Feature Works
Designing and building decks is a Hunterstruct specialty, and we have chosen two to show in our “Feature Works” section.
The first of these we affectionately call, “The Stump,” a giant of a deck designed to provide a vast, easily used “plateau” amid the perilously steep slope of its B.C. Interior setting. Stump photos
The second deck featured has a more comely title: “The Jewel.”
The Jewel’s setting, though less extreme, is sloped enough to make much of the property’s land area difficult to use, if not for this deck’s multi-level platform encompassing two of the original building’s faces. Jewel photos
A Stump In The Forest
Some buildings look as if they’ve always been there, and with a few careful plantings and some finishing-touch landscaping, The Stump will certainly be one of these. This is because this deck, like other Hunterstruct decking projects, is intended to integrate the comforting confines of a home’s interior spaces with the endless expanse of nature beyond it. Stump photos
With this thought at forefront during design, a deck becomes a kind of threshold area, linking not only interior with exterior spaces, but also in a sense, the wilds of nature with the order of civilisation.
A well designed deck offers its user the comforts of both. And like The Stump, a deck well rooted in its native place, a soundly designed, quality-built deck will be around a long time, providing its user many years of comfort and pleasure in style.
Attention To Detail Is Good
A Hunterstruct deck design will help ensure that various features of an overall building project are used throughout, focusing on blending new and existing elements of your home plan.
There are many ways to ensure continuity. Colours, shapes and material choices are a good start toward blending your home’s many features.
The Stump’s use of 45 degree angles is an example of linking a homespace. Though prominent in its railing and overall shape, these angles are subtly echoed in the lines of the deck’s access stairs, the roofed section’s post braces, as well as in the gravel walkway retainer encompassing the deck itself. Stump Detail photos Stump Structural Details photo
Another example of site continuity is found in The Stump’s roof and decking plan. A feature of many Hunterstruct decks, the new roof matches the home’s original line, helping tie home and new deck together.
Perhaps more important to some, the comfortable covered area provides shelter in less than perfect weather, effectively extending the decking season, while making more of your deck area and leisure time. Stump photos
HUNTERSTRUCT. : Helping Decks Be All They Can Be
Although we have only touched on some of the thinking behind Hunterstruct work, these Feature Works photos demonstrate attention paid to the unique design opportunities presented by setting and homeowner requirements.
View a brief video of The Stump’s “interior”
THE JEWEL : Emminently Usable · Easy On The Eyes
A Jewel By The Sea
Here we worked closely with the homeowner to add an all-season, wrap-around cedar deck to this old-timey Pender Harbour fishing cabin. We used heartwood red cedar and old growth Douglas fir on all exposed surfaces, coating these with a durable penetrating stain. Jewel photos
The railing infill is made of powder-coated 3/4-inch aluminum pipe stock. This durable finish will never need re-painting, requiring only a damp cloth wipe every few years to keep the gun-metal grey finish looking as good as new, even in The Jewel’s salt air locale.
Make Your Home Better Than Ever
We roofed using Grade ”A” cedar shakes throughout, effectively linking the original building with its new deck at roof level.
Upgraded over a period of years, the before/after photos of this project reveal a dramatic transformation from utilitarian getaway cabin to comfortable, fully equipped year round residence. Jewel photos
Details add zip
Areas of a deck such as access points, covered sections, and even in some cases certain structural features (such as the fully functional fire-pole in the picture above), offer opportunities for some special design TLC.
