Stairway to the Stars

Covered deck addition by Simplified Construction LLC, 6512 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615, (919) 876-3152, www.simplifiedconstruction.com

BEFORE

Turning an empty space into an 8-foot-high deck big enough to hold 50 people comfortably was the biggest challenge in this backyard renovation and deck installation for a circa-1930s brick home in historic Durham’s Burch Avenue neighborhood. The owner, a single man looking for an outdoor retreat to relax and entertain, reached out to Simplified Construction LLC in Raleigh to construct this outdoor porch. “The deck was crafted and engineered for massive strength and stability,” Craig Evans, president of Simplified Construction LLC, says. “You don’t feel any floor-bounce when you walk on this deck!”

The height of the deck proved a challenge in itself. The floor is approximately 8 feet off of the ground, which took a few extra hands and a little more time to frame than a normal deck. To complete construction, Cox Kiln dry treated lumber was used for smooth decking boards (it has less imperfections); a Screen Tight screening system was installed; Velux 2-by-4-foot skylights were installed; a white T & G bead-board finished the ceiling and dimensional shingles were added. The railing, pickets and ceiling were painted with Sherwin-Williams Deckscapes White deck stain, and a Hunter exterior ceiling fan was installed to keep soft breezes blowing on those warm Carolina nights.