Valley Glen, Los Angeles County
Decks, Patio Covers and Walls in Valley Glen
Decks, patio covers and retaining walls in Valley Glen, with materials and drainage chosen for inland valley sun, dry spells and the odd hard storm.
Valley Glen lies in the inland part of the San Fernando Valley, and building in an inland valley is planned around strong sun on exposed surfaces, dry spells that harden the soil, and the occasional heavy storm that tests every drain. Those general conditions guide the materials we propose for a deck, a patio cover or a retaining wall there, and the way each one sheds water and handles heat.
Deck surfaces that face the sun
On a deck left in full sun, the boards take the most wear. Composite decking and dense hardwoods both work, and each comes with its own joist spacing and fastener system that the plans have to follow. Dark composite boards can get hot underfoot, so lighter colors are worth weighing for a deck with no shade. Pressure-treated framing under any board needs its cut ends treated and flashing tape over the joist tops to keep water out of the fastener holes. On a raised frame, posts stand on metal bases above the footing.
Storms, drains and retaining walls
A heavy rain after a dry stretch runs off hard ground fast. Around a patio or a deck, the soil is graded away from the foundation and roof water is piped to the street or another approved outlet. Behind a retaining wall, a perforated pipe in clean gravel collects water before it builds pressure, and weep openings let it out. If the Valley Glen lot is flat, a patio slab still gets a slight pitch away from the house. Plan review for Valley Glen, Van Nuys and Sherman Oaks all sits with LADBS.
Work we take on in Valley Glen
Each service is planned around the lot, sloped or level.
Building in Valley Glen?
Send the address and the job, and a builder will arrange a visit to read the lot.