We met our client Mary and her late husband Bill, many years ago at church. They had just moved to the area and had a new home built by one of the small production builders. Our business relationship began a few years later when they asked for our help expanding their deck and building a stairway to the back yard. The stairs were missing from the original construction. A while later, the time arrived when Mary was ready to treat herself to some of the amenities that she desired while updating the home to keep herself safe as she aged. This large project consisted of an exterior makeover, as well as a low maintenance deck and screened porch, and a unique stairway to the back yard.

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A Low Maintenance Deck With Unobstructed Views

The original deck and railing were built out of standard treated lumber. Due to the Western exposure’s punishing sun, the deck required considerable maintenance and had unsightly splinters. It was time for this to be replaced and for a comfortable screened porch to be built. The screen porch nestles into a corner near the dinette and craft room, requiring careful integration of a shed roof to reliably shed water.

The new screen porch has screening underneath the low maintenance Deckorators brand decking, to keep the area bug-free. Aluminum newel posts and top railing provide the structure for the stainless steel cable rail, giving clear, mostly unobstructed views to the backyard possible. The system will be virtually maintenance-free throughout its life, merely requiring an occasional washing to get rid of dust and pollen.

 

A Deck And Stairs Designed For Aging-In-Place:

The stairway from the deck to the back yard is unique. It is designed for our client’s comfort and safety. We redesigned the stairway, lengthening the run of each tread to 27”, to accommodate a walker safely. The treads are now two and a half times wider than a standard tread width. Risers are also shorter than average, and this combination still creates an ergonomic path for anyone to traverse.

The End Result Is A Happy And Safe Client

The result is a stunning makeover that is beautiful, low maintenance, and safe for continued occupancy by Mary as she enjoys her aging-in-place lifestyle.

 
 
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Project Design

Dave Duewel,
Senior Designer

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Lead Carpenter

PJ Ender,
CLC, CRPM

 
“[I was most satisfied with] 1. The through analysis of the project, 2. Giving us multiple options/ choices to address our needs, 3. Finally, following through in a timely manner with excellent work to complete the projects. There were no areas of the job upon which they fell short of our expectations - in fact, that is what I like about the company - they are always reliable and do excellent work.”
— Mary M, Windsor WI