[bdobs]

Sorry, just posted in the General area, but this is probably the better sub-forum...I'm new

Hi guys, my name is Brian...just found this forum researching ideas for a planned deck, and I'm hoping I can get some good advise here.

In a nut shell, I have a boring ugly concrete patio in my backyard, and an even uglier, usless dirt/gravel, crap area as we call it, between my house and my beloved backyard.
We would like to put in a nice ground level deck to cover all that area up to our lanscaped yard which I put many many hours into:wink:

Using the pictures below for reference, I'd like to....

I will be either removing the patio cover or chopping the patio cover back halfway towards the house as it seems to close in the area not to mention the heigth clearance issus I will have with the added heigth of the deck

Build a deck that runs the span of my house(not the recessed garage area you can see) out to the landscaped area of my backyard.

I do not want to have to demo the concrete pad which is in really nice shape by the way. No cracks or damage.

The heigth of the sliding patio door and bedroom door is ~11", so this is the absolute max heigth of the finished deck.

I am thinking of maybe a floating deck. I originally was interested in the preformed concete pier that sit on the ground for over the patio, but my calculations using those puts my finished deck somewhere around 13"

The non cemented area is not level by any means, but that shouldnt be a problem.

I live in California so frost heave and such shouldnt be an issue as the ground doent freeze

Any ideas? Help? critisism, compliments, complaints???:thumbup:
Sorry to be so long winded, but I wanted to try and convey as much info as possible

Thanks Brian

Side shot of area

Looking out from patio(partial view)

Old shot looking back at patio

 

[gma2rjc]

Have you considered covering the cement with pavers, tile, etc.? Do you think you'll enjoy your patio area as much if you remove most of the patio cover and the shade it provides?

BTW, beautiful yard! It looks like you put a lot of thought, time and energy into it.

 

[bdobs]

Yup, we've condidered all sorts of ideas and I almost tiled the patio. The problem is that the patio is relatively small and the area between the patio and the "backyard" to wasted.
Putting in a deck will give us a very large entertaining area that we plan on adding a large patio set with a large umbrella.
We will likely leave half the cover for shade

 

[gma2rjc]

What about paving the 'crap area' (lol) up to same height as the patio and then tiling it?

Do you mind if I ask the name of the big tall plant (in picture number two) with the yellow and pink flowers? Are they Canna's?

I guess my only concern with building a deck instead of tiling, is all the upkeep involved in having a deck. But it sure would look nice to have a deck covering that big of an area.

A big pergola on the deck would be a great way to add back some of the shade, and it would look nice.

 

[bdobs]

Yes, they are Cannas. They are great, they run about 10 feet back. I call it my Canna forest
Only problem is you have to chop them at the end of the year
I am sick of the cement, I am done with tile projects as I finished my bathroom and back BBQ sink last year
Not to mention the labor I'd have to go through digging that "crap area" level would be tremendous.
I want to built something!!!:thumbup:

 

[weedfan]

whats the measurements on that patio, w x l? by the way thats a big a** patio n house if u ask me....

 

[gma2rjc]

Hi bdobs, have you figured out a plan for your deck? I hope you'll update this post with your plans and some pictures when you're working on it and when it's finished. I'm sure it will look beautiful with all the landscaping.