Unearthing Our Dream Deck: A Weekend of Backyard Transformation

From Wild Overgrowth to Future Outdoor Oasis: Kicking Off Our Deck Building Journey

This past weekend, our home buzzed with the industrious energy of a beehive as we embarked on a significant phase of our backyard transformation. As some keen-eyed readers might have observed in our previous updates, the groundwork for our future deck had already begun. What was once a dense thicket of liriope, weeds, and an assortment of unruly bushes, all vying for space in our designated deck footprint, is slowly but surely giving way to clear potential.

If you’ve been following our home improvement adventures, you might recall the challenging “before” state of this section of our yard, a landscape that truly epitomized wild abandonment:

Safety First: Navigating Underground Utilities

The very first, and arguably most crucial, step in any significant outdoor digging project is ensuring safety. Before a single shovel full of dirt was turned for our new deck, we made the indispensable call to Miss Utility. This vital service helps locate and mark underground utility lines such as electrical cables, water pipes, gas lines, and communication cables. Hitting one of these could not only endanger our lives but also cause severe damage to our home and incur hefty repair costs. Thankfully, we received the all-clear, giving us the green light to proceed with confidence and peace of mind.

The Great Bush Relocation: Giving Greenery a New Lease on Life

With safety assurances in hand, our next task involved a significant resident of the future deck area: a large, mature bush that had been comfortably hugging the side of the house. Rather than discard it, we opted for a more sustainable approach – transplantation. This particular bush, a variety known as Gold Dust, thrives in our climate and already graces another part of our property, specifically along the bedroom addition, where it looks fantastic. We carefully moved it to a spot desperately in need of some greenery: the left side of our house.

Currently, it stands a bit solitary, creating a somewhat lonely impression. However, we’re filing this under “better than nothing” for now. The long-term vision includes planting a line of its Gold Dust brethren alongside it, creating a cohesive and vibrant hedge. We have high hopes that this new location will prove just as hospitable for its continued growth, contributing to a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing landscape.

Battling the Liriope: A Gardener’s Endurance Test

Next on our agenda was the arduous task of digging up the liriope, also affectionately known as monkey grass. This wasn’t exactly our favorite way to spend a weekend, to put it mildly! Liriope, while attractive in controlled settings, can be notoriously invasive with its dense, fibrous root system, making its removal a true test of endurance. But even during the most back-breaking moments, we had our furry companion, Burger, on hand to offer his unique brand of moral support. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying his role as supervisor, casting glances that clearly said, “Glad I’m not the one wrestling with all that liriope!”

The transformation this area underwent in just over an hour was remarkable. With Clara peacefully napping inside, her baby monitor strategically placed near the door, we tirelessly worked to clear the space. It’s truly satisfying to see how rapidly a neglected patch of land can be reclaimed with dedicated effort. The before and after photos speak volumes about the physical labor involved and the immediate visual impact.

…to this.

The displaced monkey grass found a temporary home in our side yard. Our hope is that some of it will be resilient enough to survive and fill in gaps in that area, as this stuff is remarkably hardy. Beneath the existing, soon-to-be-demolished balcony, we also have a collection of pallets that will be removed as part of that demolition process.

The Mystery of the AC Shrine: An Archaeological Dig in Our Own Backyard

Just when we thought the clearing tasks might be winding down, we encountered another intriguing challenge: a peculiar assortment of bricks, persistent weeds, and whimsical lawn ornaments that we affectionately dubbed “the AC shrine.” This quirky installation presented itself as a miniature archaeological puzzle.

Its original purpose remained elusive. Perhaps it was a creative way to utilize leftover bricks, or maybe it served some long-forgotten ceremonial function. Arranged somewhat like a permanent four-square game, with a small stone pagoda positioned precisely in the middle, its unusual layout captivated our imagination. It earned its moniker, “the AC shrine,” because, between the mini-temple aesthetic and the enigmatic design, we concluded it must possess some profound, cosmic significance, despite its very earthly location directly in front of – you guessed it – our air conditioning unit.

