In the final episode of DIY's Build a Deck workshop, we take a tour of five unique, innovative and extreme decks with host Jeff Wilson and guest Hamilton Brock, of Graham Vannoy Construction Company in Rising Fawn, Georgia.
Extreme Deck #3 - This "natural" deck absorbs its surroundings so spectacularly that it gives the impression almost of being a tree house. "The homeowner wanted a [deck] that was fairly secluded and out in the woods," Brock says, "[the deck] became part of the environment instead of being separated from it."
- Surrounding environment is the key to this extreme deck. Many of the elements of nature that surround the area are in the actual design of the deck, including a cascading wood staircase (figure A) that leads up to the deck. In fact, there is approximately a 100' drop between the deck and the creek at the bottom of the property.
- The deck is made of cedar, and like with the extreme deck #2, the railings were decorated with rhododendron branches.
- Due to the proximity of this particular deck, there were many challenges for Brock and his construction crew. Here are a few examples:
- Because of the slope and elevation of the property, the biggest challenge to creating this deck was building the different levels. Even for a flat surface (such as the original deck that was built in the DIY Build a Deck workshop) there is a lot of mathematical calculating, but with random surfaces for an extreme deck such as this one, there's even more math involved. "You have to make sure your structure is safe and the right size and shape to fit your environment," Brock says. "But then also you should take some time in [this] stage to make sure you incorporate some of the smaller elements that will make a big difference in the deck." This beautiful natural-wood bench (figure B) at the end of the cedar decking is a perfect example of this philosophy.
- One of the special features to this deck was the use of accent lighting (figure C) on the staircase. This is a nice look but is also needed as a safety feature.
- This deck wraps around the house (figure D), which makes it special and extreme as well, and it also has a tree that grows through the decking like with the second extreme deck featured in this episode.
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RESOURCES :
The Home Depot Information
To locate the Home Depot store nearest you, click here.
The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc.
Website: www.homedepot.com
The Complete Guide to Building Decks (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library)
ISBN: 0865734275
Author: Editors of Creative Publishing International
Order this title from Amazon.com.
Creative Publishing International, Inc.
Website: www.creativepub.com
Building a Deck: Expert Advice From Start to Finish (Taunton's Build Like a Pro)
ISBN: 1561584797
Author: Scott Schuttner
Order this title from Amazon.com.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
GUESTS :
Hamilton Brock
975 Highway 157
Lookout Mountain, GA 30750
Phone: 706-398-0616
Graham Vannoy Builders
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