Spacious South Austin Patio and Elevated Deck Create Multi-Faceted Outdoor Living Space
Today’s featured patio and deck project in South Austin illustrates the almost-unlimited scope of an Archadeck of Austin backyard makeover.
If you want to replace an older deck, porch or patio, your next outdoor living space can be completely fresh and new. Not just new materials, but a completely different design, too. Unless you specifically want to use the same footprint for your new structure(s), let’s think outside of that pre-existing box! At Archadeck we always have fresh design ideas to enhance your outdoor living lifestyle.
Replacing an Old Deck with a New Patio … and a New Deck, Too!
For these South Austin homeowners, we created a design that increased the size of their outdoor living space exponentially. We built a new patio more than twice the size of the old deck it replaced. Then we added a new deck on top of that. And we mean “on top of” quite literally – as in, overhead. The new elevated deck gives these homeowners a second-story spot for relaxing, at eye level with the treetops, something they didn’t have before.
Before 
After
Not only do the new patio and deck add more outdoor living space to the clients’ home, they contribute stunning aesthetics and additional function, too. All with low-maintenance materials for easy upkeep through the years ahead.
A Large South Austin Patio with Room for Everything, even an Outdoor Kitchen
We predict this gorgeous patio will be the scene of many outdoor gatherings of all kinds. From quiet dinners al fresco to great big parties, this multi-level patio can accommodate any occasion. The homeowners can use the different levels as different outdoor “rooms,” which is how you create an intimate space on such a large patio. This patio has two covered areas for comfortable sofas and chairs, a separate dining area, and an open area big enough for games! And there is more: an outdoor kitchen. We designed and built the stone structure for an outdoor kitchen, and we will add appliances and kitchen amenities at a later date.
Altogether the new patio space covers about 1300 sq. feet. We created the beautiful patio surface with a concrete epoxy quartz overlay to give it the look of Roman stone. We installed aluminum railings on the patio and wrapped the existing brick columns with Hardie wrap in a paneled design for an elegant touch. And while the new stone retaining wall serves an obvious function at the patio’s edge, it can also provide additional seating.
We installed a Synergy Wood ceiling in the covered area of the patio. The stain color our clients selected for their porch ceiling is called Colonial. The clients purchased the ceiling fans and sconces they wanted, and we installed those. We also installed recessed can lighting in the ceiling, and we added lights on the patio steps. These little patio lights will add ambiance while also increasing safety.
The patio also features a custom Texas star that we added toward the end of the project. Our clients saw a star like this on our website in images from another patio project we completed, and they just had to have it. It’s a splendid finishing touch for the new patio!
The Perfect Vantage Point: A Low-maintenance Elevated Deck
We designed and built a second-story AZEK deck to give these homeowners a separate outdoor living space accessible from the upper level of the home. The ornate, baroque railings set the space apart with flair. For access to the deck, we removed an upstairs window and installed a door and sidelight.
The new deck overhead supplies shade for a portion of the patio. We built the deck with an under-deck drainage system over a modified bitumen roof system to ensure the area underneath is dry space.
Did we leave anything out? What amenities would you add or subtract if this were your outdoor living space? We hope this patio and deck combination project provides inspiration for a backyard makeover at your home!
Let us create a custom solution to meet your outdoor living needs. Contact Archadeck of Austin to schedule your free design consultation.
Daniel Smith, Designer, Archadeck of Austin.
Revitalized Back Porch in Hutto, TX, Proves Small Upgrades Can Make a Huge Difference
Today’s feature project in Hutto, TX, is a sweet reminder that smaller outdoor renovation projects can be just as satisfying as larger ones. It’s a matter of perspective. Not all of our projects here at Archadeck of Austin are beefy and massive! While we have built our share of pavilions, outdoor kitchens and beefy pergolas, we love the way a small project can have a big impact.
