Photo by Kay Kim/Rill Architects
Deck - craftsman deck idea in DC Metro

New deck and screened porch overlooking back yard. All structural wood is completely covered in composite trim and decking for a long lasting, easy to maintain structure. Custom composite handrails and stainless steel cables provide a nearly uninterrupted view of the back yard. Architecture and photography by Omar Gutiérrez, NCARB

Mid-sized elegant backyard deck photo in Baltimore with no cover

AZEK Deck's Hazelwood® is a premium, low maintenance capped PVC decking product that offers unique color variations with each board. Designed to emulate the natural aesthetics of exotic hardwoods, Hazelwood is a light color with sleek, yet subtle variegation that combines a striking, natural shade with earthy richness. All AZEK Deck products carry a limited lifetime warranty and are designed to last beautifully.

Trex Transcend Spiced Rum watertight deck with low maintenance handrail. PVC facia and a T&G ceiling on deck below. Columns are pvc wrapped with custom arches and a stone base.

Ken Vaughan - Vaughan Creative Media
Inspiration for a large timeless u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Dallas with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula

Astonishingly beautiful setting and deck for the best in outdoor living.
Inspiration for a contemporary second story glass railing deck remodel in San Francisco with a fire pit and no cover

This low maintenance two level deck is located in Scotch Plains, NJ. The decking is Trex Transcends in their Tiki Torch color. The railing is TimberTech Traditional Walnut. The lower deck features an open layout with angled stairs to the yard and pool patio. The upper deck features a grilling area and access to the side yard.

Example of a country deck design in San Francisco

Ipe hardwood deck and potting bench; Photo-Mark Edgar
Example of a water fountain deck design in San Diego

Designed using Trex Transcend decking in Spiced Rum – a warm, earthy umber featuring subtle shading and natural shade variations creating distinctive hardwood-like streaking and intense, tropical hues that will retain its lush looks for decades and Vintage Lantern – a deep-burnished bronze with Old World elegance. Additional Trex products featured include Trex Transcend railing, Trex Pergola, Trex Elevations and Trex Outdoor Lighting.

Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Designed and built with modern, low-maintenance materials, this second story deck is framed with two-tone railing and highlighted with a two-tone floor board pattern. Custom deck design and construction by Archadeck in St. Louis Mo.

This customer wanted to update their tired looking deck with a new low maintenance deck that complemented the color of their home. We helped them realize their dream by installing a Trex Select deck in Saddle color with a Trex Reveal railing in black. They will now be able to enjoy the summer weather on their virtually maintenance free new outdoor space.

casual dining under a tigerwood ceiling on an ipe deck adjacent to a light limestone patio with an outdoor kitchen for a chef designed & built by austin outdoor design photo by ryann ford

AZEK Deck's Silver Oak has the aged look of teak with the rich personality of weathered wood. And, paired with white AZEK Premier Rail, it creates a warm and inviting space. All low maintenance, stain- and scratch-resistant AZEK Deck products carry a limited lifetime warranty and are designed to last beautifully. Available in 17 colors and several grain textures, AZEK Deck has a color to complement any housing exterior allowing you to personalize your backyard experience. Consider topping off your AZEK Deck with a pergola made of AZEK Trim to create a gorgeous and completely low maintenance outdoor space.

This large deck was built in Holmdel, NJ. The flooring is Ipe hardwood. The rail is Azek brand synthetic railing system. The pergola is clear cedar that has been primed and painted. The columns are 10" square Permacast brand. The high underside of the deck is covered with solid Ipe skirting. This blocks the view of the deck under-structure from people enjoying the lower paver patio. Low voltage lights were added to the rail posts, in the pergola and in the stair risers. These lights add a nice ambiance to the deck, as well as safety.

Don't let deck railing be an afterthought. During the deck design phase, determine what railing color will complement the shade of the deck material you're leaning toward. With so many rail profile and infill options, you're sure to find a combination that works well with your home's architecture, and creates a custom look that none of your neighbors have. Choose composite deck and rail materials, like Fiberon Symmetry Railing and Good Life decking, for a low-maintenance solution that is backed by a 25-year warranty.

Example of a large transitional backyard outdoor kitchen deck design in Seattle with a pergola