01: The Challenge
A hot tub sitting in a backyard that hadn’t caught up to it.
David’s backyard had a hot tub. What it didn’t have was a deck that made it feel like it belonged. A hot tub sitting on bare ground or flagstone isn’t a destination; it’s an appliance. Getting it to read as part of a cohesive outdoor space meant solving four things at once.
- Incorporating it into the deck platform, not leaving it isolated alongside.
- After dark is when a hot tub earns its keep; lighting had to be planned from day one, not added as an afterthought.
- Open sightlines matter: a railing that closes in the yard would undo the whole point of being outside.
- Wet-environment performance without a maintenance burden; no warping, no rot.
The Goal: One deck, one design language, one space where the hot tub makes sense.
02: The Process
Designed from the hot tub outward.
Farrar started by walking the property with David, tracing the path from the back door to the hot tub, reading the grade, and understanding how the yard was actually used. Hot tub position came first; every other decision followed from it. Platform level and footprint were set to wrap the hot tub into the surface rather than park beside it.
Trex Transcend Spiced Rum was chosen for its warm, rich tone and four-sided moisture protection. Lighting was planned into the structure from the start. Hogwire panels in a Redwood frame kept the perimeter open and unobtrusive. Permits, site prep, and the final walkthrough were all handled in-house.
| Start | Design | Materials | Delivery |
| Site walk and hot tub position locked in first | Platform wraps the hot tub; layout flows from it | Spiced Rum decking; hogwire railing; Trex lighting wired in | Permits handled; final walkthrough with David |
03: The Result
One space. Two modes.
At noon, it reads as a warm, expansive deck with clean lines and a rich Spiced Rum surface that draws the eye outward. At night, it becomes something else, amber light glowing from the stair risers and post caps, the hot tub lit and ready, hogwire railing nearly invisible against the yard beyond. Same space, completely different character.
- Hot tub integrated: a continuous Spiced Rum surface wraps the platform and the hot tub surround into one cohesive space,
- Open sightlines preserved: hogwire railing with Redwood framing keeps views clear and the yard connected.
- Layered evening light: Trex LED fixtures in stair risers and post caps create depth and atmosphere without a single overhead flood.
- Built for wet conditions: Trex Transcend resists moisture, mold, and fading
- Custom stair detail: cut-corner angled steps add a distinctive touch that elevates the entry without adding build complexity.
| Warranty | Lighting | Maintenance |
| 25-Year Fade & Stain Protection | Day and Night, Two Distinct Modes | No Sanding. No Staining. No Resealing. |
Trex Pro Platinum Certified, highest installer tier · Family-owned, serving North Bay since 1977 · License #1034883
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