MusicalRattie

Looks similar to my first deck! And as far as the patio comment, I tend to agree, patio first. BUT I built our deck off the back of the house because ground dropped off 7' from house and door was about 3 1\2ft off the ground. I built the deck sitting on the ground 2" away from the house and on pier blocks at the front that had the dropoff, and stairs down to the flatter ground from that front area. I made a box in the deck and the stairs from the door sit into this hole and look like they are all one piece. So deck is not a part of the house, needed no permit,is not taxable. 24' by 8',simply put there to give a finished look instead of lumpy ground.I'm going to run a low shelf around the front and side for potted plants, other side ties into terrace that rolls around the side of the house.Cheap,easy, can be removed replaced or remodeled as I wish.

Ditto. Immediately wondering why no 4th column.It would break the view, but then I'd not use either back column and just tie pergola into the house. Columns seem too fat for the space,too. I'd take the pergola off completely.

I love working with wood, but for some projects other materials are interesting to try. From this article and comments I will not put composite on our pavillion base but will stick to real wood. I also don't understand building exterior things like decks and such "to last 50-100 years". For one, you don't know if a hurricane, fire or earthquake will destroy it anyway, and who says people will want the same old deck in the future? Years from now there may be new trends, styles and materials, and the deck will be outdated in the future owners' eyes.I don't care if my deck lasts more than 30 years, I will probably redesign it every 5 years anyway, as I always change things just for fun.If I spent a fortune on the "perfect, forever deck" then I couldn't easily tear it off to enlarge the house or change from tiered deck to a flatter deck, etc. So that is WASTING money.