Site Clearing & Low-Profile Deck Construction
Why the Homeowners Wanted More From Their Patio
The back patio at this Miramar Beach home had everything going for it on paper: sliding glass doors, a lawn that stretched toward the water, and plenty of room to host. The space itself never lived up to that potential. A small, plain concrete pad sat outside the doors, with trees and vegetation crowding the edges.
There was no comfortable place to gather, so the patio went mostly unused. The homeowners wanted an outdoor area that invited them and their guests to linger well into the evening.
Clearing the Site and Building the Frame
The project started with demolition. Our crew broke up and hauled away the existing concrete pad, then cleared the surrounding trees and vegetation. Once the slab and roots were gone, we found far more dirt to move than we planned. A ground-level deck needs a stable, level base with room underneath for air to circulate, so we had to move the extra soil.
Our crew handled it the hard way, with a lot of manual labor and sweat, until the ground was ready for framing. The finished deck came together with five key components:
- Site Clearing: Removing the concrete pad, trees, and vegetation opened up room for a wider deck footprint along the back of the home.
- Pressure-Treated Wood Framing: Pressure-treated lumber forms the substructure that supports the deck close to grade.
- Joist Tape: Protective tape covers the tops of the joists, where water tends to sit around fasteners and board seams, helping the framing hold up in Gulf Coast humidity.
- TimberTech Advanced PVC Deck Boards: PVC boards contain no wood fibers, so they resist moisture and need far less upkeep than lumber. The Boardwalk color is a soft gray that complements the home’s white stucco.
- Border and Step Details: Picture-frame border boards outline the deck surface, and a wide step leads down to the lawn.
Evenings Together on the New Deck
Gulf Coast Decks turned an overlooked slab into the gathering space the homeowners envisioned. The sliding doors now open onto a smooth, even surface that runs along the back of the home, with room for chairs, a table, and long conversations as the day winds down. Guests can step straight out of the house, settle in, and take in the view of the water beyond the lawn.
The light gray boards brighten the space against the white stucco and tile roof, while the picture-frame border gives every edge a clean, finished look.
Trusted Deck Builders Serving the Emerald Coast
Gulf Coast Decks is a veteran- and woman-owned business. This $20,000 Miramar Beach project shows how careful site prep, protected framing, and low-maintenance PVC boards can turn an unused patio into a space made for gathering.
Contact our crew to discuss your patio, site conditions, and decking options that fit how you want to spend your evenings outdoors!
