This is an example of a traditional landscaping in Portland.

Multi-level outdoor living spaces in Wildwood, MO. Poolside is a patio covered by the deck above and an under deck drainage system. There is a bar with concrete counter and a True refrigerator. The deck above is made of low maintenance Fibron composite decking and extruded aluminum railing. The adjacent outdoor kitchen has a masonry wood burning fireplace, concrete counter tops, built-in grill, True outdoor refrigerator and plenty of storage. The ceiling and trim are stained cedar and has recessed lighting, speakers, and electric heaters. Photo by Gordon Kummer.

To maximize your backyard space, create an outdoor living area underneath an elevated deck. Shown here, an existing patio was screened-in and uses an under deck ceiling and drainage system. With underdecking, the space is bright, dry and usable, rain or shine. Screen porch project was designed and built by Archadeck of West County in St. Louis.

Wood deck with copper and wood railing, above. There is an under-deck drainage system beneath the deck to protect an open porch on the ground floor. Designed and built by Atlanta Decking & Fence. http://www.atlantadecking.com

The deck was built with flush girders designed to eliminate obstruction and remove the feeling of being under the deck
Inspiration for a timeless deck remodel in New York

Transform your wet under-deck area into a beautiful and dry outdoor living space with Quality Edge's Inside-Out under-deck drainage system.
This is an example of a traditional porch design in Richmond.

This outdoor kitchen is part of a multi-level outdoor living space in Wildwood, MO. Poolside is a patio covered by the deck above and an under deck drainage system. There is a bar with concrete counter and a True refrigerator. The deck above is made of low maintenance Fibron composite decking and extruded aluminum railing. The outdoor kitchen has a masonry wood burning fireplace, concrete counter tops, built-in grill, True outdoor refrigerator and plenty of storage. The ceiling and trim are stained cedar and has recessed lighting, speakers, and electric heaters. Photo by Gordon Kummer.

This poolside outdoor living area is a low maintenance composite sun deck on top and a shaded patio beneath. There is an outdoor kitchen featuring a built-in grill, refrigerator, warming drawer and storage. There are retractable screen walls that raise and lower with a remote control.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE PROJECT The customer requested a large 22 foot 11 inch wide x 14 foot, attached, 2 span (3 post) water proof retractable deck patio cover system with front water drainage. The plan was to have rain water drain through the invisible downspouts (inside the posts) and exit through a hole at the bottom of the posts. The entire system used one continuous piece of fabric and one motor. The system frame and guides are made entirely of non-rusting aluminum which is powder coated using the Qualicoat® powder coating process. Frame color chosen was our vendors proprietary Grigio Ferro. The stainless steel components used were Inox (470LI and 316) which are of the highest quality and have an extremely high corrosion resistance. In fact, the components meet the European salt spray corrosion test as tested by Centro Sviluppo Materiali in Italy. Fabric is Ferrari 302 Precontraint color Avorio P741, light filtering and opaque, a PVC fabric that is fire retardant and totally water-proof (not water-resistant). This retracting patio cover system has a Beaufort wind load rating Scale 10 (up to 63mph) with the fabric fully extended & in use. A hood with end caps was also used to prevent rain water, leaves and debris from collecting in the folds of fabric when not in use. Purlin covers were requested to prevent rain water, leaves and debris from collecting in the space between the two sections of aluminum (purlins) running from the house to the front posts. Motor operated with remote control. PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT The homeowners preferred a more modern design to their entire home. They are very active people and enjoy the outdoors (they both train as triathlete’s). Their desire was for the retractable patio cover system to provide shade on the desk that receives a great deal of afternoon sun. Prior to the installation, it got so hot, the client could not walk on the deck without shoes. Essentially, as much as they enjoy the outdoors, they did not use their deck. Again, with the modern design preference, a traditional roof structure was not their vision. They printed a retractable patio cover picture from Pinterest for the contractor. That was the start of the entire project. In addition to the upper area, they wanted to utilize the area below their deck, as well as create an area for their Jacuzzi Hot Tub. All this work was to be performed while keeping the overall design modern. UNIQUENESS OR COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECT First and foremost was the initial design of the project. The contractor worked with the client for 11 months creating this living area using Chief Architect software. They created numerous different designs & elevations. They looked at every aspect of the design in great detail. For example, the slope of the retractable patio cover structure and if the retractable patio cover base plate would be above or below the transom windows on the house. They revised the width of the structure numerous times, which then affected the posts below with each design change. The width of the space was decided based on the clear span of the structure. There were multiple design options with the retractable patio cover & the contractor looked at each of those options. When ordering the retractable deck cover system, the contractor had to have it fabricated to a fraction of an inch because the cable railing posts where to be directly adjacent to the retractable deck cover posts. There was very little margin for error. Planning was essential! The deck posts below needed to be replaced, this included new footings. The layout of the posts and the sizes of the posts needed to correspond to the supports of the patio cover structure. The posts for the rail system were designed to duplicate the posts of the retractable patio cover structure. The contractor created a method for draining the rain water from the posts of the retractable patio cover structure to the ground below. PROJECT RESULTS One extremely happy homeowner and proud contractor. Our company is honored to work with a client who allowed us to assist them in providing a retractable shading system to keep the homeowners deck cool. We are very proud to have been a part of this project. This complex and time consuming project met every desire the clients had. After the project was complete, the homeowners told the contractor how excited and pleased they were with the space. That, to us, is what is so critical in our line of work. The comments related to how they enjoyed the entire process and are able to enjoy their lives even more now.

