My friends and I were hired to build the lower deck, planters, and built-in seating for this modern country bungalow. The modern aesthetic was of primary importance, and so we took special care to assure that elements lined up and that the final appearance matched the style of the house.
The planters were a new and unique challenge. The structure needed to be both sturdy and rot-resistant. To this end the structure was built with pressure treated lumber and coated with a thick layer of rubberized sealant. Holes were drilled for drainage and also for the addition of an automatic sprinkler system.
The customer was also concerned with visually covering the space beneath the deck in a manner consistent with the theme of the house, and not distracting from the overall design. I suggested the horizontal slats, painted black and set back, to both hide and then become somewhat hidden themselves.
When the deck was finished we stained both decks with a natural homemade stain. I made several test batches and tried it out on left over pieces of pressure treated wood. To our pleasant surprise it worked beautifully and even worked on raw pressure treated wood.
The design process occurred over the course of the construction with the client responding to each element as it was created, assuring that it would fit with her vision for the property.
I returned recently to add a railing. The stain held up perfectly to the winter, and the deck is now complete.