When a Suwanee homeowner wanted to transform the back of their home into a true outdoor living space, they called Source One for the whole vision — deck, pool surround, outdoor kitchen, and everything in between. This was one of our largest residential projects, and it touched nearly every trade we do.
The centerpiece is a new 30'x34' deck built below the driveway and level with the existing lower deck. All posts sit on footers with metal bases, and the framing and decking were engineered and upsized to carry Trex — installed with hidden Trex clips for a clean, near screw-free surface. A lower pool deck wraps the pool 5.5 feet off the ground, with stairs stepping down from the main deck to the pool and on to the ground below. We built a pressure-treated slat wall to conceal the underside of the raised deck and a divider panel to screen the AC units from view.
A catwalk anchored to the house and set on 6x6 posts connects the upper deck to the driveway, with a set of stairs down to the lower deck just inside the brick wall. The railing system carries throughout — 6x6 posts with round metal spindles — and we modified the upper deck rail to tie the new catwalk in seamlessly. On the existing structures, we replaced rotten posts, rebuilt the rails to match, removed and hauled away the old staircase, and reworked the screen porch, relocating its door to open out onto the new deck.
To make the space livable day and night, we built a pitched roof off the driveway wall to cover the kitchen and seating area, supported by 6x6 posts at the outer edge. That brought new electrical throughout: a ceiling fan and lights, GFI outlets for the cooking area, nine recessed lights in the soffit on a transformer, plus dedicated lines for the hot tub. We also designed and installed a new retaining wall, ran a new drain head and smooth-wall pipe with fabric mesh on the hill, relocated the AC condensers, and planted shrubs and a tree to finish the setting.
The result is a multi-level backyard retreat built to Trex's low-maintenance standard — a deck, pool surround, and covered kitchen the family can enjoy for decades.