New Stairs, New Railings Give the Porch New Life
This client has a small, open porch at her back door. She enjoys spending time there and wanted to freshen it up. The first order of business was replacing the old wooden steps leading down to the yard. We built the new steps with AZEK low-maintenance decking boards. These back steps will look great for years without the need for painting, staining or sealing.
Before Archadeck of Austin began the new updated porch project.
New stairs need new railings, right? Whether you call it an update or an upgrade, we custom-designed a powder-coated iron rail system and had it made just for this project. The homeowner’s visibility into the yard increased exponentially. What comes to mind when you compare these thin, horizontal cables to the old wooden pickets? All we can say is out with the old, in with the new! We capped off the new railings with an AZEK drink rail. Not only does it look sleek, it’s also a very useful feature.
After Archadeck of Austin completed the project. 
New Ceiling, New Lighting Complete the Updated Setting
The porch originally had a painted Hardie ceiling and old-style mounted ceiling lights. We replaced the old ceiling with beautiful, tongue-and-groove Synergy Wood. We updated the lighting with a dimmable LED recessed ceiling light and installed the dimmer control switch inside, near the back door. Finally, we added cedar trim around the edge of the ceiling and stained it to match the Synergy Wood.
Our work here is done! The homeowner is happy with the updates to her back porch. As you can see, updating an outdoor living space doesn’t necessarily have to be a big project in order to make a major difference. Sometimes small upgrades can make a huge impact.
Does your home need a new porch or deck – or could you revitalize your outdoor living space with design and material updates? Contact Archadeck of Austin to schedule your free design consultation.
Archadeck of Austin Turns SW Austin Patio into Beautiful Retreat
More and more Austin TX homeowners are realizing that a simple patio is simply not enough of a backyard retreat. Sure, a patio is fine when outdoor conditions are perfect. When you’re facing fierce sunshine, wind-blown debris, flying insects or rain, however, a patio offers no real protection. What you need is a screened porch — and a covered pergola over a portion of your patio.
Just take a look at this beautiful, multifunctional protected space Archadeck of Austin created for these SW Austin clients!
Multifunctional Outdoor Living Space Becomes a Destination!
These homeowners wanted protection from direct sun with its brutal heat and burning UV rays. Now they have two places they can spend time outdoors in the shade: within their new screened porch and under their new covered pergola.
When they want to be outdoors, bug-free, they enjoy their screened porch. When they want to sit outside on the patio, they now have a covered pergola that protects them from rain as well as sun. When they want to bask in the sun on a cool day, they still have a portion of their flagstone patio that’s uncovered. The uncovered patio is also perfect for stargazing at night!
They now have the best of all worlds right here at their Southwest Austin TX home.
Screened Porch Builder Archadeck of Austin Has You Covered
The homeowners’ existing flagstone patio is attractive and in excellent condition, so it provided a perfect floor for their screened porch. We didn’t use the entire patio area for the porch, so there is still an open patio outside of the screened porch. You could say the screened porch has a patio!
Inside the spacious screened porch, the first thing you notice is the beautiful interior ceiling. To build it, we used handcrafted, prefinished tongue-and-groove ceiling boards from Synergy Wood in the burgundy color. We use Synergy Wood ceilings in many of our porches and they always look beautiful.
Archadeck of Austin is Austin’s Pergola Builder
This sturdy wood pergola anchors the opposite end of the flagstone patio. The original patio did not reach across the entire back of the home, but we were able to match the flagstone and we extended it. If you look closely, you can tell there is flat plastic cover atop the wood pergola. It’s not just any plastic sheeting, it’s Polygal, a special multi-wall polycarbonate sheet. Polygal filters out UV rays from the sun, so as a pergola cover it increases the amount of shade the pergola creates. It also provides protection from rain showers.
The pergola-covered patio area offers the homeowners a perfect place to dine outdoors. You can already see that their grill is nearby.
With a new screened porch, striking pergola, covered patio and open patio area, this Southwest Austin home truly has a backyard retreat that neighbors will envy. We designed the space to be more functional and beautiful, a place where the homeowners will enjoy spending plenty of time.
