Outdoor Living
Enjoy the great outdoors from the comfort of your own backyard.
By Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, D.O., M.A., with James Calderwood Jr. 

You want more living space but don’t have the energy, patience, or resources for an addition. No problem—you can “move outdoors” with a deck or patio.

Decks, which usually are built off the ground, are very popular. Nearly every new house is built with a deck. Usually located off the kitchen, decks can be used for informal dining and entertaining. Decks traditionally have been built with insect-resistant wood, such as cedar or redwood. A less-expensive alternative in many parts of the country is pressure-treated pine, which resists weather and insect damage and, with new processing, no longer contains arsenic. Wood decks require periodic pressure washings to remove moss and regular sealing and staining to preserve them.

Durable new materials are being developed for decking. Many are environmentally friendly, made from recycled plastics, some combined with wood fibers. About 15 percent of new decks are made from these. Though these new materials vary, most are attractive, require less maintenance than wood, and can last longer. Even if a little more expensive initially, they can be an excellent value over time.

Construction of a deck requires a qualified builder and often a permit. Decks may be built high enough off the ground and may carry such a heavy load—a dozen people can easily weigh a ton—that a deck collapse could be a major tragedy, causing injury and death. Thus, a strong foundation is required, and the design and materials must be adequate to support heavy loads. Also, wood decks have a limited life span, so examine your deck each year to make sure the supporting structures have not rotted and the deck remains structurally stable.

Patios, on the other hand, need no support structures as they are built on the ground. Popular in the 1950s and 1960s, patios still have some particular strengths worth considering in today’s planning. Because patios are on the ground, there are no hiding places for raccoons, snakes, and other animals. And patios can be readily designed and built by the home owner.

Typically, patio construction requires clearing an area and making a base with several inches of bluestone. Place a layer of plastic sheeting over this to keep the weeds down. Follow with a top layer of flagstone, brick, or cement “patio blocks.” Sweep sand or more bluestone between the stones to further discourage weeds. Some prefer to set the stones in concrete, though in some climates repeated freezing and thawing can cause cracks.

Patios also can be professionally constructed from poured concrete. Colored, textured concrete can reproduce the look of stone or brick. Or set granite pieces (those discarded from kitchen counter fabricators) in plain concrete to create an interesting design.

When designing a deck or patio, consider how it will be used, and make it large enough for the intended purpose. Choose a convenient location—near the kitchen door, for example, if it will serve as an eating area. Remember, though, a wooden deck is combustible and may not be a safe place for a charcoal grill. A small patio can be an attractive addition to a garden, creating a secluded reading nook or sitting area.

With a little planning, you can take the “inside out” and have many enjoyable hours on a deck or patio.