A “Nice Enough” Patio Gets a Warm, Wood Upgrade

Project by: Anne-Claire
Location: Rockville, Maryland

Our back patio was nice enough when we moved in. It was made of flag stones, had a fun round shape and was surrounded by plants and trees. But after almost two years in the house, we felt that a wood deck would look warmer and more inviting. So this spring while my parents were visiting from France, my dad helped us build one. He’s a very good DIYer and had already built a deck for their own home.

We bought the wood from a lumber store, thinking there would be more choice than in our usual Home Depot. We were really happy with the quality of the wood and it didn’t seem to cost a lot more. Plus they usually deliver for free if you spend a certain amount. We chose pressure treated pine that we won’t paint or stain as we love the natural look of weathered wood. It took us about a week to complete the job. Once the deck was done, our old patio furniture didn’t look too good anymore so we invested in a teak table that will also turn grey over time. And we mismatched it with IKEA yellow metal chairs.

It’s been over a month now and we are so happy with the result! The deck is at the same level as the house floors, which makes a huge difference both visually and practically (there was a very annoying step to access the previous patio and we don’t miss it at all!). It now really feels like an extension of the living room. It also feels so much nicer to walk barefoot on the wood. We end up spending a lot more time outside than we did before. Best investment ever!

Thanks, Anne-Claire !

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