You want to build a house. But you have a tree–perhaps a very big tree– growing in the middle of the proposed building site. Remember who got there first.
Often, the graceful solution will be to build a deck around the tree’s trunk. To avoid harming the tree’s root system, don’t sink footings too close to the trunk–consult an arborist to calculate a safe distance based on the type of tree and its size. When framing the deck, build a box around the trunk to protect it from the weight of the joists. And leave enough open space around the tree trunk to accommodate future growth. Here are five decks that work:
![Photograph by Jack Thompson courtesy of Robertson Design.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/robertson-design-gravel-pit-wood-deck-733x576.png)
![A three-story screened porch (at L) has a swing on the top level and a table and chairs for dining on the middle level. The sauna is at ground level at the bottom of a slope. Photograph by Reto Guntli, courtesy of BarlisWedlick Architects.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/barliswedlick-passive-house-screened-porch-metal-roof-gardenista-e1470061031788-733x488.jpg)
For more, see Architect Visit: A Natural Pool and Passive House in New York’s Hudson Valley.
![A chalkboard is incorporated into the design of a fence by Shades of Green. Photograph courtesy of Shades of Green. For more, see Fence Fashion: \1\1 Ways to Add Curb Appeal with Horizontal Stripes.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/black-horizontal-slat-fence-chalkboard-gardenista-733x733.jpg)
![No oak trees were harmed in the building of this tiered deck. See Landscape Architect Visit: The California Life, Outdoor Living Room Included. Photograph by Joe Fletcher courtesy of Sagan Piechota Architecture.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/deck-tree-sagan-piechota-carmel-california-733x1098.jpg)
![Above: A single large tree in a Palos Verdes, California cliffside estate with landscapes by Orange Street Studio.](https://media.gardenista.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/orange-street-studio-landscape-with-large-tree-gardenista-733x488.jpg)
Above: A single large tree in a Palos Verdes, California cliffside estate with landscapes by Orange Street Studio.
N.B.: This post is an update; it was first published on August 8, 2012.
For more ideas for decks, see:
- Hardscaping 101: Wood Decks
- Design Trend: 15 Wooden Decks That Disappear Into the Landscape
- Architects’ Roundup: 10 Gardens Designed Around a Single Tree
Finally, learn how to successfully design a deck for any landscape or exterior home project with our Hardscaping 101: Decks & Patios guide.
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