Deck - Top or bottom?

RCGA

I'd love to add a back deck to my house, but I'm not sure where I should place it. Here are the two options I'm considering:

Option 1:

The more complicated option. This involves adding a door upstairs, plus an elevated deck. This is obviously a rough drawing and not to scale. I would be envisioning this to be about 1/3 larger. My biggest concern here is that the house isn't really designed for a deck like this, at least I don't think so. We thought about removing the window and adding a double sliding door, but it would be a pretty big tear up as we have hot water radiation and a radiator runs all along the base of that wall.



Edit: Here is some context for the upstairs window



Option 2:

This option is a much easier and cheaper overall solution. I'm not sure of the overall design, or even if this location would be best (vs. the other side). Comments welcome.

hammerlane

I vote for option #1 as it will add more money into the economy

funfool

I vote for option 3
That tree is to close to the house, yank it out, install french patio doors where the window is, build the deck along side the length of the house, put pavers in under it on the ground and have both, top and bottom.

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RCGA

^ Something like this?

The french doors might be difficult, however

fetzer85

I would choose a modified option 1. I would have the deck come out the other way in front of your picture window. (if possible)

RCGA

The only problem with that is that it kills the light to the room below

fetzer85

Point taken. What room is it?

RCGA

Here are the rooms:

fetzer85

Given the height of that door I think I would lay a patio instead of building a deck.

Def agree w/ funfool though, both those pines need to go. Not sure who in their right mind would have planted them/allowed them to grow there.

RCGA

We were thinking about removing the pines. Any idea why they Gould go though? What's the hazard?

Fix'n it

roots. and the tree hitting the house during winds. ugly

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jagans

Where is your kitchen? This is kind of strange.

I vote for a 12 x 16 patio off the family room. Forget the deck, IMHO Oh and get rid of the trees, pines are nothing but Gutter clutter, No shade, freeway for squirrels into your attic. pine sap. Real crap.

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kwikfishron

Getting rid of the trees is a given.

If it were mine I'd pour a slab the entire width of the house, out a min. of 12' (16' would be nice) and put a roof over half of that on the right side with half walls (sunny side and shade side).

Outdoor covered kitchen right out side of the fun room.

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dabeast

I also vote for #3 as stated above.

Remove window at top build deck with door there add pavers underneath.
I would prefer less light in my tv room anyways.

If you did go with the top idea were you planing on putting stairs down to your yard?