Is it time to expand your Austin patio and add a screened porch and pergola? Call Archadeck of Austin today at 512-259-8282 email us to schedule your free design consultation.
Jim Odom Archadeck of Austin
New porch, patio and outdoor kitchen combo has Steiner Ranch family ready for Labor Day!
Make yours a combo! This combination screened porch, extended patio and outdoor kitchen project in the Steiner Ranch community of Austin, TX, has oodles of great features. Where do we begin?
These Steiner Ranch homeowners hired Archadeck of Austin to convert a covered patio into a screened porch with a patio extension. We extended the original patio outward from the home’s back door and also extended it across the back of the house, creating an “L” shape.
The new patio is made of poured concrete with a textured concrete overlay, and the textured surface is absolutely beautiful. To enhance it even more, we added a score pattern so that the surface actually looks like tile. Really! Then we added a flagstone patio two steps down for additional seating.
The lower patio is noteworthy because of the way we designed and built it for durability and longevity. Many contractors would simply build a wall around the defined patio area and fill it with decomposed granite for the patio base. Archadeck of Austin has seen too many of these patios gone bad. Using decomposed granite this way can cause cracking and sinking of the patio due to natural settling over time. Instead, we poured a solid concrete patio base and then installed the flagstone over it. This reduces the chances of the flagstone patio dropping, cracking, settling, etc.
Now, on to the screened porch. We built a 12×14-foot screened enclosure over the shorter part of the “L” shape on the upper patio extension. Remember, this is the part of the patio extension that looks like a tile floor. The porch has a stick-built gabled roof with a 2-inch screen system in clay to match the home’s existing windows. The ceiling of the porch is our favorite — the Synergy tongue-and-groove wood ceiling with rich, warm tones. We recommend this pre-finished wood ceiling for its beauty, and we use it whenever we can.
The new screened porch also included the installation of a full electrical package with ceiling fans and outlets for lighting or electronics. To make the space cozy when needed, we installed two heating units, one on either side of the porch.
For the grill-master/chef we installed an outdoor kitchen on the longer “L”-portion of the upper deck that was not screened in. The kitchen includes a good-sized counter space complete with electrical outlets, barbeque grill, cooktop, and storage areas. While these stainless steel components seem very practical, the presentation is also quite attractive.
The base of the kitchen area (also called the kitchen surround) is built with 4-, 6- and 8-inch chop block stone in the Santa Fe color. The countertop is made from smooth slabs of brown Lueders stone, a beautiful and durable stone. You can already picture the bartender standing here slicing limes while the family grill-master preps steaks and veggies for the grill.
We have this Steiner Ranch family ready to enjoy their cookouts, just in time for Labor Day! There’s a large dining table next to the kitchen area and room for additional diners to sit on the screened porch and out on the lower flagstone patio. Dining al fresco will become this family’s new favorite pastime.
Jim Schallon, senior designer Archadeck of Austin.
Where will you cook out? If you would like to learn more about creating a porch, patio and/or 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.
This covered porch promises to increase poolside pleasure exponentially!
When Archadeck of Austin began work on this project it was a diamond in the rough…
The homeowners had an existing porch that was nearly void of space to extend outdoor living activities. Their goal was to not only extend the existing space to enhance versatility but to also create an area that was more conducive to use alongside their newly installed backyard pool.
The project posed some difficult roofline obstacles due to the pitch of the roof of the existing home. Archadeck of Austin was able to come up with a final design that flows perfectly as if the new porch was original to the home.
before and after
The space is finished with HardiePlank siding matching the home on the exterior, along with a seamless gutter system. For aesthetics, the post system utilizes larger than normal posts which we wrapped in Cedar. We also created a wall that features a Touchstone drop down TV lift for easy access. The interior of the covered porch glows with beautiful details such as the Synergywood ceiling in Pine in Auburn. Take a look at the beautiful transformation in our project focus video from our YouTube channel:
These homeowners are beyond satisfied with their final project. Now they can enjoy their new backyard pool along with the covered porch simultaneously. If you are ready to make the most out of the time you spend outdoors, 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.
