Creative Decks

Your Outdoor Living Specialist

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Framingham, MA

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Decks

Best Deck Features for Small Kids

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Small kids can have a big influence on deck design! Whether you’re parents, grandparents, or have lots of young visitors on a regular basis, you want to be sure that your deck is safe and fun for kids. Here’s what that looks like:

Strong deck rails and gates: Children always need to be supervised when they’re outdoors – especially lightning fast toddlers who can get themselves into a dangerous situation before you can say “Where did they go?” That being said, it’s a smart idea to talk to your Massachusetts deck builders about deck rails, balusters and spindle options, and gates to keep kids safely on the porch. Let your contractor know if you’ve got a little climber or acrobat – they can make recommendations that help keep everyone safe.

The outdoor kitchen: Outdoor kitchens are often discussed as a place for grownups to have a lot of fun but the fact is that having a small refrigerator and sink outdoors can make life with the little ones much, much easier. The sink is useful for quick clean ups and as we all know, little kids can make big messes.

The shade feature: The summer sun is fun, but when you’re little, it’s easy to get overheated quickly. Have your deck builders install a shade feature where the kids can enjoy themselves out of the direct sun. This is also important for people who are getting older, as well as anyone who takes medication that makes them more sensitive to sunlight.

A screen house on the porch: Mosquitoes and other insects carry lots of diseases you don’t want your kids coming into contact with. One way to keep everyone safe and happy is to have your local deck builder put a screen house on the porch. Screen houses also make it easier to keep little kids on the porch and out of the direct sun. It turns out that some kids just love taking naps in a screen house, which is an extra bonus!

The Weather Resistant Deck: Does It Really Exist?

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We often talk about Western Massachusetts being home to some really wild weather. This week has certainly shown the truth of these words, with flooding, tornadoes, and near-record heat all taking their toll. And given that as our situation, it’s time to ask: is there really such a thing as a weather resistant deck?

We build a lot of decks using composite materials or PVC decking. There’s a reason for that. Let’s look at the heavy rain we had this week. We’re talking torrential downpours, with significant amounts of water just pounding down on a deck. If that deck is built out of wood – even if it’s really well sealed – some of that water is going to penetrate. And as we all know, once water’s in the wood, a whole host of problems can result. In addition to rot, mold, and mildew, moisture in wooden decking can lead to cracking and split boards. If you want a deck that can resist this kind of damage, you want your local deck contractors to use PVC decking or composite decking.

Tornadoes aren’t exactly common in Western Massachusetts, but they can happen. To be clear, just because your deck is weather-resistant doesn’t mean it will stand up to tornado-force winds. We wish we could say that, but nature’s fury means that we can’t. What we can tell you is that this is one area where quality of construction truly matters. Decks that are properly designed and well-built will endure high wind conditions better than decks that aren’t as well made. Choose a local deck contractor who is experienced and has a reputation for excellence to build your deck. Then, in the unlikely event of a tornado, you can know you’ve done everything possible.

Finally, let’s talk about hot weather. The sun can be brutal at this time of year. Wooden decks have been known to warp, split, and splinter when left in the blazing sun. Composite decking is far more stable and will provide you with years of reliable performance – even during the sunniest summer days!

4 Fun Things To Do On Your Deck Before The Summer Is Over

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Believe it or not, we’re more than halfway through the summer. Before you know it, the school buses will be rolling and it will be time to get back to the normal routine. While there’s still some free time, make sure to do as many of the following items as you can – all you need is a great deck and the urge to have fun:

4) Have Watermelon For Dinner

Grab a green giant from the farm stand, let it get nice and cold, and slice it up. It’s the easiest dinner ever – give everyone nice thick slices to enjoy on the deck. Don’t worry about drips and seeds: a quick spray of the hose is all you need to clean up.

