Decking design ideas, opinions please...

[b1rdman]

Yes I know, another thread on decking, sorry

Ok so I have a patio - 60x60 slabs - very drab looking but stable so I'm planning on decking over it. Using the magic of Google Sketchup (which I cannot recommend enough, its brilliant and free) I have created a 3D model of my garden so I can plan my deck. At this stage I'm after some opinions to help me decide what design to go for. I guess the main aim for me is to not have any of these grey patio slabs visible one way or another.

The design considerations are:

-Garage door/Garden gate in relation to the deck
-Angle of fence in relation to the deck (it comes away from house at 80 degrees and narrows the garden slightly)

Idea 1
Deck the whole area up to the gate/fence to cover the whole patio. Advantages, no horrible slabs visible plus larger deck. Would also eliminate step to garage. Disadvantage is that there would be a step up straight onto deck from garden gate. Obviously I would have to cut the bottom of gate off so it could swing open too.

Design Idea 1

• b1rdman
• 23 Jul 2008
• 1

Idea 2
Only deck about 3/4 of the patio leaving space for access to garden gate and garage door. Angle the deck side so its parallel with fence. Advantages, the shape creates a walk way along the fence into garden which improves the access, also no step up from garden gate as in idea 1. Disadvantage is that it means I have to do something with the visible slabs.

If I took the remaining visible slabs up would it destabalise the adjacent slabs which the edge of deck is stood on? If I removed I could then gravel over or lay better looking paving?

Design Idea 2

• b1rdman
• 23 Jul 2008
• 1

This is my first deck so your experience and expertise would be much appreciated. Already learned loads from reading this forum. Thanks for reading!

 

[Woodster66]

go with 1 I say and create a step in the deck where the garden gate is, thus when you open the gate it is level and then you walk in and have a riser onto the decking area

Idea 1

• Woodster66
• 24 Jul 2008
• 1

 

[b1rdman]

Thats an interesting idea, hadn't thought of that. Only thing is the garden gate swings inwards towards the garage door so the whole corner would have to be sunken.

Also not really sure how to build the frame to lower the deck enough to accomodate the gate? I guess there would still be a slight step up but could smooth off with some kind of edging.

Googled how to do this but can't find anything....certainly nothing that shows how the frame might be constructed.

Thanks for your idea

 

[Woodster66]

ok not sure what distance you have from gate to door so check these, if you don't know how to curve the deck don't worry you could make it a square and put in some fancy pavers!

Untitled

• Woodster66
• 25 Jul 2008
• 1

Untitled

• Woodster66
• 25 Jul 2008
• 1

Untitled

• Woodster66
• 25 Jul 2008
• 1

Untitled

• Woodster66
• 25 Jul 2008
• 1

 

[fattony]

how did you create those pictures or did you grab them from the internet?

 

[rssteve]

how did you create those pictures or did you grab them from the internet?

start at the top of the thread, read each post from the top,

 

[Woodster66]

how did you create those pictures or did you grab them from the internet?

Yeah we created them with Sketch Up you can download it for free or purchase it I have the pro version which is purchased but there isn't to many differences and it is a brilliant tool for designing stuff no matter what!

go to the link below to download and see how it works as well!

http://sketchup.google.com/

 

[fattony]

thanks very much