Breathtaking Ipe Deck and Porch on Rob Roy at the Lake in West Austin, TX
Rob Roy on the Lake is located north of Bee Cave Road in beautiful West Austin. The neighborhood is known for its stunning homes and spacious picturesque landscapes making it ideal for someone who likes to spend time outdoors. Archadeck of Austin has built many outdoor living structures within this neighborhood, our most recent is this beautiful deck and porch combination:
The homeowners had an existing cedar deck but were looking to not only expand their view into the valley below, but also wanted a space that offered shade to escape their super sunny location. Archadeck of Austin came up with a deck and porch combination design that entailed expanding across the roofline on the back of the home with a hip design roof tie-in to accommodate their project. Take a look at this before & after image:
The project features warm, inviting natural Ipe hardwood decking on the floor of both the deck and covered porch. Ipe is a favorite among Central Texas homeowners as a material for outdoor living. The material is valued for its density, strength, longevity and beauty. Ipe is dense enough that it sinks in water. Its density requires that it be pre-drilled in order to be fastened. When fastening an Ipe deck we use stainless steel screws called head coat screws, which are brown to blend seamlessly with the decking itself. The ends of the Ipe boards need to be treated when they are cut during installation to avoid cracking. If you are dealing with a contractor that is not familiar with working with Ipe then you usually end up with split ends, yes in much the same manner your hair can get split ends, from not treating the ends of the boards. Ipe density is also such that it doesn’t absorb much water resulting in a lack of the normal expansion and contraction evident with other wooden decks.
As you move beyond the flooring used on this combination project, there are many stunning details throughout the space. We used black Fortress vertical cable rail that allows clear views into the valley below. Additionally, the beauty continues as you enter the interior of the covered porch area. The ceiling was built using a Synergy tongue & groove prefinished wood in Auburn Pine. The large king beam that runs the expanse of the porch cover is a focal point but it also serves a valuable purpose of helping to support the weight of the roof cover.
As is the case with all our outdoor living structure projects, none of the creature comforts were overlooked when completing the space. We installed recessed lighting in the ceiling of the porch cover and mounted the elegant sconce lighting the homeowners had purchased for the project. We also installed a pair of Minka 72″ ceiling fans the homeowner’s had chosen, adding an extra layer of cool comfort and air flow to their enjoyment.
Needless to say, the clients are elated with their new outdoor living space. It embodies all the qualities they love about the area, and now they can enjoy it to its full potential! If you would like to learn more about how Archadeck of Austin can transform the way you live outdoors, contact us 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 Brushy Creek backyard cleaned up beautifully with a little help from Archadeck of Austin!
The idea of creating a “new” outdoor living space is most often based on the idea of tearing down and starting anew. However, in many circumstances Archadeck of Austin can use an existing outdoor structure as the catalyst to extend upon, and improve a structure in order to create a “new and much improved” outdoor living space.
Such is the case with the project we recently completed in the Brushy Creek area between Cedar Park and Round Rock, TX. Archadeck of Austin not only professionally washed and stained the home’s existing concrete patio, we also enclosed the area with screen transforming it into a desired outdoor destination.
During project in Brushy Creek, TX.
The homeowners had contacted Archadeck of Austin to inquire about creating a protected outdoor space that delivered shade, protection from insects and the elements, but most of all retained the view. Instead of demolishing their existing concrete and starting from scratch we were able to build and improve upon what they already had.
Starting at the base of the existing structure and building up we began by thoroughly cleaning the concrete patio. From there, we stained the concrete to increase the aesthetics. Archadeck then built openings to include screen which match the circumference and symmetry of the interior openings — this was the key to delivering the unobstructed views the homeowners requested.