3) Watch Some Meteors

The Perseid meteor shower starts in just over two weeks. This means now is the time to gather up your lawn chairs, binoculars, telescope, and any other star gazing gear you may need. Here in Massachusetts, meteor sightings associated with this shower have been known to top 100 per hour! Meteors aren’t the only thing to look for from your deck at night. You can learn to spot some constellations, keep an eye out for comets and satellites, and who knows? Maybe spot some aliens.

2) Enjoy a Marathon Card Game

Maybe you play poker. Maybe you play Uno. Whatever card game your family, grab what you need and round up the family for a marathon card game. Snacks and beverages are essential. If you don’t want to worry about bugs, have your Massachusetts creative deck designer create a screen room feature for you. Enjoy all of the outdoors with none of the bites.

1) Perfect Your Ice Tea Appreciation Game

Is there anything more blissful than enjoying a comfortable lawn chair with a cold glass of ice tea after a long day? We don’t think so – but just in case, you’d better try it out and check. That moment of relaxation and enjoyment reminds you that this is what all the hard work is for. Every now and then you get to stop and have a moment for yourself.

The Wedding Worthy Deck: If You’re Getting Married at Home

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Have you heard about the getting married at home trend? It turns out that some couples don’t want to spend tons of money on a pricey wedding venue when they already have a house that’s pretty nice. Getting married at home is especially popular among older couples who want a simple ceremony with just their closest family and friends.

Here’s where the deck comes into the picture. If you have a nice view – perhaps of your own back yard, or perhaps of some beautiful Western Massachusetts scenery – your deck can be an ideal place to set up for the ceremony. You’ll need a place for the happy couple, the officiant, any members of the wedding party, and everyone who is helping you celebrate your special day.

If you have a great deck already, you’re ready to jump ahead to the ceremony planning. But if you know your deck needs a little work before it’s ready for the wedding – or any other special event you’d like to have – here’s a few things to keep in mind:

Work with a professional deck designer. You’re saving a fortune by not renting a wedding venue. Invest a little of that money with a deck contractor near Framingham, MA who can help you create the space you need for the ceremony as well as all the days that follow. Great deck design is attractive and versatile.

Choose durable, colorful decking materials. You’re going to remember your wedding for the rest of your life. Make those memories beautiful by choosing composite decking materials. These durable, affordable materials come in a wide variety of colors, never need painting or staining, and are insect and mold proof. Composite decking will look spectacular on your wedding day…and when you have your anniversary celebration 10 years later.

Built in planters can serve double duty when you fill them with wedding flowers! Make sure to take lots of pictures and to truly enjoy your special day.

Best Deck Design for Seniors

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As a deck building company in Massachusetts, we build quite a few decks for older homeowners. Some of our clients are enjoying their retirement while others are still looking forward to it. We’ve found that there are some deck design elements that senior homeowners really appreciate, and this is what they are:

Low Maintenance Decking Materials

Key to deck design for seniors is keeping everything easy to enjoy. That means low maintenance, because who wants to spend time stripping and refinishing a wooden deck? Today’s best decking materials include PVC and composite, which never needs painting, resists moisture and insect damage, and doesn’t warp or split, no matter hot or cold it gets.

Convenient Outdoor Kitchens

Having a well designed outdoor kitchen means enjoying the grill is simple and easy – everything you need is conveniently in place and you don’t need to make repeated trips back and forth to the kitchen. Features to look for in an outdoor kitchen: refrigeration units to keep cold ingredients cold, running water for clean up, and a cooking surface you’ll enjoy using.

Next Level Flower Boxes

Many seniors love gardening. When mobility challenges make getting around the yard difficult, you don’t have to give up enjoying your flowers and vegetables. Just choose a Massachusetts deck building company that specializes in creative deck design. Built in planters, flower boxes at accessible heights, and other garden-focused features mean you can have a lovely green space right on your deck!

Safety & Lighting

Some of the most important aspects of deck design for seniors are things you might not notice if you don’t look for them. It has to do with the quality of construction. Accessibility features like wide, easy to climb steps, strong secure handrails, and strategically placed lighting can make enjoying the deck safer for everyone.