This project takes place at a home located on Hope Farm in Wake Forest. The home features a second-story deck overlooking a pool. The location of the deck places it in the sun for most of the day, which presents tough conditions for any type of wood. The surface wood was deteriorating and needed to be replaced. Fortunately, the lower structure remained in good condition and was able to be re-used.
The existing layout for the stairs worked well, but took up a considerable amount of space and partially obstructed the view of the pool. The homeowner also desired a low-level platform under the existing deck, which meant the stairs had to be re-designed. This made the overall plan for the project clear… relocate the stairs, upgrade the decks, and add shade wherever possible.
The finished project turned out great. The new stairs are a huge improvement over the old design and the shade offered by the sun sails made it possible to enjoy the pool any time of day. The pergola-style shade is a much needed refuge on the far side of the pool.
The stairs are double cleated and extremely sturdy. As an additional safety feature, the hand-rails were designed to be reachable by both hands as you walk up or down.
The upper deck looks so much better with a fresh wood surface, and the sun sail keeps things shady into the late afternoon. One thing to keep in mind when ordering sun sails for corner alcoves…make sure to get a Right triangle (90º corner), because an equilateral, scalene, obtuse, or isosceles will not fit properly.
The view of the pool is now unobstructed by the staircase. The newly installed pergola adds shade and a bit of balance to the far side of the pool apron.
The lower deck was set into an area in the apron intended as a flower bed. The soil was removed and the deck was set inside the existing concrete. The lower deck is part of a planned outdoor theater.
Below is a render of the proposed theater. This will make a great place to watch movies or play video games.