Our Work: Bespoke Under Deck Storage by Squarepegs Handyman

We met with our client in Merewether to take care of a few small jobs around her Merewether townhouse. We discussed the usual stuff like hanging a mirror, replacing a door handle, and assembling a desk.

While we were chatting, our client mentioned she was thinking of doing something with her courtyard.

The area was grass with two small stair sets going down from the dining area and the garage. While the existing area was a suitable place for our client’s dog to hang out, it had a few major drawbacks.

For one it was not of much use to her as an outdoor living space, since the grass did not lend itself to having furniture on it. Perhaps more importantly, however, was the lack of shade for her poor dog during the scorching Australian summers. Another issue was the lack of storage in the garage, and since problem solving is what we do, we came up with a plan to address all three problems for our client. 

BUILDING A CUSTOM DESIGNED DECK FOR OUR CLIENT IN MEREWETHER

We designed a deck which would match the two heights of the garage and dining room. With the laundry in the garage and the clothesline out the back we put a large landing to step out onto rather than having an immediate step down while burdened with a laundry basket.

By having the deck flow out level with the dining area it would act as an extension of the living space and become a usable area for entertaining.

To solve the shade problem we settled on a large single rectangular shade sail to offer maximum coverage. 

Our Creative Solution: HIDDEN UNDER DECK STORAGE

The most exciting part of the design process was coming up with a storage solution that would offer plenty of space to keep all of our client’s gardening equipment stowed away, while not impacting the space visually.

The size of the courtyard did not allow for a typical garden shed to be tucked away anywhere, so instead we got creative and settled on a hidden storage compartment built right into the deck. 

Building With Merbau Decking

We built the deck with a treated pine frame on galvanised stirrups for added termite protection, and chose the classic hardwood Merbau for the decking.

By building the storage compartment into the raised landing by the garage we gained extra height to allow for maximum storage volume. We continued the decking over the storage lid to give a streamlined look, but this made the lid very heavy.

We solved the weight problem by adding two heavy duty gas struts which also do the job of holding the lid open. The struts are balanced so that the lid stays securely in place, even when jumped on, but is easily opened and closed with one hand. 

Going Above And Beyond With The finishing Touches

The finishing touches were a full length set of steps at the end of the deck, with a smaller set at the clothes line to give more room to move while hanging washing.

Once the shade sail was in place the courtyard was immediately several degrees cooler, and the afternoon sun no longer blasted into the kitchen. We kicked ourselves for not putting up the shade first, and saving ourselves from working in the 40 degree heat, but we wanted to have the deck height in place so we could best judge the shade sail position.  

We finished off with two coats of intergrain decking oil, a bike hanger in the corner, and the most important piece, the dog kennel.

The Best Part: A Happy Client

Our client was thrilled with the look of the deck and the difference in temperature the shade sail made.

While our client’s dog was a little unsure at first of all the changes to his domain, he quickly made himself at home lounging about in the shade.

The under deck storage was the crown jewel of this project, and our client was so happy to finally have somewhere to keep all the equipment that had been crowding the garage since she moved in.

SQUAREPEGS HANDYMAN does Decking And More

Squarepegs Handyman works with our clients to provide creative and innovative solutions for their home.

Contact us here to organise a free, in person estimate with Handyman Sean. No matter what the project, we are here to help.

WHERE WE WORK

You’ll find Squarepegs Handyman in and around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, the Hunter and beyond. Contact us to find out if we service your area. 

We cannot wait to work with you!

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