Create dry usable space under your deck with an under deck drainage system that diverts water into your gutter system.
Elegant backyard patio photo in St Louis

A family in the Chicago suburb of Homer Glen needed to replace an aging cedar deck that extended out from their home's second-floor kitchen and living room areas and that featured a stairway down into the backyard. Seeking a new, more permanent structure, the family enlisted Millennium Construction's services. Using their desire to include brick columns as a starting point, we worked with them to select the right materials for the new deck — and to create a design that could bring their vision to life while improving the overall aesthetics and versatility of their outdoor space. For the new deck's surface, we chose brownstone-colored AZEK® decking that complemented the home's siding. Unlike the wood deck it replaced, AZEK decking doesn't require staining every few years, and it doesn't absorb water or buckle as traditional composite woods can. Instead, its PVC boarding is nonabsorbent and stain- and scratch-resistant to provide a lifetime of virtually maintenance-free use with only infrequent washing. Extending out from the second-floor deck, we built a stairway leading down to the backyard. At the bottom of the stairs, we opted for an open platform area instead of a simple stoop for a more open, inviting feel. This also created an additional outdoor leisure space at the ground level. The brick columns built to support the deck were topped with iron post lamps to provide a classic look and a pleasing light source for evening recreation. To match the lamps, we installed a textured Fortress Iron Railing between the columns. Galvanized and coated for many years of maintenance-free use, the Fortress product supplies the traditional elegance of wrought iron, while also blocking outdoor views less than thicker railing materials like composite wood can. We waterproofed the bottom of the deck using a Trex®RainEscape® deck drainage system. By providing complete protection of the area below the deck from rain, sun and other elements, the RainEscape system makes it possible to install ceiling fans, TVs, speakers and more in the outdoor living space below a deck without worry. We finished the deck bottom in wood paneling and then painted it. We hid the drainage pipe for the RainEscape system in the crown molding, which we ran to a gutter emptying out into the yard below the deck stairway. In the shaded area underneath the deck, we installed two ceiling fans for a cooling effect. We also put in recessed ceiling lights and connections for a flat screen and speakers so the family could watch television and listen to music anytime in a relaxed outdoor setting. After brick pavers laid the patio floor, we screened the area in, placing French doors at each end of the screen room. At six feet wide, the doors retain easy access into the house for furniture and other large items. While the family opted not to install windows in the screen room, the framing system we used also gives them the flexibility to enclose the space fully from the elements with four-track windows should they wish to do so in the future. With the new deck and screen room, the family now enjoys a more attractive upstairs area off the living room and kitchen areas where they can grill, entertain and bask in the sun on pleasant days. The screened-in area below gives them the ability to remain outdoors when it's hot or rainy, or when they want to watch their favorite shows. The end result is a house with a more refined look — and a family with a variety of new ways to enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of home.

With the addition of retractable screen walls and an under deck drainage system, this deck becomes not only a sun deck, but it's patio beneath, a screened room.

This south St. Louis county outdoor living area has a GeoDeck composite deck with screened rooms above and below. The upper screen room is accessed from the great room and features a Douglas fir ceiling with recessed lighting and ceiling fan. The lower room is made possible by an under deck drainage system which diverts water into the gutter system. Now there is a protected space to enjoy the hot tub.

By installing an under deck ceiling with a drainage system to an existing deck, Archadeck built a bright and dry screened room, below. Design details include two doors, one on each side, for easy backyard access. Notice that deck stairs connect the upper level to the yard as well. Custom project in St. Louis Mo by Archadeck.

This outdoor living space includes a screen room, sun deck and with the addition of an under deck drainage system and retractable screen walls, a lower level screened room. In that room there is a fireplace and outdoor kitchen with graninte counter and built-in grill.

Our client expressed the desire for: a usable and attractive space under the deck area access to the backyard from the front and side yards a stone patio a centerpiece fireplace to pull it all together We discussed options for materials, the design of fireplace, lighting options, stepping stone path ideas and how to address the area under the deck. Our final product is a gorgeous welcoming flagstone pathway under the deck with a CAST lighting system leading to the patio. The walkway is flagged with riverstones adding texture and drainage function. We installed a stone stepper path from the front yard leading down to the stone patio. The home is now secured with several welcoming and attractive accesses to the backyard entertaining space achieving seamless fluidity. The main patio design continues with the flagstone and lighting system keeping everything crisp and concise. The focal point of the outdoor room is the gorgeous stone fireplace! It is a show stopper fireplace that draws families together making lasting memories! Amelia Steiner

Vaulted ceiling screened room. Tile floor with a drainage system. Paver patio with a shade arbor. A large under deck storage area with work shop.
Arts and crafts deck photo in Kansas City

Multi-level outdoor living spaces in Wildwood, MO. Poolside is a patio covered by the deck above and an under deck drainage system. There is a bar with concrete counter and a True refrigerator. The deck above is made of low maintenance Fibron composite decking and extruded aluminum railing. The adjacent outdoor kitchen has a masonry wood burning fireplace, concrete counter tops, built-in grill, True outdoor refrigerator and plenty of storage. The ceiling and trim are stained cedar and has recessed lighting, speakers, and electric heaters. Photo by Gordon Kummer.

An under deck screened porch was built using all natural cedar and an under deck drainage system. The outdoor room was built over an existing patio to make the most of the backyard space. Porch project by Archadeck.