Two-Level Lakeside Deck with Infinity Glass
Two levels, unobstructed lake views, a custom pan drain, and concrete stair work to tie it into the hillside.
Project at a glance
- Service
- Exterior Finishing
- Location
- Kelowna, BC
- Materials
- Pressure-treated framing — full structural rebuild Infinity glass railing — frameless tempered, stainless posts Composite decking — TODO — confirm brand (Trex / TimberTech / other) Custom stainless pan drain — routes runoff clear of lower deck Poured concrete stairs — site-formed, steel-reinforced
The site
This home sits on a Kelowna lakefront lot with a hillside drop between the main living floor and the shoreline. The existing deck was small, aging, and cut off the lower level from any usable outdoor space. The client wanted two connected levels — one off the kitchen for morning coffee and one lower down for entertaining — with the lake view kept completely open and a way to route roof runoff clear of the lower deck.
What we did
We tore the old structure down to the ledger, re-framed both levels in pressure-treated lumber, and rebuilt the footings where the original had settled. The upper deck cantilevers over the lower one, which made water management the critical detail: a custom stainless pan drain runs the full upper-deck perimeter and sheds runoff to a concealed downspout, keeping the lower deck dry in every storm we've seen since.
Railings are frameless tempered infinity glass on stainless posts — zero obstruction to the view, zero annual refinishing. We formed and poured the concrete stair run on site, reinforced it, and tied it into the existing hillside retaining structure. Every fastener touching the frame is stainless or hot-dipped galvanized — non-negotiable at this distance from the water.
The result
Two usable outdoor rooms stacked cleanly into the hillside, a 180° lake view unblocked by railing posts, and a water-management detail that keeps the lower level dry. The infinity glass will look the same in year 25 as it does in year one. The concrete stairs tie the whole envelope together and read as a single designed structure, not a deck bolted onto a house.
The Build
Upper deck — frameless glass opens the full lake view
Lower deck — shaded gathering level
Both levels stacked into the hillside
Site-formed concrete stairs tying the decks to the hillside
Custom pan drain — no water falling onto the lower deck
Stainless post detail — corrosion-resistant for lakefront exposure
Questions homeowners ask
How long does a lakefront deck with infinity glass railing last in the Okanagan?
What does a two-level deck like this cost in Kelowna?
Can you build a deck that meets BC Building Code lakefront setback requirements?
What kind of railing lasts in a lakefront environment?
Serving Kelowna and the Central Okanagan
Liam Kinders Contracting delivers exterior finishing projects across Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country, Vernon, Peachland, and Summerland. Red Seal certified, licensed, and insured — every build is a real portfolio piece, not a render.
