There’s no sense living in Petaluma, Calif. if you’re not taking advantage of sweeping views of rolling hills and acres of farmland.
That’s why an 80s-era ranch house was the perfect candidate for a near whole-home renovation. Here, the unassuming structure was transformed into a stylish retreat with multiple decks to take in the sprawling scenery.
While the area is beautiful, there’s also the ever-present threat of wildfires. The property is located within a wildland-urban interface (WUI), where flammable landscapes and houses intersect. That meant the contractors, Adam Diamond and Paul “Pace” Blair, owners of Diamond Home Restoration, needed fire-resistant materials appropriate to the region. Building with WUI-compliant decking and roofing and Class A flame-spread rated siding and trim not only helps to safeguard structures and their contents but is a code requirement in more and more municipalities.
Decking it Out
The project included four new decks, the largest of which spans nearly the entire front of the house. In addition, there’s a small deck off the primary bedroom, a deck off the newly added breakfast nook and French doors in the dining area open onto a deck that steps down to a back patio.
Their search for WUI-compliant decking was met with the special-order fire-resistant Reserve Collection by TimberTech in Reclaimed Chestnut. “In this region, WUI is directing our entire approach now,” Blair says.
The original plans called for a round deck on the back which would have required extra footings and more labor, exceeding the project’s budget. To stay within costs, Diamond and Blair built an octagonal deck to achieve a similar look.
Siding in White
The house’s front elevation received an upgrade with a large dormer and a grand entryway. Likewise, the backside of the house now features a small dormer and a bump-out to accommodate the breakfast nook.
The old wood siding was replaced with AZEK Exteriors Board and Batten Siding, along with the brand’s shingle siding and trim. These products have a Class A flame-spread rating.
“We’ve used a lot of AZEK trim in the past but not the siding, but we loved the way the corner boards and window and door trims integrated with some of the other siding we’ve used,” Diamond says. “And we want to eliminate any need for caulking and those allow us to do that.”
Their first time using the PVC siding went smoothly.
“This stuff cuts like butter,” Diamond says.
AZEK Classic White Trim, Sheet and Batten strips are white and don't need to be painted.
“They wanted the house to be white, so the fact that we could use that product and not paint it meant we could save on that budget and apply that money to the actual material,” Diamond says.
Ensure both beauty and fire resistance in your designs by incorporating AZEK Exteriors and TimberTech products.
