Sonoma Redwood Deck Project

This Sonoma deck runs diagonal, board to board, off a set of French doors. The diagonal layout isn't just for looks — it takes the eye across the full width of the deck and holds up well against foot traffic near the door threshold. Redwood was the right call here: it takes a sealed finish clean and holds its color, which matters on a deck that sits this close to a hot tub and sees regular moisture. We built the bench right into the deck frame instead of adding it as a separate piece. That keeps the seating solid underfoot-level and gives the space a built-out, finished look rather than a deck with furniture set on top of it. The bench doubles as a transition point between the lower step and the main deck surface, which also handles the grade change coming off the house. With the hot tub sitting right off the deck edge, we planned the framing and decking layout so the two spaces read as one continuous outdoor area, not two separate additions. The result is a deck that works for daily use — morning coffee through the French doors, evening soak in the tub — built out of solid redwood and finished to hold up in Sonoma's weather.