddy or wet shoes before we stomped our ways through the house. It was essential to my mom’s sanity. When it was raining or snowing, we would slip out of our boots and step right inside. We were safe from the elements and didn’t have to track dirt inside.
Beyond functionality, front porches and porticos add personality to a home. Custom porch designs make sure to add to the beauty of the home while not making it look like an afterthought. The colors, trims and finishes should complement what is already there. Here are some examples of beautiful front porch designs from Archadeck Outdoor Living:
This homeowner in Rhode Island wanted a extra space on the front of your home. The porch and added gazebo were finished with the same roofing and trim that was on the house previously.
This front porch in Arlington, VA is a little different. It’s a low to grade, meaning the drop to the ground isn’t large, so it’s a more open porch design. Instead of stairs, it incorporates a ramp in the front. A fan was added to the ceiling to make the porch a comfortable place to sit and entertain family and friends.
This craftsman style home has unique finishes. When updating the front porch, Archadeck Outdoor Living paid special attention to the details so the porch didn’t look like an after thought. The same shingles line the outside of the project and the rail posts match the posts along the base of the home perfectly.
This front porch is located in Montgomery County, Maryland. It’s curved roof and matching lanterns create a beautiful space to welcome guests. The base of the front porch match the color of the home perfectly and the bright white gives it that special pop.
If you are interested in how a new front porch or portico can enhance the front of your home, please contact your local Archadeck Outdoor Living office.
Put a little holiday in your step with a new deck by Archadeck
This gallery contains 2 photos.
Archadeck focuses on the joy of the season with this “Christmas deck” by Archadeck of Greater Atlanta, which is truly a deck for all seasons packed with functionality and style. A deck like this can be yours with Archadeck.
Archadeck of Charleston breathes new life into this deck in Summerville, SC
Archadeck of Charleston was able to breathe new life into this deck with new supports, re-decking and new railings.
When choosing the materials for your anticipated outdoor structure it is important to look at things from the “big picture”. I think a lot of times the homeowner makes decisions based on visualizing their completed outdoor structure from afar, like a distant wish or the way we perceive a star in the night sky when looking up above from down below. It is important to try to visualize your outdoor structure from the vantage point where you and your family are most likely to view the structure itself while in use. The main idea is to make design and material choices based on the inside looking out, rather than the outside looking in, after all you are the one who will be using and enjoying the structure. Case in point is a recent upgrade and re-decking that was completed by Archadeck of Charleston, which gives a perfect example of what a huge difference detailing can make.
Clyde Hess and the crew from Archadeck of Charleston were able to breathe new life into this 20-year-old deck for these Summerville, SC homeowners. Their deck not only had a little age on it, it also had been the victim of many amateur repairs during it’s lifetime. The existing deck was treated wood decking as well as the framing which was attached solely with nails. This situation of using “only nails” had turned into a constant problem of having to continually re-nail the structure to try to compensate for the fact it was coming apart. The structure had no joist hangers, no bolting of any manner and no columns to joist. The railing was only tied in by toe nailing and had become dangerous to lean on. This dilemma was not only structurally inept, it carried the potential to become a safety hazard.
This image shows the deck before Archadeck of Charleston began.
Archadeck of Charleston efficiently addressed all the issues present with the existing deck and set out to make it structurally sound and also make it a feast for the eyes. Using 2×10 drop beams for the front and back for free-standing, we began adding support and strength to the deck in anticipation of the re-decking. The beams were supported and double bolted onto notched out 6×6 posts secured in a 16″ concrete footing. We then added Cox columns as rail posts in line on the deck, double bolted to the deck band and blocked. We then added stairs out to compensate for the property line setbacks and water runoff due to the steep grade of the lot. We then re-decked the entire structure with #1 premium grade Yellow Pine pressure treated wood. The homeowner decided to upgrade the wooden railing to a metal railing for aesthetics as well as strength, this decision also opened up the view where the homeowners can now take in all the lovely vistas of their backyard. These views were not as visible before with the old wooden railing.
Making the decision to replace the old style railing with the metal railing opens up a world of possibilities for these Summerville, SC homeowners and they are elated. By changing this one simple element of the deck, they feel like they have more room and definitely more of a view. This is a fine example of looking out as opposed to looking in at your outdoor structure. The new railing and new deck is certainly beautiful from the outside, but from the inside it is breathtaking and adds more style and functionality as well. Making sure your outdoor structure is structurally sound from the bottom up is crucial, as is the little nuances and changes that can certainly breathe new life into your outdoor structure. Making elemental changes within the design when re-vamping an existing deck can make a world of difference as to how you use and perceive your deck. The addition of railings, directional changes in a staircase or even using built-in benches or planters in lieu of railings if you have a low-to-grade deck can really change the feel and personality of the entire structure.
Clyde Hess owner, Archadeck of Charleston
If you are ready to transform your existing deck into a masterpiece of strength and design contact Archadeck of Charleston to learn more. Get the most out of your outdoor structure today at (843) 873 – 6236
charleston@archadeck.net
You can also take a tour of other beautiful decks by our Archadeck locations all over the country by visiting our galleries http://www.archadeck.com/pickYourProject/Decks.html
804.353.6999 • info@archadeck.net
The direction of the stairs is huge!
Stairway direction change by Harold Cross of Archadeck of Central Iowa
The direction of the stairs on your elevated porch or deck is a huge consideration and one that we put a tremendous amount of emphasis on when in the design process with our homeowners. Partly we do this because we realize how important it is but also because of feedback from customers who tell us what a big difference it made to have their stairs pointing toward the area where they would be congregating.
If you look at the photo above, the original stair case emptied out into the side of the yard near the fence. This one was a double whammy because the very long stair case was an eye sore from the back yard. By directing the stairs to have a landing and empty out into the living area of the back yard, it made it easier to carry food and other items to their patio, made access easier and better to the back yard and looked a whole heck of a lot better.
As a mother of 3 children, I often tell my children about ergonomic design as we endlessly try to improve the organizational systems that will lead to a cleaner house. So I tell them things like…
- Put the spices you use the most on the lower shelf or in the front
- Put the book you’re currently reading on your night table and keep the other ones in a book shelf
- Create an approved” place to store your back pack near the door
Here are some examples of stairways that direct the homeowners to the living area instead of into the side yard or away from the living area.
Archadeck of Austin stair re-direction
The example above was designed by Noelalee Ragle of Archadeck of Austin. Click here to read more about this job. The existing deck had stairs that emptied out into the fence. The new deck incorporated a landing so the stairs emptied right out into the living area.
Elevated lakehouse deck with bi-directional stairs by Archadeck of Northeast Indiana
The deck above was built by Baron Biedenweg of Archadeck of Northeastern Indiana. In this photo, you can see the bi-directional stairs being used on this house to direct traffic into the patio area under the deck and toward the water at this lake house. The view from the lake is also much enhanced by focusing attention on the deck instead of on a very long staircase.
If you’re building an elevated area at your home or even a relatively low outdoor living area, think about where the stairs empty out. Think about carrying food out the door and down the stairs and how far you’ll need to walk after exiting the stairs.
It’s not too early to start planning your outdoor living space for next year!! Call an Archadeck office near you now and ask for a design consultation.
