Two-Tier Composite Deck Resurface with Lit Stairs

This two-tier deck sits off the back of a home in Parkland Beach, on a big open yard with spruce most of the way around it, and it gets a lot of use - a hot tub off one side, a barbecue patio off the other, and a table on the lower deck for most of the summer. The frames underneath were still in good shape, however the wood surface had worn out, so the homeowners asked us to keep the structure and resurface both tiers in composite, stairs included.

We took the boards off both decks and went through the frames before anything new went on. Both had been built at 24" on centre, which was right for the wood decking that was on them, but composite needs closer support than that or the boards flex between the joists. We added a new joist between each existing pair across the 10' x 14' upper deck and the 12' x 14' lower deck, taking both to 12" on centre, with each one hung off the ledger and the rim on galvanized hangers. Blocking went in for the picture frame, the lower deck footprint was extended while its frame was open, and every joist top, old and new, was wrapped in G-Tape joist protection.

Both tiers are Eva-Last Infinity bamboo composite, laid on CAMO hidden clips so there are no screw heads anywhere in the field. The perimeter is picture framed, and the starter edge is fastened with composite deck screws that are predrilled and countersunk (finished in the grain of the board, so you really have to look for them). A full 12" fascia wraps the top of both decks and SmartPanel skirting closes in the space underneath, with our sliding corner detail at the cut edges so the composite can expand and contract without a gap opening up.

The steps are all composite treads and risers, including a 4' stair down the side to the hot tub, a 6' stair off the end of the lower deck into the yard, and the 13'-8" step between the decks. While we were going over the deck the homeowners asked about lighting, so we set 17 blue Regal Ideas LED lights into the stair risers, 6 on each stair and 5 along the step between the decks. We marked the spacing out on every riser before drilling so the lights sit centred and even, and the wiring is clipped away behind where nobody will see it. The control box is mounted under the deck beside the access door, and a remote turns the lights on and off from up top.

The upper deck kept the homeowners' own white Regal Ideas aluminum railing, which we took down and reinstalled on the new surface. On the lower deck we added new white Regal Ideas aluminum railing down both sides and along the hot tub stair, matched in colour and profile to the railing on the upper deck.