Happy Summer!
In New Hampshire, we get through the long winter for one reason: those few beautiful months outdoors. Good outdoor space doesn’t just make that stretch more enjoyable – it adds real value to your home.
We do a lot of deck projects, and we wanted to share a few ways to make the most of your outdoor space – additions that complement a deck, or stand on their own. Every one of these is something we’ve actually built right around here.
1. A patio
A ground-level paver or stone patio gives you durable, low-maintenance outdoor living with no steps or railings to deal with. It works a few ways: tucked under a raised deck to use the shaded space below, extended off a lower deck to push your living area out into the yard, or standing on its own as a destination somewhere else on the property.
We recently completed a patio and driveway refinishing project for Havarti Haus, a wheelchair accessible vacation rental home in Thornton.
2. A dry space under a raised deck
If you’ve got an elevated deck, the area below it usually stays wet and unused, because water runs right through the boards. We install an under-deck drainage system that channels the rain away and leaves a clean, dry ceiling below – turning that wasted space into a real second living area, rain or shine.
3. A pergola
Sometimes you don’t want walls, you want shade and a little structure. A pergola defines a patio or deck, cuts the midday sun, and gives you something to hang lights or greenery from. It’s the easiest way to make an open space feel like an actual room.
4. A screened porch
If the black flies and mosquitoes chase you inside by July, screening in part of a deck or porch gives you the open-air feel without the bugs – morning coffee, evening dinners, all season long, no swatting.
5. A sunroom
Want to use the space in October, or January? A sunroom turns a deck or porch into an insulated, year-round room with real windows, finished walls, and heat if you want it. It’s the difference between four months of use and twelve. Below are some progress photos of a sun room project we are finishing up in Thornton right now.
Not sure what your space can handle, or which of these makes sense for your home?
That’s the fun part. Reply or give us a call and we are happy to talk through the options and see what might make sense for your home, goals, and budget.