Our excavation of the “shrine” didn’t yield any ancient artifacts or sacrificial animal bones, much to our mild disappointment. However, we did make a significant discovery: the bricks were laid two levels deep! This revelation certainly added an extra layer of difficulty and physical exertion to the task. It immediately brought back vivid flashbacks of previous brick-digging escapades, like this particular project and another memorable one. It seems we’ve certainly done our fair share of brick extraction around here, making us seasoned veterans in this niche DIY category.

After unearthing approximately 160 bricks, we finally had the entire area cleared. You might notice a pile of paver stones lurking in the background; those are leftovers from our patio project. We’ve been discreetly stashing them for the past 12 months, waiting for the perfect opportunity to reintegrate them into a future project. Rest assured, we have plans for them someday!

The process involved several sweat-inducing wheelbarrow loads to transport these salvaged bricks to our designated stockpile next to the carport. Their ultimate use remains undetermined, though we’ve speculated about incorporating them into a future project when we potentially convert the carport into a fully enclosed garage. With the bricks finally relocated, the area was officially clear. Well, clear of bricks, at least, marking a significant milestone in our backyard reclamation.

A bit more diligent digging and weeding transformed the space even further, making it mostly free of stubborn greenery.

While we still have a few tasks remaining – relocating our paver collection, initiating the demolition of the existing balcony, and clearing out the pallets it currently conceals – the area is now vastly more prepared for the construction of our new deck than it was just last weekend. The progress feels immense, and the vision of our future outdoor living space is becoming clearer with each cleared patch of ground.

Looking Ahead: The Road to Our Dream Deck

With the heavy lifting of clearing mostly behind us, our focus now shifts to the exciting, yet intricate, planning stages for our new deck:

• **Decking Material Selection:** We are diligently weighing the pros and cons of various decking materials. This involves considering factors like durability, maintenance requirements, aesthetic appeal, environmental impact, and, of course, budget. From classic pressure-treated wood to cedar, redwood, or modern composite decking options, each choice presents a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. We’ll be sure to share our comprehensive research and final decision process with you.
• **Estimates and Budgeting:** Obtaining precise estimates for all necessary materials is critical. This helps us refine our budget and ensure we’re making informed financial decisions throughout the project.
• **Permit Acquisition:** Navigating the permit process is a non-negotiable step. Building permits ensure that our deck construction adheres to local building codes and safety regulations, safeguarding both our investment and our well-being. This often involves submitting detailed plans and undergoing inspections at various stages.

Oh yes, and then comes the grand finale, the actual:

• **Deck Construction:** The ultimate goal – building a beautiful, functional deck that will transform our backyard into an inviting outdoor oasis for years to come.

Addressing Utility Concerns: The Electrical Meter Saga

As part of our meticulous planning, and speaking of keeping you posted, we proactively contacted our power company to address a potential hurdle: the electrical meters situated on the side of our house. We had heard anecdotes about certain localities requiring meters to be at a specific height, preventing readers from having to crouch, which could potentially interfere with deck construction. Thankfully, our meter readers are quite content to crouch, so there are no height restrictions or issues with the meters themselves! Wahoo! We learned that one of the meters, the extra low one, is actually no longer active. The other active meter will be positioned approximately 2.5 feet above the bottom of the deck. Since most readings are now done remotely, physical access is primarily needed only for servicing, which the utility company confirmed would be no problem at that height. Whew. And, following our previous successful strategies, we plan to paint it to blend in with the house, just as we did at our first home.

Your Backyard Discoveries: Share Your Stories!

Have you guys been undertaking any clearing or digging projects around your own homes recently? Did you unearth anything particularly interesting or unexpected during your excavations? We once found an old milk bottle cap at our first house, a charming piece of history that we loved discovering.

… and in a testament to our affection for quirky finds, we actually hung it up on our gallery wall to commemorate its discovery! It served as a delightful conversation starter and a reminder of the unexpected treasures hidden beneath our feet.

Someone please tell me you’ve found a box full of money, or perhaps some gold bars, or even a dinosaur bone! We’d love to hear about your most exciting backyard archaeological finds in the comments below!

Psst- In one of our quickest giveaways in history, we hit 10,000 entries within six hours of posting it, so we’ve already announced this week’s winner here.