Decks & Patios in Van Nuys, CA
Older Van Nuys houses get decks and patios planned around bin routes, steps, landings and storage, with the wall behind them kept dry.
Wheeled bins, a hose reel and a ladder all need a way past a new Van Nuys deck. If the side-yard path pinches, the whole yard gets awkward, so we set the clear width before the footprint is drawn. A deck that works day to day leaves room to walk by with a full bin, puts the stairs where they do not trap that route, and gives each door a landing.
Paths before footprints
We hold at least 36 inches of clear width along the routes that get walked, from the back door to the gate and from the side yard to the curb. Stairs land beside a route, never across it. Where a bin has to roll past, a threshold ramp or a gentle slope takes the place of a step. Painting the layout on the ground and standing in it for a minute shows what a drawing hides, and a painted line on grass is easy to move.
Landings, storage and light
A door that swings outward needs a landing wide enough to open it without stepping back off the edge. Under a raised deck, a ventilated storage bay with a hatch keeps tools and cushions out of the weather. Low lights on the stair risers and a switch just inside the door make the deck usable after dark. Hose bibs and outlets get placed during framing, so nothing has to be cut into finished boards later, and the old back door's threshold height sets where the deck surface lands.
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Decks & Patios in Van Nuys: common questions
The wall is allowed to dry, because a tight, sealed joint holds water. The ledger sits off the siding on a thin gap with flashing above it, so rain runs out and air gets in. A membrane laps up behind the siding, and the deck surface slopes away from the house. Where the wall is weak, the deck stands on its own posts.
Often it can. The parts that go first are post bases, treads and the bottom rail, and each can be replaced alone. Original columns and brackets stay, and anything remade follows the old profile. We study the frame beneath the porch before deciding how much of it deserves keeping.
A raised deck or cover in Van Nuys needs one, issued through LADBS after plan review. Our office writes up the drawings and submits them. Ground-level platforms may be exempt, so we measure height and footprint on the first visit before telling you which path applies.
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