I have an asphalt driveway in my backyard that leads to a garage under the house, which will not be used for a car ever. I am planning on removing the asphalt, having some grading down, sod laid and a deck built. I'm trying to determine the best order to do these things. One order suggested is to rip up asphalt and leave the 3/4 clean rock because I am on a pretty steep slope. Build the deck and then come back and remove rocks, add doil, grade, lay sod. The reasoning primarily being that deck building will tear up yard. I get that, though materials could be kept in my garage which the deck is being built over. I don't really want a muddy, rocky backyard for the summer. If machines will be needed to be used for removing rocks, bringing in 20 yards of soil and grading, it doesn't seem like tearing up the asphalt first is really necessary.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?