Raised Permeable Patio Offers Innovative Solution in Northeast Austin
Have you interviewed Austin patio builders—only to be told the project you want cannot be done? That’s a sure sign you need to give Archadeck of Austin a call instead because we don’t talk that way. We figure out how to get your project done. The Northeast Austin patio project featured here is a prime example. These homeowners wanted to add a covered patio at their back door. Logistical issues included the size of their back yard and the 10’ setback requirement, with their back fence already very close to the home.
Archadeck of Austin’s Innovative Solution
As professional builders, we have to take setback requirements seriously to obtain the necessary building permits. In this particular case, the setback requirement prevented our clients from adding a “permanent structure” to their lot. While some Austin patio contractors would have stopped there, Archadeck of Austin got creative and applied some forward-thinking to the situation.
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- Before we began the project.
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- Notice the tight footprint of the lot.
Our solution for these homeowners was to design a hybrid structure that would not be considered “permanent.” To be more specific, we custom-designed a raised permeable patio system. As long as it has a permeable surface, the patio isn’t considered permanent. The only portion of this project that’s considered permanent is the solid concrete footer supporting the walls of the patio. Everything else is built over clean white gravel that filters rainwater and doesn’t encroach on Austin’s regulations about the impervious ground cover.
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- After Archadeck of Austin completed the project.
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- We created a cozy oasis.
We built the patio wall with medium nicotine and white limestone, and the smooth slabs across the surface are buff/white Lueders limestone. There’s more to this project than meets the eye, too. As part of the project we installed a drainage system. Rainwater flows through the patio, into the drainage system and into a common area.
Cedar Pergola Adds Style and Cover
Anyone in Northeast Austin wanting to include a pergola with their outdoor living project should take a close look at this pergola. It’s not as large as some we’ve built as Austin’s premier pergola builder, but it’s perfect for this home. It adds a bit of flair as well as protection.
There are two significant things to notice about this pergola. First, it covers a portion of the patio, not the entire area. At night, the homeowners will want to sit out under the stars and enjoy their fire table, a wonderful amenity for any patio. In the daytime, as the weather cools and they seek the sun’s warmth, the homeowners will always have the option to sit in the sunlight.
The second aspect to notice with this pergola is its Topgal polycarbonate cover. It shields the covered area from rainfall, so our clients can enjoy their patio “rain or shine.” While it may look like a simple sheet of plastic, this cover is a four-wall structure that provides thermal insulation. The pergola cover allows light to pass through but blocks UV rays to reduce solar heat gain below. It’s an excellent weatherproofing feature with an unobtrusive appearance.
As a finishing touch, we added a custom cedar privacy screen at one end of the patio to block the noise coming from the clients’ AC unit. The screen adds charm while serving an essential purpose.
Are you ready to add a patio and pergola combination to your back yard? Whether you are replacing a patio or interested in adding one for the first time, call Archadeck of Austin today at 512-259-8282 or email us to schedule your free design consultation.
Jim Schallon, senior designer Archadeck of Austin.
Challenge us! Archadeck of Austin designs a permeable patio to complete the perfect combination outdoor space
Present us with a design challenge, and we will show you a big ol’ knock-your-socks-off solution. Archadeck of Austin was thrilled to work with this Northwest Austin homeowner to design and build a spectacular outdoor living space, a combination screened room, patio and deck with an outdoor kitchen. One of the things that is so special about this project is its unique patio with a hot tub and a dramatic fire wall.
What could be so unique about a patio? Well, that brings us to the challenge presented by this homeowner. We were asked to design a patio that incorporates the proper drainage for water runoff so moisture will be retained and released properly into the natural aquifers in and around the Austin area. A permeable patio, that is. Jim Schallon, Archadeck’s lead designer on this project, managed to meet the technical requirements while creating a beautiful and relaxing oasis for the homeowner, family and friends.
Image of backyard before we began the project:
The home had an existing wood deck in good shape and just the right size for an outdoor kitchen. By power-washing the deck and restaining it, we were able to restore the wood’s beauty and establish this area as the centerpiece of the project. On one side of the deck, we added a spacious screened room with a new roof cover that we tied into the existing slope system of the house. On the other side of the deck, we added the patio with hot tub and fire wall.
We placed the outdoor kitchen on the deck by building a wall, counter height, with Concrete Masonry Units (CMU, also called concrete blocks) and finishing it with a facing of beautiful ledgestone. All of the outdoor kitchens designed and built by Archadeck of Austin are built with masonry-cinder block construction. Other builders may use wood for the kitchen structure, since it will be covered with a stone facing and no one will see it. However, our sturdy outdoor kitchen construction won’t deteriorate or degrade over time; it’s permanent.
The 1” hand-installed ledgestone facing helps provide a solid support structure for the kitchen counter and appliances. The homeowner chose brown Lueders stone for the countertops, and we used matching brown Lueders cap to top off all of the walls. A dense limestone known for its durability and low maintenance requirements, Lueders stone is perfect for kitchen countertops.
