Like a fireplace on the inside, no log home seems complete without a deck or porch. Since the deck is such a prominent feature on the outside of the home, it can define the home’s appearance. This is especially true on sloped lots. When the lot slopes away from the rear of the home, the deck becomes an even more prominent feature. Here are a few topics to consider in order to get the perfect elevated deck.
Standard Posts Feel Elegant
For many homes, the exterior posts will be of a similar diameter to posts used inside the log home. In a typical contour profile log home, this means the posts will be about eight inches wide. While this width post is certainly structurally robust, on an elevated deck it has an airy feel to it. If you like a more open look, or wish to use the space under the deck as well, this may be the approach for you.
Or Use Stouter Wide Posts
By using wider posts, you can make the same deck feel much more massive. Typically, a home constructed with Swedish Cope logs will also have large, round deck posts. However, even if your home uses one of our smaller log profiles indoor, you can still use a larger log post outdoors if it achieves the look you’re after. Also, using stone piers for the posts will add further heft to the deck’s appearance.
Consider Stone Basement Finishes
The finish of the basement below an elevated deck also highly influences how the deck feels. A basement with log walls or other wood finish like clapboard will have a distinctly different feel than a basement finished in stone. Wood finishes will actually feel darker, while a light-colored stone choice can make the area under the porch simultaneously appear brighter yet firmly established. A brick finish will appear darker but share the weightiness of stone.
Keep the Width Reasonable
It is certainly possible to build a fine ground-level deck that extends far away from the home. With an elevated sloped-lot deck, however, most homeowners choose to build a relatively narrow but long profile. This design choice makes sure that the deck does not completely define the exterior of the home, instead complimenting the overall log home appearance. As a rule, a deeper deck will have a lighter feel than a shallow deck.
We hope this look at deck design has been illuminating. If you’re looking to design a log home, complete with the prefect deck, please call Real Log Homes today or fill out the form below for more information.
