Tour the Ultimate Deck

That’s a Wrap! April Wilkerson Reveals Her Real Cedar Dream Deck

In the world of DIY home improvement, there’s something incredibly rewarding about taking a concept and turning it into a tangible, usable, and beautiful reality. April Wilkerson’s dream deck project, showcased in her popular YouTube series, is a great example of that. Over the last several months, Wilkerson has built an outdoor oasis piece by piece, weaving in her passion for creativity, craftsmanship, and Real Cedar. 

For each part of the build, including the stairs, staining, walkway and railings, she produced a how-to video. Now, it’s time for the grand tour to appreciate the culmination of this meticulous planning and superb craftsmanship.

“It’s finally done. Well, as much as a project is ever really fully done,” Wilkerson begins. “There’s still lots of odds and ends that I want to do. If I come across another really fun idea, then of course I will make a video of it and show you the improvements I do. But for now, I am calling this series a wrap.”

Informed Material Selection 

The stunning structure strikes a perfect balance of functionality and aesthetics, boasting several standout features. But the star of the show is definitely the actual deck itself. 

“A big part of the appeal is that all the exposed parts of the deck is Western Red Cedar,” Wilkerson explains. “Y’all seen me use Western Red Cedar on plenty of my outdoor patio furniture projects. But doing it on such a large area just showcases how beautiful this wood is. Add on the extra bonus that Western Red Cedar naturally comes with rot, insect, and fungus-resistant qualities and it just became the perfect choice whenever I was trying to decide what to build my deck out of.”

In addition to its performance properties, Western Red Cedar is a sustainable and green building material. It’s a renewable resource with a lower environmental impact compared to other materials, highlighting Wilkerson’s commitment to sustainability.

Innovative Design Features

One of the more innovative aspects is a removable railing in the deck’s tee box platform, enabling her to hit golf balls across the yard. This ingenious feature marries her love for golf with the versatility of the deck’s design.

Another much-talked-about feature is the stock tank pool – a unique, functional, and thoroughly Texan touch. The deck drawers and shed cleverly incorporate storage space and blend seamlessly into the overall design. These design decisions illustrate Wilkerson’s remarkable attention to detail, emphasizing function without compromising aesthetics.

Visitors also often praise the stunning horizontal skirting, an architectural feature made of numerous 1×8 boards. “I am so glad that it’s built out of Western Red Cedar. I just think it’s truly stunning,” she states.

Superior Structural Integrity 

The deck’s solidity is another point of pride for Wilkerson. Most decks are built to minimum load requirements, causing a somewhat ‘bouncy’ feel. To counter this, she upsized the joists and reduced the joist spacing, resulting in a deck that feels “rock solid.”

April thoughtfully incorporated both plumbing and electrical conveniences into her deck – from outdoor spigots and electrical outlets above and below the deck. And for some comfort against the Texas heat, a portable evaporative cooler graces the deck, easily moving to wherever it’s needed.

Sense of Accomplishment 

Looking back on the project, Wilkerson reflects, “I don’t know if it took four or five months for all of this to come together between the planning and the gathering of materials and then of course coordinating the filming to bring you guys along but it is so rewarding to be able to utilize the thing that I thought of eight months ago.”

The joy she gets from using her deck – whether hitting golf balls, playing in the pool, or simply sitting and enjoying the outdoor space – is palpable. Her journey from concept to creation has been a labor of love that has inspired many of her followers.

“In the world of DIY, outstanding projects combine creativity, sustainability, and functionality. Wilkerson’s ultimate deck is a prime example of this trifecta, featuring the versatile and eco-friendly Western Red Cedar. Her passion and expertise transformed this project into not only a personal triumph but also a source of inspiration for her followers and the entire DIY community. As she aptly puts it: “It’s just really, really rewarding and awesome.”