The old deck that once stood in this Homewood backyard had seen a lot of Alabama summers - boards warped, fasteners loose, not much left of what it used to be. The homeowners called Archadeck of Birmingham about a replacement from a custom referral. What they ended up with was a lot more than a swap.
Before.
Why Bother Replacing an Old Deck?
Most people wait too long on this. A deck starts looking faded and gray and it's easy to write that off as cosmetic, something for next year's to-do list. But wood doesn't age evenly. Sun, rain, hot Alabama afternoons, freezing nights in January, it all adds up. Ledger boards and joists can weaken underneath a deck that still looks okay from a distance. Railings that used to feel solid start to give a little when you lean on them.
After
Safety is the real reason to stop putting off a deck replacement. Nobody wants to learn a deck has a structural problem the hard way, especially with kids or grandkids running around out there. And honestly, an old worn-out deck just doesn't do the house any favors either - it's usually the first thing people notice walking into the backyard.
This deck had reached that point. It had done its job for years. It was time.
How This Project Started
A previous Archadeck client sent this homeowner our way. We get a fair number of projects like that, and it means more to us than most marketing ever could the fact that somebody built with us, liked what they got, and told a friend.
A Septic Tank and an Old Stump
Two things had to be worked around before anyone touched a shovel. There was a septic tank on the property, so the new layout had to steer clear of it without wasting any usable space. There'd also been a tree stump on site, however, the homeowners had that pulled out themselves before we started, which made life easier once our crew showed up.
Neither one derailed anything. It just meant more thinking before the first post went in.
What Archadeck Of Birmingham Built …
We built a beautiful new deck! We used pressure treated pine for the decking. It's been a go-to material for Birmingham decks for decades. Tried and true, a wooden deck holds up when maintained properly, and it doesn't break the budget. For the railings, black aluminum balusters instead of the usual wood pickets give the space a cleaner look. Using aluminum also means no repainting every couple of years and no worries about rot along the rail line.
The layout of this stunning deck isn't flat. It steps down across multiple levels - one tier for the grill and a table, another that works better as a quiet spot to sit. The tiered designed gives the deck charm and extended function, a single flat deck couldn't have offered that.
And the new deck bigger. The new footprint beats the old deck by a good margin, which means more room for furniture, more room for people, more backyard getting used instead of just sitting there behind a window.
What's Next: A Bocce Court
The deck's done, but the yard keeps going. The homeowners are already planning a bocce court on the property. That happens a lot, actually - people start using their backyard more and the ideas keep coming after we build a new structure.
Got an Old Deck That Needs Replacing?
Soft spots. Railings that wobble. Boards that have clearly seen better days. If that sounds like your deck, a full rebuild is probably a smarter move than another patch job. Got a tricky yard too - septic system, slope, trees in the way? That's a walk in the park for our design team. Reach out to Archadeck of Birmingham for a complimentary design consultation today and start living the life you deserve outdoors!
Derek & Carissa Crews – Owners Archadeck of Birmingham.
