POLL: keep or remove deck for green space?

[rh71]

Our backyard is not very big and made even smaller by an L-shaped deck. Since the wood is starting to go, we may need replacement anyway and thought now is a good time to make this decision.

In pic 1 you can see where our patio set is and we'd definitely keep this part of the deck down to the banister. In pic 2 you can see how that part of the deck cuts into the depth of our yard - our kids can't even really play catch back there. Pic 3 is the opposite angle from the fence. Should we remove what you see in pic 2?

Even though we're staying for at least another 15+ years, once it's gone, we're not going to put it back. We are considering that this may or may not be attractive to buyers. We are in a suburb of NYC with good schools so buyers are likely buying here for the yard sizes since they have kids or soon will. Room in a backyard is semi-important, but how much so is a decent sized deck like we currently have? I'm sure the adults would also like a deck and less grass to care for. What do you think? Chop it off or keep it (fixed up)? If we do remove it, we will put in a set of stairs on that side too, and will plant sod and have to finish the siding down to the grass - all for the sake of more green space.

 

[Gunslinger08]

A third option is to replace it with a ground level patio. You'd still have a hard surface area for furniture and grill, but without the variation in level that breaks up your backyard.

 

[dank69]

That extra part of the deck seems like a waste of space to me. I would get rid of it.

 

[ultimatebob]

Wow... that wood deck looks nicer than mine and you're getting rid of it?

 

[deadlyapp]

Personally, with those windows(as they look to be) there, that patio doesn't make a lot of sense anyways. You can't put anything there such as a hot tub and it looks like you have plenty of real estate on the other portion of the deck.

I think it would be pretty nice and not devalue too much to take the deck back to about the corner of the house, use some stairs to bring it down to ground level, and then put in a long flowerbed that goes along the entire length of that side of the house (where the deck currently is).

 

[Ken g6]

Are those windows over the part in question just windows, or are they sliding glass doors? Do you want them to be sliding glass doors? Do you think a buyer might want to make them sliding glass doors?

 

[waggy]

personally i wouldn't get rid of it. but i love sitting out on a deck in the evening. We also entertain so putting another table or picknic table in that spot would be great.

but i understand why you want to. there is a lot of wasted space. maybe use with a hot tub! wooo!

 

[ultimatebob]

personally i wouldn't get rid of it. but i love sitting out on a deck in the evening. We also entertain so putting another table or picknic table in that spot would be great.

but i understand why you want to. there is a lot of wasted space. maybe use with a hot tub! wooo!

He would need a taller fence if he put a hot tub on that deck, as you could see into it with it elevated like that.

But, yeah, that extra deck space looks wasted to me. I'd make it smaller and add a swingset or something.

 

[rh71]

- we already have a sliding glass door right behind where I took pic 1.
- the windows in front of the deck are just windows - a sliding door would look nice except that inside we want to keep a 2nd couch in front of where that is - it's an extension to the house and we'd like to keep it a big space inside. It needs to be that configuration since there's only 1 wall where a tv goes.
- also adding a sliding door there doesn't solve our issue of backyard usable space.
- wife already said no to a hot tub.
- this would've been less of an issue if the shed were on the opposite end. What were the prev owners thinking?