Tiny House Patios and Decks
Fortunate is the tiny house dweller who can expand their living space by utilizing the great outdoors! Tiny house patios and decks can function as kitchens, living rooms, gardening centers, and exercise areas.
If you are planning to stay in one place for a long time, you might build a permanent patio or deck. If you move frequently, you can create your deck in four-foot modules that can be unscrewed and disassembled.
The picture above shows a THOW with a retractable deck that slides under the house when it’s time to move. It was created by Zack Giffin on Tiny House Nation. Zack designs and welds the deck frame, and uses a lightweight pine for decking. Two people can slide it in and they’re ready to roll.
Now if you don’t have Zack’s skills, or want a larger deck area, here are some deck building ideas that could work for a regular DIY tiny home owner.
Decks and Patios: What’s the Difference?
Decks: Typically a deck is elevated to the level of your front door. Cooking outside is easier when you aren’t climbing up and down the stairs with your hands full of food. Decks are made from wood or composite material like TREX®. Deck frames can be made of wood or metal.
Patios: A patio is directly on the ground. It can be made of heavier material like stone, cement pads, and/or dirt. These non-flammable materials make a perfect pad for a fire pit area.
I made a quick patio out of 20 pavers from The Home Depot. I leveled out the ground, laid down plastic sheeting, surrounded it with landscaping timber, then poured in some sand to make leveling easy. Once the pavers were laid I poured more sand in the joints. We added an “easy-up” for shade.
I have a deck made of TREX that holds the hot tub up out of the snow in winter.
Trex® and composite decking
Composite decking is made from recycled plastic bottles, available in a lot of wood-looks. This “plastic wood” does not deteriorate like real wood, and never needs to be painted, stained, or weather-proofed. Mine uses hidden fasteners for a very clean look.
However, composite decking is much heavier than wood, and way more expensive. It’s also flexible and needs to be supported every 12″. There is a specific screw to use so you don’t get a pimple at every screw site.
Check with your county zoning department
The zoning department in my county insisted we have concrete posts below the frost line, because it’s attached to our home. If it’s freestanding, you can use these concrete piers that just set on the ground. Level it as best you can, but expect some heaving as temperatures change. This is called a “floating deck.”
Portable Tiny House Decks
The Udecx 100 sq. ft. patio decking kit features a completely do-it-yourself set of components. The patio deck can be installed without a contractor, in minimal time, with just a few common tools. The system allows for an array of setup configurations so you can be creative beyond your original design or setup.
The panels are lightweight and can be disassembled, making it easier to move to your next location.
Udecx How-To Video
Here is the Udex info video so you can see exactly what is involved in assembly. Udex is available at The Home Depot and can be delivered to your location.
Here is a good book with lots of plans for tiny home patios and decks
From farmhouse-style front porches to tri-level decks to elegant gazebos, this book presents ideas to suit every setting and every family need. Each project is illustrated with clearly marked diagrams in full color and includes a list of necessary tools, suggestions for the best materials, and an estimate of the time needed for completion. 400+ photos.
Floating Deck Video
Here is a great YouTube® how-to video on building a floating deck. A floating deck uses the “on grade” cement piers shown above.
Tiny Home Patio and Deck Storage
Everything in your tiny home needs to pull double duty. When building your deck or patio, why not add some storage that also doubles as seating?
The Shelter Logic 230 Gal. deck box brings plenty of storage and comfortable seating, all in one impeccably-styled wood deck box. An ideal choice for storing your patio and garden accessories, as wells as lounge chair cushions. Made from durable, weather-resistant resin, this deck box is easy to maintain, and will keep contents fresh and dry all year ’round. You’ll appreciate the automatic opening mechanism, especially when your hands are full.
Outdoor Space are Vitally Important When Living In a Tiny House