A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROJECT
During our very first phone conversation, before meeting at the property, the owners expressed a desire to develop an exterior design that would factor in the changes they were planning for the interior. They wanted to make sure the basement renovations would relate to the new outdoor space. So, at our initial site
meeting we toured the interior of the house and the property to get an overall understanding of their living environment.
Existing conditions: The main level of the house is dining room, kitchen and living room. Outside of this space was a multi-level deck that needed updating. The basement consisted of a storage room, a home office and a simple television room. The basement is a walkout basement and you exit the sliding doors onto a simple gravel “patio” beneath the multi-level deck off the kitchen. Flanking either side of the gravel “patio” were two deteriorating timber retaining walls.
We discussed at length what their goals for the project were and together we defined following:
- Interior Elements (Basement) – Maintain the existing storage/ utility room, Make changes to the office and living room to have larger windows and doors to allow for better views to the exterior, Create a larger, more inviting basement entertainment space for television, gaming space and bar area, & Develop more appropriate storage.
- Exterior Element (Lower Level) – Integrate a hot tub space with open views to the sky and easy access to the basement entrance of the house, Develop a patio area off the back of the house and beneath the proposed deck, Design the hot tub space to disguise the overwhelming look & size of the tub, Hot tub will be used year round, & Consider options for a natural wood fire pit at this lower-level patio.
- Exterior Element (Mid-Level Patio) – Assess and revise the existing mid-level patio area only as needed understanding this space is pretty good as is, patio mostly used for a small fire pit space and also allows the owner to transition from the upper deck to the lower patio.
- Exterior Element (Upper Level) – Re-design the deck to be one level and integrate a new railing system that was sturdier and safer for kids, Integrate a new set of stairs off the deck where appropriate and that allows for easy access to the mid-level patio area as well as the lower patio space, Design for a new retaining wall at the corner of the house replacing the existing rotting timber, & Provide a waterproofing system for the underside of the deck to create a protected lower patio.
The construction phase began with general demolition of fence, timber walls, deck and patio. The design calls for the construction of two boulder retaining walls, one to facilitate an intimate nook space for the hot tub and another at the north end to protect the buried septic tank. The Belgard Patio, in a 3-piece pattern of Laffit Rustic Slab Danville Blend with a Sailor Course in charcoal Holland Stone, spans underneath the raised deck, around the hot tub and finishes at the granite step slab stairs leading to the existing brick patio.
The homeowner can walk out of the finished basement home office to this relaxing patio space and access the hot tub. Half of this 600 square foot patio is covered by the raised 370 square foot deck which is outfitted with a Trex Rainscapes system and gutters so it can be enjoyed rain or shine. The waterproofing system was finished with a white beadboard ceiling and brightens up what would have otherwise been a dark space.
Up top, the Island Mist Trex decking features a picture frame outer edge, blind fasteners for a seamless look and the Transcend railing system.
After completing the necessary utilities trenching and electrical hook-ups, the hot tub sits upon a concrete slab with a decorative gravel border and some plant material to soften the look.
SPECIAL OR UNUSUAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED
- There was an existing septic system within approximately 30 from the foundation of the house. We had to make sure that no development happened on or near the system.
- The clay soils of the property required additional patio preparation to make sure that the patio would not heave or shift because of winter frost.