This was a pleasure to build for friends of ours and they had us over for dinner afterward! This project included a new deck and roof (deck+roof=porch). However, before we could even think about building, we had to get a variance for the build due to the proximity of the road (someone built a road…
We gave this deck a fresh new look by installing new Trex composite boards and new vinyl railings. The framing was still in great shape, but as a standard practice we always add a protective strip of deck tape to the top of all joists. This membrane will help protect the wood framing from water…
This project was a complete deck replacement with a dry space below. The key project features are:
We worked with this client who requested a low budget option – but they wanted it done right. We went with what many consider “low-end” pavers, the type you can buy at Home Depot, but we installed them with our regular professional treatment. All the preparation, all the foundational work… for what come out to…
For this deck recover we used two different colored deck boards. At the stair treads and around the deck border we installed the darker color and in the middle we used a lighter gray. On the railing posts we installed caps with lighting. The post cap lighting offers a diffused illumination for the space. To…
Helping people is a part of this business. In this case, this couple had bought this house with plans to age-in-place. However, their stoop had irregular steps, and their front patio was falling apart. Their new stoop has regular steps and the patio is smooth and usable! More photos:
One of the best ways to maximize your outdoor living when building a second story deck is by adding a dry space underneath. Since that new upper deck—with the great view and awesome lounge area—is such a show stopper, we often overlook the space below. But with just a little extra material and labor you…
Cable railing is one of our favorite types of railing to install. In the right setting, cable railing can emphasize a beautiful view with very little interruption. It is also an excellent low maintenance railing option for decks. This is because cable railing is not susceptible to rot or discoloration like wood railing. But this…
One of the most important aspects of designing a deck has nothing to do with what we see. Most decks have a foundation underground that has to be considered and engineered for the specific soils and deck size. Things can get difficult; large boulders and rocks are not uncommon. It is also important to consider…
The Three Spaces build was a more challenging build than it was supposed to be. First, we couldn’t move the large boulders with our machinery and second, the city would not allow us to pin to the boulders. This left us two options: rent bigger equipment or move the location of the foundation. We ended…
The above image is of fairly fresh ipe (EE-PAY). It had shipped from the mill a few weeks prior and the photo was taken just after a passing rain shower. Now compare that to aged ipe: Decks are in high exposure environments. Sun, rain, wind… the elements beat down on decks. This is why most…