In a hurry? Here’s a quick overview to save time:
Hen-House Decks earned first place in NADRA’s 2025 Open Porch category for a project that resolved a roof-elevation conflict. This adjustment reshaped the structure’s proportions and formed a more functional covered space. This transformation demonstrated that a single correction could redirect the entire design.
Innovative Thinking Leads to Open Porch Award
Hen-House Decks received first place in the Open Porch category of NADRA’s 2025 National+ Deck Competition, recognized at the 16th Annual Deck Awards Celebration in Clearwater Beach, Florida. The award reflected the project’s successful execution of a roofed outdoor structure integrated with an elevated deck. The ceremony acknowledged entries from professionals across North America, placing this project within a national field of comparison.
Judges evaluated how the design balanced structural requirements, architectural proportion, and functional usability. The evaluation focused on the alignment between the roof system and the deck framework, as appearance alone could not satisfy the engineering expectations of the category. The project advanced because the build demonstrated clear reasoning behind each structural move.
The project succeeded only because the team chose to lower the deck’s center section rather than accept the original roof connection point, which would have failed to preserve headroom. The existing design conflicted with the home’s elevation and would have resulted in insufficient clearance under the roof structure. The decision to adjust the deck elevation established the geometry needed for a continuous roofline without compromising proportion.
The revised elevation produced measurable improvements in light, airflow, and circulation within the covered area. The outcome created a defined gathering space, with open beams, stepped transitions, and patterned decking functioning as intended. The structure’s physical clarity supported the project’s recognition, demonstrating how a single decision reshaped the porch’s spatial performance.
Partners
- CAMO Fastener
- Tru-Scapes Deck Lighting
- Under The Sun
- TimberTech
Materials
- TimberTech composite decking
- TimberTech decking inlay boards
- CAMO Fastener System
- Tru-Scapes deck lighting
- Stone-wrapped structural columns
- Exposed timber framing
- Metal roof system
- Metal railing with decorative privacy panel
———
Hen-House Decks is a custom deck builder serving Northeast Ohio since 2017. The company specializes in the design and construction of outdoor living spaces, including decks, porches, and related structures.
The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) is a trade association serving the outdoor living and decking industry. Award recognition is based on independent judging criteria established by the organization.
