Los Angeles wooden arbor, pergola, patio cover, fence, deck, driveway gate, entry gate, garden gate, tree house and play house designer and builder.

Peter A. Kirsch-Korff

Wood Arbors, Decks, Fences & Gates - Builder


Los Angeles      Pasadena      Hollywood      La Canada      Malibu


 Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck Landscaped (side view) - Manhattan Beach, CA 
Wooden Arbors, Pergolas, Patio Covers & Trellises     Wooden Decks & Garden Bridges     Wood Fences & Privacy Screening    

Wood Treehouse, Tree FOrts, Play houses & Garden Retreats    Pavilions, Garden Furniture & Accessories    Articles about Wood Outdoor Projects    Specialties of a Wood Craftsman      About Me and How I Work

Heavy Duty & Beach Front Construction Techniques

Some of my clients live in environments, such as beach communities or the desert, which require additional care in building. To give you an idea of what it takes to build in these environments, here is a brief visual overview of a recent deck I built in Manhattan Beach near the ocean.

You might also be wondering why I am showing so much and sharing the techniques I have learned -- won't my competitors see this too? The answer is yes. And that is OK. I have seen lots of bad decks and replaced far too many. So by sharing this information, I help lots of people. First, my clients, who see that I know what I am doing and can feel good about hiring me. Second, builders all over the US who don't have a way to learn except trial and error on their clients projects, because there are no apprentice programs and it can take years to discover and develop these techniques. And third, homeowners all over the US who can now have a better deck built for them because I was willing to loose a few local clients in the greater good - better built decks.

 

The Finished Deck

 

 

Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck Landscaped (side view) - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

This beach front IPE wood deck (learn more) was custom made to fit the needs of my clients for entertaining.

 

 

My Step By Step Building Process

 

Deck Building Step 1 - Deck Beams In Place For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 1: After the space was cleared, I installed the deck beams on short posts which are in turn nailed to heavy duty post brackets set in concrete (note the pressure treated ledger board attached to the house frame through the stucco underneath the doors)

 

 

Deck Building Step 2 - Detail Showing Cut Ends \Properly Treated with Preservative For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 2: Detail showing cut ends and bottom of posts treated properly with preservative

 

 

Deck Building Step 3 - Detail Showing Good, Heavy Duty Hardware Used For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 3: Detail showing heavy duty, double galvanized hardware and nails

 

 

Deck Building Step 4 - Detail Showing Proper SEcrews For Pressure Treated Wood On A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 4: Detail showing proper screws (rated for pressure treated wood -- I use the right materials for the job to ensure your deck will last a very long time)

 

 

Deck Building Step 5 - Deck Framed Up On A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 5: The deck framed up

 

 

Deck Building Step 6 - Detail Showing Planed Areas For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 6: Detail showing joints planed smooth (this keeps all the deckboards flat so there are no bumps when the deckboards go over a beam)

 

 

Deck Building Step 7 - Showing Planed Areas Treated with Preservative For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 7: Showing planed areas treated with preservative (again to ensure a very long life under extra beach front moisture conditions)

 

 

Deck Building Step 8 - Detail Showing How Preservative Does Not Penetrate Deck Board Cut End On A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 8: Detail showing cut end and how the preservative does not penetrate into the center (improper treatment will shorten the life of your deck)

 

 

Deck Building Step 9 - Detail Showing Proper Deck Board Cut End Treatment For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 9: Detail showing the proper treatment of a cut end (notice how it is absorbed into the entire surface area)

 

 

Deck Building Step 10 - Deck Boards Installed For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 10: View of the deck boards being installed

 

 

Countersunk and Color Matched Screws For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 11: Detail showing the countersunk holes with edges sanded cleanly (this helps with bare feet) and color matched, stainless steel screws (which last much longer especially near beaches with salt corrosion and blend in visually)

 

 

Heavy Duty Deck Building Step 12 - Main Deck Done & Steps Started For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 12: Here is the main deck done and the edges cut, and I am just starting on the steps

 

 

Heavy Duty Deck Building Step 13 - Steps Cut For A Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck Landscaped (side view) - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 13: The steps are cut and configured to meet the uneven concrete (I like to make sure the deck looks great from every angle and the steps stay solid and firm)

 

 

Heavy Duty Deck Building Step 14 - Finished deck and accompanying fence and gate for a Beach Front  Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Step 14: Here is the finished deck and accompanying fence and gate (I still have to replace the old white picket fence in the back)

 

 

Lighting Detail - Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Lighting Detail: Notice the inset lighting

 

 

Heavy Duty Beach Front Dining Ipe Patio Deck Landscaped (side view) - Manhattan Beach, CA

 

Deckboard Detail: Every detail is important, including taking the time to match up and align the corner boards (which I angled to make them visually appealing)

 

 

 

Permission is granted to anyone who wants to
use my work for inspiration outside of the LA area.


Redwood Garden Arbor - Pasadena
Pasadena Mangaris TM deck before patio cover
Modern Horizontal Wood Fence - Los Angeles, CA
Asian Gate - Los Angeles Gate Builder
Wooden Treehouse with Club House - Malibu
Pool Equipment Enclosure - Beverly Hills, CA

Arbors

Decks

Fences

Gates

Treehouses

Built-ins & More


Serving the Los Angeles area communities of Altadena, Arcadia, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Brentwood, Chino Hills, Claremont, Diamond Bar, Encino, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hancock Park, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Los Angeles, Los Feliz, Malibu, Monrovia, Northridge, North Hills, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Pomona, Porter Ranch, Rancho Cucumonga, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Silver Lake, South Pasadena, Studio City, Van Nuys, West Hills, West Hollywood, Westwood, and West Los Angeles.

California Licensed Contractor #701028