On the new porch’s exterior we used HardiePlank siding to match the trim colors of the existing home. In addition to the beauty of this space in respect to originality of design and symmetry, Archadeck of Austin also finished the interior with a beadboard kneewall and rich Synergy Wood on the ceiling after removing the existing Hardie type ceiling which is very common on tract homes in this area. The finished project boasts interior recessed can lighting and a ceiling fan to promote carefree, protected outdoor living. The small concrete pad was added to the exterior entry of the porch from the backyard and is wide enough to grill from.
Archadeck of Austin also finished the interior with a beadboard kneewall and rich Synergy Wood on the ceiling.
This project is a perfect example of a low cost outdoor living enhancement that is high on the outdoor living return. We were able to enhance and build upon what was already existing in order to create a comfortable and versatile outdoor room for all to enjoy!
Jim Schallon, senior designer Archadeck of Austin.
If you are ready to improve or expand upon your existing outdoor living space, Archadeck of Austin can help. Remember that a project doesn’t have to be large in to make a big impact on the way you live outdoors! Contact us today to schedule your free consultation at (515) 259-8282 or via email at jim.odom@archadeck.net.
Our Brushy Creek, TX, Covered Patio Delivers Privacy and All the Trimmings Under One Roof!
Here are the key elements that go into creating the perfect outdoor living space:
- Enhanced beauty of your home and landscape
- Increased backyard/outdoor functionality
- Versatility and variety
- Shade and air circulation
- Room for good traffic flow and outdoor furnishings
- Protection from inclement weather
- Shade
- Privacy
It is uncommon to have the ability to incorporate each of the key elements listed above into every outdoor living structure we design and build, but in the case of our recent covered patio addition in Brushy Creek, TX, we can say “yes” to all of the above! This addition delivers all the elements a savvy homeowner would want in an outdoor living space.
This covered porch addition is quite large, encompassing a gabled roofed area of approximately 27′ wide and 12′ deep onto the back of the existing home. It features a 33′ wide stained and stamped concrete patio that includes a combination of two(2) neautral colors for added depth and visual interest. In addition to staining the concrete patio, Archadeck of Austin also stained the entire foundation across the back of home in the same color for continuity. The soffits and fascia are clad in Hardie Board to match the existing home. The open gable design also feature an arts & craft decorative element often used in craftsmen-style structures and delivers a gentle transition into the backyard from the coziness of the porch cover.
The interior details of this patio cover are just as impressive as those implemented into the design of the exterior. The ceiling of the space was finished using Synergy Wood Products in Cypress. This amazing product is new and has been added to our arsenal of cutting edge material choices we offer here at Archadeck of Austin. This product works great for ceilings and walls and has a poly-finish that is rubbed by hand to create the high-quality aesthetic and rustic look you see here. Synergy comes in 4 finishes, Cypress, Ponderosa Pine, Yellow Pine and Cedar.
Along with the striking rustic wood detailing evident throughout the patio cover, we also installed a custom-designed privacy screen to keep prying eyes from looking into the space.
On the interior of the patio cover we also installed two large Haiku ceiling fans from Big Ass Fans ( yes, that’s the name of the company). These fans are touted as the world’s most advanced ceiling fan. Haiku fans utilize groundbreaking SenseME® technology to automate your comfort and save energy year round. These fans have won more than 60 international design and technology awards and currently hold the top 19 spots on ENERGY STAR®‘s list of efficient ceiling fans. These oversized residential-use fans make a huge statement and promote superior air circulation too cool the patio on those hot Texas days!
Archadeck of Austin also installed recessed can lighting within the space for added ambiance and unlimited evening enjoyment!
If you are ready to learn what it truly means to have an outdoor living space that gives you all the elements you yearn for, contact Archadeck of Austin at ( 512) 259 – 8282 or email us at jim.odom@archadeck.net, and say “yes to all of the above.”
Jim Schallon, senior designer Archadeck of Austin.
Austin Decks, Pergolas, Covered Patios, Porches, more 