01. The Challenge
A deck that lost half its calendar to weather.
Pierre’s backyard had the bones and the view, but the deck itself was written off for months at a time. Petaluma winters brought rain that pooled on an aging surface. Summer afternoons brought sun that made the west side too hot to occupy.
- No cover: the deck sat idle from November through March.
- West-facing heat: July and August afternoons were off the table.
- A tired surface: the old boards had warped and faded after a handful of Sonoma winters.
- No annual upkeep: Pierre wanted Redwood warmth without the sanding, staining, and resealing of an all-wood deck.
- Petaluma’s swing: wet winters, dry summers, and hillside wind cutting through the North Bay.
02. The Process
Planned around the weather, not against it.
Farrar walked the property with Pierre before specifying a beam or a panel, mapping sun paths, rain lines, and how the space would actually be lived in.
- Site Consultation: walkthrough with Pierre to pinpoint where cover mattered most and where open sky was worth keeping.
- Free 3D Rendering: Suntuf roof, Redwood Arbor, and deck surface shown in proportion; coverage, shade lines, and sight lines confirmed before a board was ordered.
- Material Selection: Spiced Rum picked for warmth against Redwood; Suntuf polycarbonate for rain protection with daylight; Redwood throughout for tonal continuity.
- Permits Handled: all permitting and site prep managed in-house, one point of contact from start to finish.
- Build: completed on schedule, with Pierre briefed at every stage.
- Final Walkthrough: every post, panel, and fastener reviewed with Pierre before sign-off.
03. The Result
A backyard back on the calendar.
Every original problem was solved, and the materials mean Pierre won’t be sanding, staining, or resealing anything next spring.
- Rain handled: Suntuf polycarbonate panels, framed in Redwood, keep the covered zone dry through Petaluma’s wet season while letting daylight pour through.
- Sun softened: the Redwood Arbor filters afternoon light on the open-air portion, so the west side remains workable in August.
- Surface that holds up: Trex Transcend Spiced Rum resists fading, staining, and splintering, backed by a 25-year fade-and-stain warranty.
- Wood where it reads: Redwood railing, arbor, and roof framing give the deck its natural grain and warm color, a rich counterpoint to the composite surface.
- Petaluma-proof: every material picked for coastal hills, winter rain, and summer heat, with no annual refinishing on the calendar.
Pierre steps out now to a backyard that answers back. Boards warm under bare feet, Redwood overhead catching the last of the light, and a yard that finally keeps pace with the life he wanted to live in it.
Your Outdoor Space Is Waiting To Be Imagined
Your backyard shouldn’t lose months either. We’ll walk it, render it in 3D, and put a real number on it, before you’ve signed a thing.