Redoing our deck. Any ideas.

Well it looks like the first issue is to put on the rest of decking, and clean the old area and stain all with Olympic stain. Those boards won't weather well without some kind of protection. Might want to throw up some railings for safety.

For privacy you could continue with the partial privacy screen, or if you don't like it, build a frame of treated wood and put resin white lattice in it and grow some vines on it like clematis, honeysuckle etc. Long term you could also plant a hedge of ArborVitae or Laurel.

Cozy would be to have some nice seating, and a fire pit in Canada is a must, you can always use an old washing machine drum scavenged at the dump, and buried half way down. Some kind of lighting would be nice.... exterior Christmas lights work well and can be had at the thrift stores real cheap if you have the patience to untwine.

You could build an outside kitchen to go with your barbecue. Add a little frig for the beers, a sink to put iced ones out, build the cabinents from old ones, just epoxy them with marine grade paint and set them up on some kind of waterproof foundation.

Have you spent any time Googling or Pinterest? Your wish list is great!

TRY ADDING SOME CURVES TO YOUR DECK. Since you have an area that is waiting for new decking, add some rounded curves to the outer edge. Will soften the square box look and add a few inches of space.

Sit down and draw your deck plans. How many levels? ADVISE: A good stain with varnish, that doesn't NEED done every year. Trust me!! Octagon shaped? Round shaped? Floor boards running in all directions in different areas. A Pergola is nice. You can hang plants from. (Ferns and flowers). Your railings around it with nice posts every 4-6 ft., swingin' saloon doors, steps in 3 directions off in to your yard and for privacy on the end Green Giant Arborvitaes are a great idea. They grow fast and are resistant EVERYTHING. Your bar and B.B.Q. pit, I would think of when the deck is completed, unless you're thinkin' something more elaborate with electric and plumbing? You'll also want deck furniture? Good Luck and love to see pictures on completion. Joanie

I recently saw that instead of regular railings, they offer "cocktail" railings - wider so you can put a drink down or a potted plant. We use a gazebo - hanging plants from there or closing the mosquito netting offers privacy

Whatever you do, don't use Deckover deck paint! It looks good for a short while, then it starts peeling right off the wood. We learned the hard way. There is a class action lawsuit against them right now.

You can find decent priced cedars to put in along the property line to follow the privacy fence you have-in Southwestern Ontario everything is on sale now for landscaping. I am all in for more deck less landscaping to take care of. The composite decking is really expensive IMO but well worth the cost specially dealing with our climate, and if you are further north you have to deal with heavier snow fall which also lasts longer. The weight and wetness shouldn't be a factor with composite.

http://www.consumerclassactionlawyers.com/behr-deckover-stain-class-action.html

http://www.consumerclassactionlawyers.com/behr-deckover-stain-class-action.html

I will have to check this out because I think I used it on ild deck and it did peel.

I would like to make the colour theme grey and blues and rustic chic so if you see pics of this please post.