Deck Tour

This past weekend, we had some lovely friends from near and far who came around to help Chris build the bulk of our deck. He and his friend, Tray, have been working on Sunday afternoons for the past month, laying concrete foundations and installing support posts and brackets. Then, this weekend, with a house full of friends, they were able to work two straight days and build the entire deck. Chris still has to finish one little patch on the ground level, put up handrails, and stain it, but otherwise it is pretty much finished.

This is the view from the yard up to the house. You can see that you come out the back door, and then step down three very large, gradual steps to a large platform.

That large area will eventually get railing around it, and will hold our grill. There is also room for a little cafe table with two chairs up there, too.

You then come down a flight of large, gradual stairs to the main deck level. I love these stairs. I think I’m going to put lots of potted plants on them near the house. Wouldn’t that be cute with bright colored flower pots?

You can also see in that picture above that the built-in bench seating begins on one of those stairs and wraps around the ground-level of the deck. The bench seating will line the back wall of the house (it isn’t quite finished yet), and will have storage underneath for our pool toys and things. Not to mention, it gives us so much more room to seat people.

One of the things I am most excited about is this little area next to the steps. It is unfinished right now, but Chris will finish it this weekend. It was this odd area of space that we couldn’t figure out what to do with. Finally, we decided to use this as the place where the kids’ splash table will live now. I love this because it means that whenever we want to use the splash table, we don’t have to trek out into the backyard. We can just come out on the deck and the kids can go to town while I lounge around. I think we will use the splash table so much more if it is easily accessible. We have also talked about putting an umbrella over this area so the kids are playing in the shade. Still working through that idea, though.

The front of the deck still needs to be finished and made all pretty-like, but you get the idea. I am super happy with how it is coming along. And let me tell you, I have new respect for Chris and his crafty mind. Building a custom deck like this is crazy complex, mostly because there are so many stairs! He came up with this really complicated build plan, and his amazingly kind friends have really just made it happen. I am so grateful!

We celebrated that there was an actual deck to sit on Saturday night with hamburgers and beer. We broke the deck in with lots of laughs, good conversation, and great friends. It has officially been christened, and we are ready for summer!

…just as soon as we get some handrails.