Redwood Deck Over Garage Expands Area

A new redwood deck can be a substantial home improvement without the substantial cost, especially for a hillside home, according to the California Redwood Assn.

Presented here is the annual Dale Baldwin redwood special, courtesy of the Mill Valley-based trade group of five redwood producers. (At least I try to get an exclusive project for my readers from the association every year!)

Designer Jonathan Braun of San Anselmo, Calif. in Marin County, north of San Francisco, designed the 700-square-foot deck illustrated here over a garage on a steep hillside lot for the Mervil Engh family in Mill Valley, also in trend-setting Marin.

The old deck followed the shape of the garage roof, which unfortunately was not parallel to the house. In order to square the deck with the house, Braun made it rectangular, projecting beyond the walls of the garage. Amenities include built-in benches integrated with the railings and a planter box with movable 2x2 redwood slats that allow drainage and level changes.

Decks like this are worth considering for homeowners contemplating full or partial second-story additions: A builder I know says that a cantilevered deck is one of the least expensive forms of space and it is very usable if care is taken in locating it in relation to sun and shade. More information about decks can be obtained from Charlene Draheim at the California Redwood Assn., 519 Redwood Highway, Suite 3100, Mill Valley, Calif. 94941.

ADD REDWOOD: The Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety has approved redwood rooftop decks for Class B roof covering, according to Draheim. She can supply readers with Data Sheet 3A12, available free by sending a long, self-addressed envelope to her at the address above. This sheet outlines the specifications for constructing a rooftop walking deck that meets Los Angeles and International Conference of Building Officials requirements.

If you’ve finished your deck and are looking for other projects, a fat book that just arrived at my desk might help. It’s “The Backyard Builder,” edited by John Warde (Rodale Press, 33 E. Minor St., Emmaus, Pa. 18049, $21.95, 656 pages, 160 photos, 429 illustrations). More than 150 build-it-yourself projects for the home, yard and garden are described and illustrated.

Projects are provided for every skill level, from rank beginner to skilled amateur. Among the projects are carts, window boxes, firewood racks, a backyard gym, outdoor grills, bird feeders, a porch swing and two greenhouses.

The introduction contains concise information about joints suitable for outdoor projects, along with information about wood and how to preserve it from the elements. An excellent book that belongs on the shelves of every home woodworker.