Balconies vs. Backyard Decks: Outdoor Space in Washington DC
Often, we look at the options for building new backyard elevated decks and or building new patios and paving areas right on the ground. Both of those are perfectly good options to really improve a space here in Washington DC. It’s not that homes out in the suburbs are completely different, but we need to really make use of every little bit of our outdoor space where we can, here in Washington DC to get the most out of our buildings and homes.
It’s not that people demand that more, here in the city, but the outdoor space, that’s really usable, it’s just a bit more scarce. That’s not just some opinion, although we personally have strong feelings about it, it’s something that’s actually supported by simple mathematics.
The amount of land consumed by building footprints and streets is massive, just as a proportion, compared to the sprawling suburbs. Yes, there are areas of limitless streets and roadways and strip malls and boring spaces in the country, but the availability of backyard and even front yard space is much higher compared to here in the city. Decks and patios that let people fully enjoy the use of their outdoor space, as much as possible.
The picture below shows and elevated outdoor deck that was added after a lower level rear addition was added to the building. This deck happens to be above a rooftop surface, but it was made just to have a minimal seating area. Here, in this picture, this deck will eventually be renovated and revitalized. We would highly recommend extending the floor space of that deck out farther. Through a renovation and rebuilt, it could be converted to become much better outdoor space for seating even during light or heavy precipitation.
A covered outdoor area is something that many people don’t think much about it until they’ve lived within a property for a while. Not having any outdoor covered space available is a recipe for basically having or making yourself trapped indoors during heavy precipitation. Sometimes we’ll have a precipitation events that continue for days without much of a break.
The next picture below is a similar type of footprint for the outdoor extension of the space, but it has a very different functional purpose. This is a simple fire escape. In addition to being used as a means of egress though it’s a space where the occupants are using it as somewhere they can at least go outside and stand a bit if they want to just get some fresh air without walking all the way down to the lower level and out to the outside of the front of the building.
It’s not intended to necessarily be a gathering space or a space for seating, but nonetheless it’s still nice to have any kind of outdoor space at the top level at the rear of a building. The fact that fire escapes all around are used this way, even though not intended for this purpose, shows the demand for outdoor space like a deck is in very high demand.
The next picture shows a similar type of installation. Here in need or want of an outdoor accessible space the occupant of that upper level of the building has even installed a planter area with a little stool for seating next to the planter. We’re not saying that this is a perfect space for that type of use, but it’s an example of how building occupants here in Washington DC or searching for more connection or access to the outdoors from within their homes.
This article is titled to reflect the options for alternative to backyard decks but we’re not saying that these are better alternatives. They actually highlight the benefit to an actual backyard deck, where the space allows. We’re not specifically suggesting you should use spaces like these alternative options or other alternative options. We do however see that these examples highlight people’s interest in access to outdoor space, the kind of access that would be naturally provided by a backyard deck.
Backyard decks and patios are wonderful improvements to make a space feel more comfortable and more like home. Often when planning new backyard decks and patios we will consider a wide range of details.
The deck platform itself and the access, such as stairs, are critical considerations, but there are many additional things to consider such as power and lighting, planters and greenery, and covers and roofing.
We recommend building and homeowners here in Washington DC use a contractor, like us, who understands and cares about quality, deck and patio longevity, and simply doing things right. Always, feel free to reach out to us here at Dupont Decks and Patios, you can give us a can or just drop us a line. We are happy to help with almost all steps of the deck and patio building and design process.
Let us know about your ideas and talk to us if you have questions about possibilities.
Have questions about your deck or patio project? We’d be happy to discuss your ideas and explore the possibilities. Call us at (202) 774-9128 or visit our website to learn more and get in touch with our team. You can also contact us through our website to discuss your project.
