Build the Backyard Hang-Out of Legend: A Two-Story Pavilion for Food, Friends & Fireflies

Ever looked at your lawn and thought, “Great… more grass to mow.”
Let’s flip that script. Picture an octagonal sky deck floating 10 feet above the yard—string lights twinkling overhead, charcuterie on the table, Bluetooth speaker humming. Underneath? Plush sofas in the shade, a fan keeping the summer air moving, maybe a cooler within arm’s reach so nobody has to run back inside for refills.

Welcome to the Double-Decker Backyard Pavilion: half treehouse, half outdoor bistro, all good vibes.

1. Day-Dream the Design

1. Choose Your Footprint: We went 16 ft wide for Goldilocks “not too big, not too small.”

2. Free-Standing Freedom: No need to tie into the house—just eight beefy posts planted deep.

3. Two Worlds, One Roof: Dining deck up top, lounge cave below. It’s like your yard installed bunk beds for adults.

Pro Tip: Before you fall in love, make sure the HOA won’t drop a love-letter violation on your doormat. A quick call to the city’s permit office saves heartbreak later.

2. Foundations: Where the Party Starts

Option A – Classic Concrete

• Dig 12-inch-diameter holes below frost line (Michigan friends, that’s deep).

• Slide in Sonotubes, pour 4,000 psi mix, embed J-bolts.

Option B – Helical Screw Piles (a.k.a. giant metal corkscrews)

• Rent the drive head, spin eight piles until the torque wrench screams “done.”

• Bolt on brackets, crack a celebratory beverage—no concrete cure time!

3. Framing: Lumber Therapy

• Posts: 6×6 pressure-treated. They’re the linebacker of the deck world—no flimsy 4×4’s here.

• Beams & Joists: Double 2×10 perimeter, 2×8 joists 16 in. on-center (bump to 12 in. if you live where snow laughs at your roof).

• Blocking & Ties: If “hurricane tie” sounds extreme for the Midwest—install them anyway. Your grandkids will thank you.

4. Decking: Pick Your Poison

Surface Pros Cons Pressure-Treated Cheap, easy to replace Splinters + stain forever Cedar Smells like vacation $$ and still needs love Composite/PVC No splinters, hose it off Wallet whimpers ($10–27/ft²)

If you’re the “do it once, do it right” type, composite wins. If you love a weekend staining party—PT it is.

5. Roofing: Cap It Like a Champ

Hip roof, 10:12 pitch, asphalt shingles (or sexy standing-seam steel if budget allows). Pre-assemble the octagon frame on the lawn, then lift it like an Amish barn-raising with three buddies and one very confused neighbor.

6. Stairs & Rails

• Stairs: 4 ft wide, 10 risers, composite treads so barefoot midnight snack-runs don’t require splinter surgery.

• Railing: Stainless cable or aluminum balusters—because views > prison bars.

7. Bling It Out

• Low-voltage puck lights tucked in the soffit.

• Ceiling fan for that “tropical breeze” effect—even in Detroit.

• Corrugated PVC under-deck ceiling so the lower lounge stays drip-free.

• Porcelain pavers on a gravel base = instant patio, zero concrete cracks.

8. Finishing Touches

1. Fire up a patio heater or natural-gas line (your call).

2. Slide in outdoor sectionals, throw pillows, and maybe a projector screen.

3. Invite friends. Pretend you’re at a rooftop bar, minus the $16 cocktails.

9. Time & Money Reality Check

• Bare-bones DIY build: ~$8 k (pressure-treated, concrete footings, bargain lights).

• Bougie version: $20–22 k (composite everything, cable rails, screw piles, steel roof).

• Pro labor: Double it if you’re allergic to circular saws.

Ready to Swing a Hammer?

I bundled every cut length, hardware count, and a 3-D model into one tidy zip file. No guesswork, no napkin math—just download and build.

👉 Grab the Pavilion Plans & 3-D Model Here

Happy building—and may your summer nights be two stories higher!
— Daryl Wizinsky