Shoshone Neighborhood Trex Decking Project Creates a Next-Level Outdoor Living Space
- Feb 3
- 4 min read
Interview with Shawn Vernon, Owner | Home Renonvations Colorado
When homeowners invest in Trex decking and thoughtfully designed outdoor living spaces, they’re usually chasing three things: durability, safety, and a place where real life actually happens. This Shoshone neighborhood project delivers on all three—and then some.
In this interview, Home Renovations Colorado owner Shawn Vernon walks through a custom Trex deck built around a highly unique pool setup, designed in collaboration with an architect and engineered for long-term performance, family use, and seamless indoor–outdoor living.
What Makes This Trex Deck Different Right Out of the Gate
The overall shape and layout of this deck were architect-designed, which meant the structure itself was intentional from day one. While the core design stayed intact, a few key modifications were made to improve safety, usability, and flow—especially around the stairs and pool access.
One of the standout details is the Biscayne color Trex decking, which wraps the entire space and visually ties together the platform, stairs, and even the enclosure beneath the deck. The color choice alone elevates the project, but it’s the way the material is used consistently across surfaces that makes it feel custom rather than pieced together.
The deck also wraps around a modular pool made from a converted shipping container, complete with an electronic, walkable cover. It’s an eye-catching centerpiece, but it also dictated several design decisions related to code, safety, and visibility.
Glass Panels, Custom Iron, and Code-Driven Safety
Any deck that wraps around a pool must meet strict building codes, including fencing and gated access. Instead of defaulting to bulky railings or visual barriers, this project uses a mix of glass panel systems and custom iron railings.
The glass panels serve a dual purpose:
They block wind and improve safety
They preserve sightlines, eliminating visual clutter from traditional balusters
Custom iron railings were used elsewhere, including a code-compliant gate—required for any elevated deck near water. Horizontal balusters were selected over vertical ones to reduce visual obstruction even further, while still meeting safety requirements.
A graspable handrail was integrated subtly into the design, giving users a secure option without disrupting the clean lines of the deck.
The Breaker Board Trick That Solves Multiple Problems at Once
One small detail that does a lot of heavy lifting is the breaker board—a center board running perpendicular to the rest of the deck boards.
This design choice:
Maximizes Trex material lengths
Minimizes waste
Visually separates the pool traffic area from the lounging and entertaining zone
It’s a practical solution that also helps organize the space intuitively. Kids gravitate toward the pool zone, while adults naturally settle into the patio area—often with a clear view of the action and a drink in hand.
Steel Framing + Trex Decking = Concrete-Solid Performance
Underneath the Trex decking is steel framing, a deliberate upgrade from traditional wood framing. The architect originally planned for wood, but after reviewing the benefits of steel—dimensional stability, long-term flatness, and zero warping—the team pivoted.
The result is a deck so solid that the homeowner literally jumped up and down on it to test movement. The reaction? It felt like concrete.
The deck was built 12 inches on center, which, combined with steel framing, creates an ultra-flat surface. Shawn describes it as having the look of a piano top—no dips, no humps, no waves. Even decades down the line, this deck is designed to stay that way.
Wide Stairs That Actually Support Entertaining
Standard deck stairs are typically three to four feet wide. These stairs are six and a half feet wide, and that decision alone changes how the space functions.
Wider stairs mean:
Two people can comfortably pass each other
Carrying food, drinks, or pool gear feels natural
The stairs act as a visual and physical transition, not a bottleneck
The stairs are finished with Trex decking at the top and transition into large-format Blackstone flagstone as they meet grade, blending hardscape and deck materials cleanly and intentionally.
Enclosing the Underside of the Deck the Right Way
Rather than using lattice, siding, or stucco beneath the elevated deck, the entire underside was enclosed using the same Trex decking material.
This approach:
Keeps the look consistent and high-end
Protects pool equipment from weather, kids, and critters
Eliminates future maintenance issues tied to mixed materials
An access door—also made from Trex—was integrated for functionality without breaking the visual flow. The architect initially explored other finishes, but once this option was proposed, it became clear it was the right call.
Lighting That Supports Nighttime Use Without Overdoing It
While stair lighting was intentionally omitted at the homeowner’s request, the deck includes carefully placed sconces to illuminate the space during evening and nighttime use. The pool itself is internally lit by the manufacturer, creating ambient light that complements the deck without overpowering it.
The result is a space that feels just as usable at night as it does during the day—perfect for entertaining, relaxing, or simply watching the kids swim through the pool’s large side window from the landscaped area below.
Outdoor Living Addition Seamless with Design of Home
At the top of the stairs, the deck aligns directly with the home’s bifold doors, creating a wide, unobstructed transition from kitchen to deck. When those doors are open, the interior and exterior function as one continuous space—exactly what modern outdoor living spaces are meant to do.
Big windows, wide stairs, and a substantial deck platform ensure nothing feels undersized or tacked on. Everything works together, visually and functionally.
Final Takeaway
This Shoshone neighborhood project is a textbook example of how Trex decking, steel framing, and thoughtful design choices can transform a backyard into a true outdoor living destination. It’s safe, durable, architecturally cohesive, and built for real life—kids, entertaining, weather, and all.
From the flatness of the deck surface to the consistency of materials and the intentional flow of the space, this is the kind of project that holds up both visually and structurally for decades.
