The Brief
Turning a skunk hotel into an outdoor living space
Our neighbor Robin had an old deck that had seen better days — it was rotting, collapsing, and had become a hotel for possums, skunks, and rats. She wanted it replaced with something beautiful and durable: a proper composite deck with a covered awning for reading outside, rain or shine.
The Build
Demolition
First we took down the old deck that had been hosting local critters and hauled it away to the reclamation center. Underneath was years of rot and debris — a clean slate was long overdue.
Substructure
We built the substructure from pressure treated lumber set 16" on center with lots of blocking for great rigidity. The main portion sits on nine concrete piles drilled two feet into the ground — six along the outside and three to support the center.
We installed 19 gauge galvanized mesh underneath to keep future critters out, and used joist tape on every bearing surface to make sure the substructure lasts as long as the decking.
Materials
For the decking we used the mahogany line from Timbertech — a beautiful composite material with a 50 year warranty. For the awning we went with redwood, which has natural tannins that resist insects and rot, finished with linseed oil for protection.
Awning
We erected the awning substructure from redwood and topped it with corrugated stainless steel sheeting to keep the area dry. The roof has a 7.5 degree tilt to keep sticks and leaves from building up — so Robin can read outside without worrying about the weather.
Built to Last
- Timbertech mahogany composite decking — 50 year warranty
- Pressure treated substructure — 16" on center with heavy blocking
- 9 concrete piles — drilled 2 feet into the ground
- 19 gauge galvanized mesh — critter-proofing underneath
- Joist tape — on every bearing surface for long-term protection
- Redwood awning — naturally rot and insect resistant
- Corrugated stainless steel roof — 7.5° tilt for drainage
- Linseed oil finish — on all redwood surfaces
The Result
From critter hotel to covered outdoor living space. The finished deck is beautiful, durable, and built to last decades — a mahogany composite surface that'll look great for 50 years, under a redwood awning that keeps Robin dry while she reads.
This was a fantastic weekend build with my brother — taking down a rotting deck and replacing it with something our neighbor will enjoy for decades. From concrete piles to composite decking to a redwood awning with a stainless roof, every layer was built to last. It's always a great feeling to get something beautiful built right.
