This 1870s farmhouse is one that we have been working on for more than 30 years. A progressive series of projects included the garage, an expansive great room and master bedroom addition, and an extensive additional renovation another 15 years later.
The goal of this latest update was the replacement of the original fencing around the pool area, and the creation of a back-yard deck to create a backyard entertaining area and seamlessly connects house and pool.
The original cedar fencing had lasted more than 30 years, but many posts and support beams had progressively rotted over time. Keeping with the style and design of the house, we were asked to install new cedar fencing in its place. The existing fencing was removed, new postholes were dug, and new fencing was installed around the full pool area.
To ensure the fence would last many decades more, care was taken in how each section of fencing was built. Rail surfaces were bevelled before installation to drain rainwater and prevent pooling. Vertical trim rails create a finished look as well as reinforcing the support rails. Custom post caps were installed to create a finished appearance.
To finish the fencing, two timber-frame archways were designed to creating an inviting entryway to the pull area. They were carefully installed to ensure the perfect alignment of each archway, and connected and finished with a pergola of vertical cedar rafters.
The deck was designed to finish the exterior space in the rear of the house. The owner envisioned a two-level deck structure. This included the installation of decking within the boundaries of an existing stone retaining wall, and a curved exterior deck that expanded entertaining space and connected the house, sun porch and pool area.
To ensure a long lasting structure, we chose Kebony for the decking. Kebony is a treated softwood whose manufacturing process alters the cellular structure of the wood to make it incredibly durable and long lasting. To build the curved facing for the deck, the decking was carefully cut into 1/4” thick boards that could be laminated together.
Before laminating the boards, we tested the Kebony-supplied glue, ensuring that adhered boards would not separate even after several days submerged in water. A custom form was built to the desired radius, and we progressively built sufficient laminated facing boards to span the full length of the deck.
In the meantime, the decking was installed. Weatherproofing was fixed to supporting beams. Boards were carefully scribed to align with the stones of both the house and the retaining wall, The decking was fastened using hidden deck screws, resulting in a clean finish with no visible fasteners.
The result is an expansive and unique deck that connects the house ot both a contained cooking area and a flowing and spacious entertaining space.