Approaches to creating great-looking decks
by Elaine E. Laney
In the mountains of North Carolina, where I work as a residential designer, most homeowners prefer wooded lots — but at the same time, they want an abundance of natural light in their homes.
Trees aren't the only obstacles to light here. Because of the slopes many houses are built on, what might be a utilitarian basement in other locales can open to light and views, and is often used as finished space. However, overhanging decks often keep the sun from reaching these lower-level areas.
Depending on the solar orientation of the home, there is a possible solution to the problem. By eliminating the portion of the decking directly above the glazed areas in the exterior wall below, light is allowed to fall on the windows below the deck (Figure 1).
Figure 1. In addition to providing light to spaces below, wells can define the spaces of a deck into distinct areas for sitting, eating, hot tubbing, and so forth. If the deck above is tall enough, the area below can be set up as a shady terrace for the hottest weather.
Deck rails surrounding the well (for lack of a better word to describe the "hole" in the deck) are best constructed with the same material and design used at the outer edge of the deck. A possible alternative would be tempered glass infill around the well to maximize the amount of light permitted to reach the wall below.
Click here to read full article from Deck Magaziner