No pictures attached, but to cover most any deck and add stairs will require a rebuild of the structure and support.

It doesn't seem crazy to tear it off.

It sounds like it isn't being used, so no, it isn't crazy to remove it.

Sorry, pictures here!

@millworkman yes, the current deck needs to be replaced (if we decide to keep a rear deck) -- especially if we want to cover it.

Rear deck

Side decks

View from rear deck

Could you put up a shade cloth -- sun sail-type to cover the deck? It's pretty, and you might miss the extra light from the doors in the darker months.

What will you do with the slider? Here you have to put braces across it to prevent any accidents--which is pretty ugly. A juliet balcony for grilling might be useful. I would plant a good shade tree and eventually you might have the money to have something useful there as the tree grows in.

You could add a retractable awning or wind sail . It's not free to demo the deck and you'd have to find siding to match.

What room does the upper deck connect to? The deck looks to be in good shape and it's free, so before demo'ing it, consider ways to take advantage of it. It may be too hot during summer evenings but may be great on summer mornings since it's shaded, or on sunny winter days. Your furniture selection can make a big difference in making it comfortable. Umbrellas can help when it's hot and a propane fire pit can help when it's chilly. Some furniture can withstand severe weather and be left out year round. Also, a piece like a daybed cabana has it's own overhead cover and shades.

It can also enhance the room it's connected by expanding it and creating an inviting private deck visible from inside. Add potted plants, an indoor/outdoor rug, string lights, etc.

OP says that the deck needs to be replaced; it does not get used; the orientation is problematic--west facing. OP plans to replace slider with windows. Yes, I would get rid of it.

There is zero point in investing money in a deck that you don't use; you do have other outdoor living areas--the pergola as well as a wrap around porch.

The only concern with removing it might be the protection it provides for the bermed walk-out area of the basement. It does provide shade for that part of the house as well as a rain cover. Will the walk out area have adequate drainage when the deck is removed?

IIRC you liked to use that deck to look out onto the horses and field. You wanted to keep it which was part of the self-restricting conundrum of multiple exterior circulation points in trying to lay out your interior remodel. Also, does removing it affect a roof cover for your in-law suite below on the walkout basement patio?

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts! The deck is connected to the living room. If we were to remove the deck we would replace the doors with windows. It would be part of a larger remodel with plans to replace other windows and siding as well (so matching siding would be less of a concern).

We could potentially use some sort of sun shade to help with the evening sun, but, in the past when we've tried to have furniture out there, having the deck uncovered resulted in soggy area rugs and cushions (how do people keep the space usable when it's uncovered??). By time the rug dried out it seemed like it rained again. I love all those pictures of nice outdoor spaces, but I feel like I'm missing something--how do people keep it clean/usable (where does everyone store blankets/cushions/rugs when not used)? (This seems like a separate thread though!)

The deck likely does provide some shade to the basement patio below, so we'd have to keep that in mind (although maybe we could utilize a sun shad or umbrella there). It doesn't provide any rain protection (the rain goes through the deck slates).

We've planted some trees in the yard to-date, but I've held off on planting any that would directly block the sun, mainly because they would also block the view (which seems like the whole point of the deck). Perhaps it's more about selecting the right tree and waiting.

@3onthetree, you are remembering correctly re: the deck creating circulation issues in my ideas for a larger remodel--which (combined with cost concerns) is why I'm considering just eliminating it all together. Hoping to minimize any self-restricting conundrums by thinking through all possibilities (I definitely don't want to be the reason my plans/design/house isn't working/flowing).

At this point, I'm leaning towards eliminating it all together -- to make it most useful would be costly, I suspect. But, it does make me nervous because it is a great view and it seems a little crazy to eliminate outdoor space! I appreciate everyone's perspectives!

How much benefit does the deck provide in shading the in-law suite below and does your living room get direct west sun that makes it uncomfortable now? How much benefit might a small cover over the upper deck provide in shading your living room? Figuring out the best way to mitigate the impact of direct sun on interior spaces would be a major consideration for me whether I kept the deck or not.

If sopping wet outdoor rug and cushions are a major deterrent, there are workarounds. Some comfortable, cushionless furniture pieces can be left out - resin wicker, polypropylene, polywood, etc. Pieces with exposed metal should be avoided because they'll get hot/cold to the touch. A outdoor rug made of acrylic or polypropylene will not be sopping wet and will resist mold and mildew. A bar height table and chairs could give you a place to sit and see over the railing.

Patio blankets can be kept dry inside in a basket place along with a towel to wipe your seat off after a rain, and a small deck box placed outside to store a few pillows. We keep a telescope on a tripod inside and enjoy taking it out for stargazing.

Regardless of what you decide to do about your deck, keeping furniture usable in rain etc. is as easy as getting furniture covers. We have a deck box where we stash them when we want to use the deck, then cover everything up when not in use. Everything stays dry and relatively clean. We also have sunbrella fabric so it cleans up well. In the winter we will be putting cushions in a XXL deck box under the deck but we'll keep the frames covered with the covers we already have.

If you don't want to deal with furniture covers, slingback style furniture dries out quickly.

If you don't like a soggy rug maybe don't use a rug? Or get a polypropylene one that doesn't absorb moisture.

Seconding the recommendation for covers - we got a rather astounding eight years out of the original cushions on our fire table set because we kept everything covered when we weren’t using it. Just had new Sunbrella cushions made and bought new covers - hoping to get at least as much time out of these. We have a poly rug - it does get sort of squishy, but if you have a big squeegee (like you’d use to dry off a tennis court) you can get a surprising amount of water out that way.