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THIS IS OUR YEAR FOR THE OUTDOORS!

When we purchased this house in December of 2017, it had great bones, but needed tons of updates throughout the entire house. Everything from paint, electrical and plumbing fixtures needed to be replaced and updated- just to name a few!  So I have spent the last 3 1/2 years doing just that! 

That left the outside spaces pretty much neglected. Last year during the pandemic, I did replace some of the side rails on our back deck due to rot and added a temporary skinny lap wall to shield the one side of our deck from the intense afternoon sun… but those were just temporary fixes. We knew that the deck had much bigger issues- rot, not being up to code and it didn’t make the best use of the space. We ultimately couldn’t even enjoy the space.  

Since the majority of the interior spaces had been updated,  it was now time to turn our focus on our outdoor spaces. Rather than put money and time into another “temporary fix”, we decided it was time to have it done right! 

We had been pricing deck repairs and rebuilds for almost two years. We obtained several quotes and then finally found the right person to rebuild our deck- thanks to the recommendation from a new neighbor and now great friend! 

We talked with the contractor. Discussed what we didn’t like on our existing deck and what we wanted the space to be for our family. He worked with us and helped create a space that we absolutely love! We now spend more time out on our deck than we do inside most days!!!

Let’s start by talking about what was wrong with the previous deck and what we didn’t like. First, was the obvious safety hazards and rot. The deck rails were not to current code- some of the rail spaces I could even fit through if I tried hard enough! And with little ones- that was not acceptable. Second- the deck itself had not been well protected over the years and had many signs of rot in the rails and the deck boards. The structural support pieces were also not to code- making the entire base that the deck was on unsafe. We knew replacement was the only option. 

Rather than rebuild the deck with the exact same footprint, we decided to make it a space that would function for our family and be a space that we could enjoy for almost every season. I started by making a list of the things that didn’t work for us on the old deck. One of the things we didn’t like the on the old deck was the bi-level structure. The upper deck was very small and unusable as a dining or living space. That one side also was very high from the ground (driveway) below and had an unsafe side rail. That same side also had intense direct afternoon sun that streamed in and was so bright and hot – the entire deck was unusable during the hours we wanted to use it most!

Another thing we wanted to change was the location of the stairs. The old deck stairs were off to one side- the side of our yard that was the steepest side – so we had to go up and down 14 narrow and rickety stairs just to get to the yard. 

The prior deck totaled 14 foot deep and approximately 26 foot long (split between two levels). When planning with the contractor, we decided to extend it to 16 foot deep. We also knew we wanted it ALL ONE LEVEL. We designed the stairs to be in the center of the deck and made them 4 foot wide. By doing this, we immediately decreased the number of steps to our yard from 14 down to 7 steps. We also extended the deck the entire length of our house. It went from an approximately 26 foot long split level deck to a 36 foot long one level deck. Much more functional, usable space for gathering and entertaining.

Extending the depth just two feet in width, adding 10 feet to the length and making it all one level made the biggest difference!!! We now had a safe, functional deck that we could enjoy and entertain on!!!

Now to address that intense sun, we decided on two additions. The first one was a roof. We had no roof structure before, so during any rainy or extremely hot weather the deck wasn’t usable. We chose to add a roof structure so we could use the deck rain or shine. We chose a white metal roof. It blended with our homes exterior and white is reflective and helps reduce the intense southern summer heat! As a bonus, we love the sound of the rain on the metal roof! Since white is naturally reflective, the white metal roof helps to keep things light and bright both on the new deck and in the adjacent rooms on the back side of our home (kitchen and living room). 

The second addition to counteract the intense sun that streamed in from the one side of the deck was the addition of an enclosed wall. Since I wanted to keep things as light, bright and airy as possible, we also added a window to the wall. I added a light blocking blind too! That way during the morning we can still have indirect light and in the afternoon when the sun is facing that side directly, I can close the blinds to help block the sun.  We had the side wall painted inside and out the same color as our existing siding on our home, Sherwin Williams Pure White in a satin finish. 

We also needed a gate for the deck to keep our kiddos safe. I asked for a sliding deck gate rather than a standard open in gate. The carpenters brainstormed and came up with one that mimicked the function of a sliding pocket door. The sliding gate helps to keep the floor space more open. 

We also had some electrical plugs placed for our outdoor TV, a for outdoor string lights and on the outside of the deck for our pool to plug in to. We also had three ceiling fans installed to help keep us cool.

With the changes we made, we can now enjoy the deck from early spring until late fall. We also plan to add some heaters in the future, so we can extend the time we can use the space in cooler temps too! 

While I love to DIY, there are some things that I cannot tackle alone and are beyond my expertise. The deck rebuild is one of them. It was totally worth it to hire it out. 

The top three questions about the deck build I have received and will be discussing: cost, screening it in, staining/sealing it.

First, let’s discuss expense. Costs will vary greatly based on the current cost of lumber, the materials you plan to use, the size of the deck and the extra additions you would want (roof, side wall, screen, etc).  A project of this size IS an investment. We purchased our home at a great price because it needed some cosmetic work and updates- we knew there would be work involved to update it- but I was up for the challenge. Thankfully the 3+ years of updates we made to the home and continuing rising market values gave us plenty of equity that we were able to tap into for the deck rebuild. We know that the changes we have made will increase the overall value of the home and will be a great selling feature if we ever decide to sell in the future. 

If you are looking to do a similar project I recommend getting several quotes from reputable contractors. Ask around and get recommendations from neighbors and friends.  Making a list of “must haves” and “wants/wishes” can also help when it comes time to create your outdoor living space. 

One of the most asked questions is if we have plans to screen it in. For the time being, we are not. We like the open look and feel. We are in the south and DO have mosquitoes, but use a few methods in our yard and on the deck to help combat those. 

Also asked: Will we be staining or sealing it? YES. The wood needs to “dry out” first. Our contractor told us the way to tell if the wood is ready to accept the stain/sealer is to drop a little water on it… if it beads up and doesn’t absorb within 60 seconds it is NOT ready. If it absorbs quickly you are good to go! When we do seal it, we will be using a product from YellaWood (the same brand as the wood that our deck was built with). It is called Protector, and is a water repellent and wood sealer in one. It comes in four beautiful colors. We will be using the color Crystal Clear color to keep the natural tone of the wood that we love. 

I created a deck build video also. I takes you (quickly) through the entire build process from demo to completion.

You can see more views and details on my instagram page also MyDIYHappyHome.

I hope you’ll come back soon for more DIY’s, home decor, recipes, family life and all the in between.