We love unusual projects, and this project was exactly that! Custom designs take many builders out of their comfort zone, but not us – we look forward to it. This was an opportunity to sharpen our skills and build what many others only dream of.
The Design
Originally the customer wanted a square deck, approximately 25′ x 40′, with composite deck boards. We advised the client that it would only add a small amount to the project’s overall cost to break it up into different levels and areas but would offer a much greater resale value. They agreed, and we moved on to the next item: composite decking.
We use Trex for most composite decks because we believe in the product. They offer a strong warranty and were one of the pioneers in the industry. We suggested using their Transcend line in this case, as it offers greater scratch resistance and better texturing.
As usual, we employed 3D software tools to build a visual model and create construction documents that allowed the deck to be built. This allowed the client to make adjustments and pick suitable colours with confidence that the final product would be something they loved.
The Build
We have seen our share of on-ground decks attached to the house. This is not legal as it requires piers 5′ deep (in our area). The ground around the lake is mostly rocky and would make drilling holes extremely difficult, so we designed the deck as freestanding.
Four-way deck blocks are the best option. If built correctly, the beams and substructure are completely rigid before the joists are even applied.
While Trex allows their products on 16″ centers, we have found that the board may droop in extreme heat. This is only a visual issue, and the boards return to shape when cool. However, it is only slightly more costly to use 12″ centers, and we recommend it. The decking was also done with a double picture frame on the outside, which requires special framing in the corners and when the boards run parallel with the joists. We used hidden fasteners as much as possible to make the decking as clean as possible.
The Final Products
The end result was quite stunning, and the owners were pleased with the project. As is common with these kinds of projects, we also picked up several others in the area after neighbours saw the work. There are still some lights to add; we will update this post with the final pictures once the job is complete.
