Introduction
Decks are normally thought of as backyard structures built mainly for fun and sun. If you'd like your new deck to function as an entryway as well, consider these design pointers.
The more visible the entryway deck is from the street, the more you want to hide the foundation and framing with lattice or solid skirting. As you design these and other elements, try to integrate the design of the deck with the house by using matching colors or the same siding.
With a well-designed portico roof or other overhead structure, an entryway deck along the front or side of a house can assume a porchlike presence. For entry stairs, consider adding risers and using an enhanced railing design.
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Welcoming with accessories
Even a simple deck can offer a warm welcome. With the addition of planters, attractive borders, and an entrance-framing awning, this unassuming deck is as hospitable as it is functional. Accessories make a welcoming difference.
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Enhancing the entry
With basket-weave railing treatment and a wide, tiled stairway, the welcoming graciousness of this old home actually is enhanced by the deck. A far cry from a purely recreational deck, this entryway deck is an extension of the front porch.
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An elegant addition
The addition of a wide stairway, deep fascia to cover the joists, and lattice skirting seamlessly melds an elegant entry area with space for relaxed entertaining. Add pipe railing, stair risers, and a complementary paint job, and you've transformed a basic deck into a welcoming addition.
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A staged entrance
This graceful, gradually staged entryway deck is made of a series of platforms that ease the ascent to the doorway. The middle platform features a roomy wraparound bench. Metal railings, common to entryways, help establish the deck's front-of-the-house function. Landscaping plays a role too; hidden lights illuminate the pathway at night and tall bushes hide the superstructure of the platforms.
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Combining a deck and a porch
The old concrete steps leading to the front door of this house were cracked, off-kilter, and far from welcoming. A new entryway deck functions like an old-fashioned porch while taming the slope up to the front door. The wide stairs and two landings also offer a place to sit a spell and enjoy the flowers. Although space was tight, the deck doesn't overpower the front of the house. There are some built-in bonuses too, such as a bench for relaxing on the landing, right; a planter for a tree and flowers; and storage underneath the deck for a lawnmower and a couple of bicycles. There is a railing for safety where needed, but the wide stairway is left open for an inviting feel and a clear view. The deck truly is customized to the setting, offering angles and other details. Yet construction is not beyond the abilities of a moderately experienced do-it-yourselfer. You might want to consider hiring a landscape designer to help draw up the plans and perhaps a contractor to remove the old structure.
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