The Mountains Are Calling

Colorado Custom Covers & Decks Crafts Inspired Deck & Pool Experience

By Michelle Hendricks, Category Marketing Manager at Deckorators

There’s never been a more exciting time for homeowners when it comes to the possibilities of outdoor living. Our entire marketplace is witnessing a shift, and at the forefront of this evolution are the talented contractors and builders who are leading the way. One could say that these outdoor experts are truly ‘guides’: helping homeowners maximize their spaces with a deeply inspired understanding of their needs and expectations.

Homeowners continue to invest more time and capital into their outdoor spaces than ever before, and they’re putting more thought into how they want their outdoor living spaces to function. Our network of Certified Pros reports that their clients are increasingly interested in a collaborative design process, eagerly bringing their ideas and inspiration to the table.

After going through several design ideas for this project, in close competition with another contractor, Colorado Custom Covers & Decks sealed the deal with a multi-level backyard retreat that checked all of the client’s boxes. Built in Conifer, Colorado for a family that fosters children with disabilities, it was crucial for this deck to maximize usability in terms of square footage. Consideration of spatial flow was a top priority, and carefully planned stairs were implemented to smooth the connection between the upper and lower levels.

This project by Deckorators Certified Pro Jonathan Moeller of Colorado Custom Covers & Decks exemplifies the concept of the ‘outdoor room,’ creating an added living space that blends form and function for versatile use throughout the seasons. By dividing the outdoor space into flexible-use ‘zones,’ homeowners can add value to their homes and ensure their outdoor spaces achieve their full potential.

The remodeled upper deck, sheltered by a skylit roof covering, features an outdoor kitchen and a gas fire pit. Initially, there was no lower-level deck. The homeowners requested inclusion of both a swim spa and a hot tub on the lower level, without obstructing the view. To meet that request, Moeller and his team came up with an innovative design solution: To frame the lower deck flush around both water features, using Deckorators Voyage decking in Khaya. To achieve this, they had to remove an excess of soil from the lot, pour new concrete pads to hold the swim spa and hot tub, and elevate the deck to fit around them.  

Local building code required the decking to be fit snug around the lip of the water features, and also required the equipment to be fully accessible for maintenance. Moeller and his team installed removable trap doors to keep the aesthetic clean while allowing mechanical access to the swim spa and hot tub.

“These were great clients. They were really easy to work with, and they ended up loving the space,” says Moeller. “Everything went fairly smooth, aside from just dealing with the winter and the snow in Colorado. Being able to build the deck they really wanted, with a swim spa and a hot tub that the kids can use, was a great joy.”

When it comes to incorporating a deck around pools and spas, material selection is critical. Warranted for installation in the ground or water, Deckorators Voyage line features slip-resistant traction for safety. Powered by Surestone technology, Voyage blends durability with style, eliminating thermal expansion and contraction concerns and providing the industry’s best strength-to-weight ratio. Surestone materials combine distinctly natural wood-grain patterns with rich colors, offering easy personalization and customization. All Deckorators Surestone decking is low-maintenance and backed by a 50-year structural and 25-year stain-and-fade limited warranty.

An additional design highlight on this mountain escape is the cable railing, with x-shapes adorning the spaces between each cedar post. The x-pattern feature is prominent on the stairs inside the house, so the homeowners wanted to reflect that detail in their outdoor space. It was a tricky, meticulous endeavor – string lines and laser levels were crucial – to make sure the railing came out completely straight and level.

Colorado Custom Covers & Decks, 21944 Plateau Circle, Morrison, CO 80465. Instagram: @colorado_covers_decks. Location of project: Conifer, CO.

About the Author —

Michelle Hendricks is the Category Market Manager for Deckorators, a leading brand of UFP Industries, Inc., and offers insights from the brand’s experience innovating new products in the composite decking, railing, and accessories market. Deckorators help homeowners maximize their outdoor living space — and make it their very own. That means offering products with competitive warranties and new and innovative technologies.

Whether homeowners are looking to work with a local deck builder on a deck project or tackle the job themselves, they can visit Deckorators.com to learn more, get started on a project, locate a contractor or find out where to buy these and other Deckorators products.

Photo Credit: Timothy Gormley