This kitchen’s built-in grill alone will command your attention! It’s a Memphis wood-pellet BBQ system with Wi-Fi capabilities. The homeowner can monitor and adjust the temperature of the grill from anywhere; the grill can even send an alert to his smartphone if needed. In addition to the Memphis Wood Fire Grill, the new outdoor kitchen includes a refrigerator, drawers, storage and trash receptacle.
With plenty of space on the deck for a dining table and chairs, meals will go from grill to table in an instant. If (or when) insects are a problem, the new adjacent screened room offers a pest-free dining area as well.
This screened room boasts a rich Synergy Wood ceiling with ceiling fansto keep the air moving. A large flat-screen TV is mounted on a stacked stone wall built just for that purpose; we used the same ledgestone here that we used for walls in the kitchen and patio areas. Of course, we built in electricity to power the TV, fans, lamps and the homeowner’s outdoor heater to take the chill off in winter. The floor of the screened room is a textured stamped concrete that will stand up to many years of constant use.
And now for the patio, which had to be permeable. For the base of the patio, we layered gravel and soil. The patio surface is a repeating pattern of large pavers and smooth stones. Together these components allow water to flow naturally through the patio surface while providing a smooth texture on which to walk. Specifically, the patio pavers are 2×2 sawn cream Lueders stone, beautiful and durable.
The spaces between the pavers are filled with smooth Mexican Beach pebbles. Not only is the smoothness easy on bare feet but also the river rock feels cool to the touch as it retains the natural temperature of the ground at all times.
Prominent on the patio is the hot tub, and next to that we built a gas-burning fire wall, which might just be the fire feature of your outdoor living dreams. It is a ledgestone wall lined with fire brick and filled with lava rock. Hidden there are 60 and 72-inch stainless steel linear T-burners.
When lit, flames seem to dance along the top of the wall. The height of the fire wall is about even with the surface of the hot tub, so, as you can imagine, occupants of the hot tub will become a captive audience for this magical feature at night.
If you would like to challenge us to create the patio, porch and outdoor kitchen combination project of your dreams, contact Archadeck of Austin today at (512) 259-8282 or via email at jim.odom@archadeck.net to schedule a free design consultation.
Jim Schallon, senior designer Archadeck of Austin.
This Urban-Chic Oasis in South Austin is Loaded with Zen-Inspired Details Promoting Calm and Serenity!
So, you’ve mastered the design inside your home, and you’re finally feeling at peace, but what about your outdoor living space? Are you looking to spend more time in your outdoor living space, enjoying the company of family and friends, or curled up reading a book? If you find yourself falling into this category, then it’s time to master the harmony and peace in your outdoor space.
The design of an outdoor space is an area that is often designed with the impetus of functionality –for example; when planning an outdoor kitchen, the emphasis lies in placement and proximity to the dining area, or if it’s a fireplace, how many people can comfortably sit around it at night under the stars. However, once in a while the design of an outdoor space needs to reflect a lot more than functionality, it needs to reflect the interaction between the human and their environment, while providing natural energy flow.
Feng Shui is the art of placement, based off the elements of earth to improve the balance of comfort and harmony in your environment. The term was coined from two Chinese words; Feng meaning Wind, and Shui meaning Water – these are the two natural elements that continuously flow and circulate everywhere on earth. These elements have widely influenced human individuals and societies which is why it is important to design a space with Feng Shui in mind.
One of our most recent projects is inspired by the concept of Feng Shui. This urban-chic patio addition was added to this classic home in the historic district of South Austin, TX. These homeowners were looking for a more cohesive design to go along with the urban feel which the area provides.
Here is the backyard before Archadeck of Austin began the new patio addition:
Jim Schallon, our lead designer for the project came up with this urban-chic oasis while meeting requirements necessary for an addition that will allow moisture to be retained and released properly into the natural aquifers, in and around the Austin area. Strategic planning was necessary to find the right material that would allow the proper drainage for water runoff.
To meet these requirements, Schallon designed the backyard patio compacted with layers of gravel and soil, topping it with Mexican river rock, which will allow water to flow naturally through the surface while providing a smooth texture. Not only is the river rock easy on bare feet but also provides a cooling feel as it retains the natural temperature of the ground at all times. The patio was finished off with 2×2 sawn cream Limestone pavers throughout, but the design didn’t stop at the patio pavers and rock choice. In addition with the contemporary design, electrical was installed to incorporate the last piece of this urban chic oasis; the hot tub!
The homeowner’s are ecstatic with their ‘Zen inspired’ patio that has been loaded with a positive energy flow, and ties in the importance of Feng Shui.
Jim Schallon, senior designer Archadeck of Austin.
If you too are interested in making your dream outdoor living space a reality, contact Archadeck of Austin at (515) 259-8282 to schedule a free design consultation today or via email at jim.odom@archadeck.net.
Austin Decks, Pergolas, Covered Patios, Porches, more 