Looking for ideas for a makeover for your backyard spaces?
Only around one in five new homes in Utah have decks, which is a little surprising. A backyard deck is a great way to modernize or stylize your backyard and increase the value of your home while also providing a practical space that all the family can enjoy—plus guests!
If you’re looking to add a deck to your backyard, what’s the best design to follow?
Let’s get straight into it with a look at the main types of decking available and a few Utah backyard deck ideas to get the creative juices flowing so that you can design the right decking for your home…
BACKYARD DECK STYLES IN UTAH
Backyard decking in Utah once came down to a choice of which timber to use. With composite, PVC, aluminum, tiling, and other materials now commonly available, your choice of materials extends well beyond wood—though that retains its own charm.
There are also a variety of styles to choose from. We can break these down into four main styles:
- Modern: these decks are usually simple and practical, with clean, sharp lines using materials like glass, steel, stone, concrete or other materials.
- Traditional: these often use wooden materials and may include elaborate furnishings.
- Rustic: these decks usually use wood, stone or other natural materials for a cozy, earthy feel that mirrors the natural environment.
- Minimalist: these decks aim for uncluttered spaces with simple color palettes and only the most basic pieces of furniture.
The type of deck you choose for your Utah backyard will reflect the style of your home, the intended usage of the deck area, and your personal design preferences.As you consider the design and functionality of your deck area, also think about the ground covering around your deck. That’s an important part of any backyard and many homeowners are switching from traditional grass to a range of grass alternatives in Utah—to save time, resources, and costs.
GET A FREE ARTIFICIAL GRASS ESTIMATE IN UTAH
If you’re in Salt Lake City or the surrounding areas, the experienced team at Rocky Mountain Turf will break down the costs for you in a free estimate. Contact us here.
1. TRADITIONAL WOODEN DECK
The traditional wooden deck is a frequent sight in Utah—and even with the advances in materials and deck technology, it’s still a popular choice that allows a wide variety of styles, finishes, and features:
Different types of wood decking in Utah include pressure-treated lumber, cedarwood, and redwood, which are all highly durable and resistant to rot and pests. However, they do require maintenance to keep them pest-free, rot-free, and looking their best.
For something a little more exotic, you might also consider treated tropical hardwood decking.
2. MODERN BACKYARD DECK
You won’t see picket-style railing on modern backyard decks. Many are open and simple but others use glass creatively for a contemporary look and feel that also serves a practical use, protecting from those harsh westerly winds we experience in Utah.
Here’s a modern open deck that doesn’t need any railings or enclosure—it’s gloriously open to the elements:
3. RUSTIC-STYLE DECK
If you’re looking for a more rural appearance to fit the design of your home, a rustic-style deck may use a variety of timbers to create a warm, cozy, farmhouse feel for your yard:
How about adding some stone for a rustic farmhouse feel, like this one:
4. MINIMALIST DECKING WITH ALUMINUM
Aluminum is another Utah backyard deck idea that offers a sleek appearance, a durable performance, and low maintenance for homeowners.
Aluminum’s resistance to rot, pests, the elements, warping, and splintering makes it one of the best choices for homeowners who want to forget about maintenance—though you may pay a premium for this type of decking and you’ll need to take precautions about slipping.
Aluminum’s versatility makes it ideal in modern and minimalist decks or combined with other materials for a different aesthetic. Believe it or not, this is an aluminum deck (with tread additions to make the surface less slippery):
5. MULTI-LEVEL DECK
Why stick with a single level for your backyard deck?
Adding two or even three levels to your decking can create a more unique space that is both beautiful and practical.
You can use almost any material for tiered decking, though wood remains the most popular option in Utah.
6. COMPOSITE OR PVC DECK
If you are after the look of wood but without the maintenance, consider composite materials that provide the appearance without the work.
Composite technology uses a blend of wood fibers and plastic, advancing in recent years so that a wide range of good-looking deck options are now available in Utah to rival timber.
PVC has similar hardy properties to composite (resistant to weathering, fading, rot, and pests) but is made entirely of plastic—and is generally designed to mimic the appearance of wood.
7. FIRE PIT DECKING
If you have the space and are after a cozy outside area that you and the family or guests can use for a get-together all year round, install a fire pit on your backyard decking.
Different backyard fire-pit ideas abound but the right one for your deck area will depend on space, safety considerations, budget, and personal design preferences.
Here’s another different fire-pit design for a deck area:
8. TILED DECKING
Tiling is another ideal backyard deck idea for Utah that is often overlooked. Tiles come in all shapes and sizes and can offer a wide variety of design aesthetics but, importantly, offer a low-maintenance alternative to wood.
Tiles are easy to keep clean so are great for backyard decking for entertainment areas, barbecue areas, etc.
9. A CIRCULAR DECK
There’s no law that your deck area must be rectangular, square or any other shape. Simply changing the standard shape to a circular or oval deck can add a unique dash of style to your property:
You could even try other shapes, like in this example:
WHAT SHOULD YOU INSTALL AROUND YOUR BACKYARD DECK?
Your choice of materials impacts not only the decking’s appearance but also its longevity and maintenance needs.
The same applies to the area around the decking in your backyard. Don’t miss this as it could be the perfect opportunity to upgrade the area to a different ground surface that saves time, money, and precious water resources.
If you currently have a backyard grass lawn, you can expect the following benefits by replacing it with artificial grass:
- Synthetic grass is very low maintenance, requiring only an occasional splash of water and cross-brushing to keep it looking green and pristine.
- With increasing drought and water restrictions in Salt Lake City and beyond, moving away from real grass (which guzzles water) reduces the strain.
- Artificial grass requires no fossil fuels to run lawnmowers, weed-whackers, and other garden machinery.
- Artificial turf requires no fertilizers, herbicides or weed killers, which can add toxic chemicals to the yard and wider environment.
- The cost of artificial grass may be higher to install but saves a lot of money every year on maintenance costs.
- Synthetic turf is pet-friendly, with no digging, bald patches, and yellow stains like with real grass.
- Artificial grass can be used in shaded areas and is not dependent on sunlight or good soils to look its best.
If you don’t fancy artificial grass around your decking, other possible non-grass backyard landscaping materials include mulch, pea gravel, crushed stone, pavers, and more.
FAQs
How much maintenance is required with artificial grass?
Artificial grass requires minimal maintenance but should not be installed and simply left year after year. Occasional cross-brushing, hosing down, and removal of debris are recommended to keep your synthetic turf lawn in tip-top condition.
How much can you save with artificial grass?
Artificial grass is more expensive to install than real grass but if properly installed and looked after, it pays back the investment in around five years, saving thousands of dollars for homeowners over its long, 15- to 20-year life. Estimates put savings at around $1,000 per year for many homeowners.
How long does artificial grass last?
Your artificial grass should last a minimum of 10 years and if properly installed and maintained, up to 15 or 20 years.
CONSIDERING ARTIFICIAL GRASS AROUND YOUR BACKYARD DECK?
If you’re mulling over landscaping ideas for your Utah backyard and want to discuss how artificial grass can help, feel free to discuss your ideas with one of our artificial turf professionals.
