See this at:
bobvila.com|
Added on 08/22/07
Much the same way front porches connect a house to the streetscape, decks establish a bridge between the indoors and the outdoor, natural environment. Decks add value and living area to a house by creating outdoor “rooms” that host activities from...
See more 
Much the same way front porches connect a house to the streetscape, decks establish a bridge between the indoors and the outdoor, natural environment. Decks add value and living area to a house by creating outdoor “rooms” that host activities from grilling to sunning, reading and entertaining, to gardening. "Families are living outside now," says Michael Beaudry, executive vice president of the North American Deck and Railing Association in Meridian, Idaho. "There are so many wonderful things you can do, that people just want to add on." Multi-level decks link a series of outdoor areas via stairs and landings. They can range from simple two-platform affairs to complex, cascading structures extending from an upper story, wrapping around part of the house, flowing down to a sloping yard, or leading to a landscaped ground-level or walk-out-basement patio. Some even have a cozy porch or four-season outdoor room tucked underneath. Pros and Cons A multi-level deck can be a good option for a... See less 
.value, '<a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/ccchilders/home-garden.html"><img alt="" src="http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/50/6/AAAAAiFLCa4AAAAAAFBkiA.jpg" width="100px" /></a>','http://www.kaboodle.com/ccchilders/home-garden.html','1');)
