[Mstrlucky74]

So we just bought this home and doing complete reno. This will be our "forever"home. We are installing a sliding glass door in the back toward backyard that we want to open to a nice outdoor living area. Maybe about 15'x15'. As you can see there is about 2' from about where bottom of door would be to ground. We are torn whether to do brick steps down to pavers/ patio area or build a nice wood/or that composite decking stuff.

Any feedback as to what you guys think over one or another for any reasons would be great, thanks.

 

[Nealtw]

A deck should be 6" below the floor, with 2x10 joists with a 2 or 3 ply rim instead of a beam you would have about 8" for air flow. It might work if you prep the ground below so water doesn't sit there.

 

[HotRodx10]

A deck should be 6" below the floor, with 2x10 joists...

The required depth of the joists depends on the spacing of the supports. I did a slightly lower height freestanding deck (about 14" from the ground) with concrete block 'piers' every 5' or so under each joist, which allowed me to use 2x4 joists. Doesn't give me much space to clean out the leaves and junk that falls through, but I can still get most of it with a long-handled rake. If you decide to go with a deck, either shallow or deep, give some thought to how you're going clean underneath.

 

[stick\shift]

With a step down from the house being a requirement, this looks low enough that I would be thinking patio.

 

[Mstrlucky74]

With a step down from the house being a requirement, this looks low enough that I would be thinking patio.

But the other option in no step down from the door and go right out to deck.

 

[3onthetree]

You're in that zone of no railing needed, so most people I've seen decide based on their preference for steps down right at the door and usually like one more than the other (wood vs paver). Costs can be equal or wildly different depending on what you do. DIYers usually would rather tackle a deck than pavers.

 

[HotRodx10]

steps down right at the door

I'd avoid having more than one step right outside the door. Been there; done that, and it's annoying and uncomfortable to reach up to open the door. Either way, you'll want a landing no more than a step height below the door, extending at least 18" beyond the door swing. The only thing worse than reaching up to open the door, is falling off a step when you back up to open the door.

 

[Mstrlucky74]

I'd avoid having more than one step right outside the door. Been there; done that, and it's annoying and uncomfortable to reach up to open the door. Either way, you'll want a landing no more than a step height below the door, extending at least 18" beyond the door swing. The only thing worse than reaching up to open the door, is falling off a step when you back up to open the door.

Or a deck that's even with the door/floor inside so there is not step, right?

 

[F250]

Currently have a floor-level deck outside out kitchen door which then later has two steps down onto the nice gravel path around the house perimeter. Previous owners had this built and the ground underneath the deck board is not properly sloped away from the house - water trap for crawl space walls and foundation. HATE the configuration.

Our preference is a landing with one step down outside the door from the kitchen onto a poured patio which then later has a single step onto the gravel path. This removes the water trap issue and helps keep crawl space moisture intrusion to an absolute minimum. Alternatively, we could do a complete encapsulation of the crawl space for $5K-$6K, but I can have the patio framed and poured for much less than that and have the problem completely eliminated with a virtually maintenance-free solution.

 

[HotRodx10]

Or a deck that's even with the door/floor inside so there is not step, right?

I don't have an issue with that. I have one that's an inch, and one that's about 3". I'll let Nealtw expound on his reasons for recommending a step down.

 

[Nealtw]

I don't have an issue with that. I have one that's an inch, and one that's about 3". I'll let Nealtw expound on his reasons for recommending a step down.

Code change 2012, I think. :wink2oing a proper door pan is hard when the deck is level too. There are to many rotten floors under the door.
If you are cheating and going close to level raise the sliding door and set it on a 2x4.

 

[HotRodx10]

I wasn't aware of any code requirements in that regard, but I don't really keep up on that stuff (except the bridge design codes I use for my real job, of course). My decks and steps are free-standing, so I didn't have to do anything with threshold or what's under it when I added my deck.

 

[Two Knots]

I would do a deck level with the inside floor of the house.
That’s what we have and it is functional as well as convenient.

 

[Nealtw]

I would do a deck level with the inside floor of the house.
That’s what we have and it is functional as well as convenient.

Do you have a roof over it?

 

[Mstrlucky74]

Now I just need to find some budget friendly/good composite decking

 

[Two Knots]

Do you have a roof over it?

What difference does it make if I have a roof over it...just wondering?
Does a roof make a difference?

We don’t have a roof, we have a pergola though. I’m sure you’ve seen pics
of it.

 

[HotRodx10]

Now I just need to find some budget friendly/good composite decking

Good luck with that.



Our climate is dry enough, I was able to use just regular untreated Doug Fir 2x6's for mine. Although if I had to do it over, I would have opted for a penetrating sealer, like Thompson's Water Seal, or a penetrating stain rather than standard wood sealer I used. The deck gets very slippery when it's dirty and then gets wet. The surface sealer would be good for railings, fences, and such, but it's dangerous on a walking surface.

 

[Nealtw]

What difference does it make if I have a roof over it...just wondering?
Does a roof make a difference?

We don’t have a roof, we have a pergola though. I’m sure you’ve seen pics
of it.

They changed the code around the time they changed the door installation to fix a problem with water getting under the door and rotting out the subfloor and rim joist . With a roof the door is protected from rain and snow so it is not a problem.

 

[barongan]

A deck should be 6" below the floor, with 2x10 joists with a 2 or 3 ply rim instead of a beam you would have about 8" for air flow. It might work if you prep the ground below so water doesn't sit there.

nice.

 

[3onthetree]

Code change 2012, I think.

More restrictive local amendments only (unless Canada has some separate national code)