Creative Decks

Your Outdoor Living Specialist

"Design Drawings and Construction Plans"

Framingham, MA

508-877-1060

Decks

Life’s Simple Pleasures: How a Deck Helps Families Relax

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If you’re feeling a little stressed out lately, you’re not alone. Americans are reporting record levels of overwhelm and tension, according to the Pew Research Center. Kids are just as stressed out as adults. With that in mind, we thought we’d point out a few ways that a deck can help your family relax and focus on what’s good in life:

Decks provide a place to be outside.

Human beings spend more than 90% of their lives indoors, yet we need fresh air and sunshine. A deck is a convenient, easy to access way to get the family outdoors. Feeling the breeze blowing and seeing the birds fly around is a nice change from whatever’s playing on the nearest screen. It’s good to take a break from the news and social media every now and then.

Decks provide a place for conversation.

Smart deck design includes seating so people can sit and talk together. These can be fun family discussions, random musings with your friends, or even community event planning sessions. When planning your deck, talk to your local deck contractor about seating & shade – not everyone enjoys being in the full sun.

Decks are great for dining out.

Love to barbecue? The deck’s ideal for outdoor cooking. Don’t feel like firing up the grill? It turns out you can eat any of your favorite foods on the deck. Have pizza delivered and enjoy it on the deck – somehow it tastes even better than when you eat it inside. The kids want ice cream cones? The best decks are low-maintenance: just spray off any drips and drops that may happen with a quick hit from the hose.

Decks are for doing anything you want…or nothing at all.

Summer is time for those old-fashioned activities that are great for family bonding. Play cards together, read some books, or drink sweet tea and watch people going by. Or for the ultimate reaction, try doing nothing at all: relaxing in a comfortable chair with a cool drink is not the worst way to spend an afternoon.

Enjoy Summer’s Sweetest Moments in a Screen Porch Deck

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Living in the Framingham area, we spend all winter dreaming about the summer. It’s hard not to fantasize about warm, sunny days when the wind is howling and there’s snow falling from the sky. The idea of laying on a sunny deck sounds perfect. But once summer arrives, it turns out that sometimes we need a break from the direct sunlight. Even if we don’t, our older loved ones, kids, and pets definitely do. And in the summer, the bugs are out. If you prefer to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, there’s one place to be: the Screen Porch Deck.

Having a screen porch deck built is more affordable than you might think. The trick is to choose a local deck contractor who specializes in creative deck design. Screen porch decks have been experiencing a surge of popularity over the past five to ten years, which means there’s a rich variety of style options to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a formal space to compliment a classic home, or a more casual screen porch that’s fun for your kids and pets, there’s a screen porch deck design that’s right for you.

One benefit of choosing a screen porch deck is you have an outdoor living space that’s semi-private. If you prefer to enjoy the outdoors without being seen by every random person passing by, a screen porch deck is a great place to hang out. Screen porch decks are ideal for relaxing. Some little kids like taking their nap on the screen porch – and believe it or not, there are adults who do the same thing! A warm summer evening is the ideal opportunity to get out of the house, away from the electronics, and just enjoy each other’s company in comfort. That’s what screen porch decks are made for.

Is Dad’s New Grill Too Nice For The Deck?

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So Father’s Day has come and gone, and Dad is thrilled with the new grill the family surprised him with. There’s just one problem: the shiny new grill looks sadly out of place on the deck that’s seen better days. Here’s what you need to know about upgrading your deck on a budget.

Choose a Local Deck Company for Best Results: When you’re choosing a company to build your deck, think local. There are benefits to choosing a local deck contractor. First of all, they live in the community and want to preserve their reputation for doing good work. If there’s a problem with your deck, it’s much easier to connect with a local contractor to have it addressed promptly. And finally, choosing a local contractor keeps those funds in your community – good news for everyone.

Consider PVC or Composite Decking: PVC decking is durable, colorful, maintenance free and long lasting. If you want to get the most for your money, you’ll be happiest with a PVC deck, which outperforms traditional wooden decking in every meaningful way. There’s no maintenance required, which means Dad can spend his weekends enjoying the deck rather than taking care of it!

Outdoor kitchen spaces make great grills even better! Outdoor kitchens are one of the most popular custom deck features. When you meet with your local deck contractor, ask about what can be done to create the perfect setting for Dad’s new grill. Outdoor kitchens can run the gamut from the very simple – some built in tables to hold ingredients and cooking utensils and a roof to keep the elements off – to the very upscale, including high end features like outdoor sinks and built-in refrigeration units.

Act Now & Dad Can Enjoy the New Deck All Summer Long

Summertime is prime deck building time in the Framingham area. If Dad needs a new deck, give us a call. We’re here to help you make that new grill look even better!

The Essential Elements of the Patio Bar

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What’s the purpose of a deck? For a lot of homeowners, a deck is a place to gather with friends and have a good time. If you like enjoying adult beverages, having a bar on the patio makes sense. It’s a great place to keep beers cold and show off your cocktail mixing skills. As a deck building company in Massachusetts, we’ve built more than a few patio bars, and have identified these essential elements:

A Place to Mix Drinks: An elevated, flat surface that’s at least a foot wide and a few feet long means you’ll be able to create and serve up beverages easily. It’s a good idea for the bar to be high enough to keep drinks out of the reach of small children. A nice bonus feature: having a built in sink and refrigerator allows you to keep everything clean and as cold as it needs to be. In the mood to be a little extra? An insulated drawer can be ideal for keeping ice on hand for the duration of your party.

Seating: Some homeowners love the classic bar stool to accompany their patio bar, but if you want to keep the whole thing a little more low-key, have your deck building company in Massachusetts hook you up with some built in seating. Comfy seating makes it easier to relax with a glass of wine while the kids are chasing fire flies around the back yard. Smart Moms know you grab a chance to rest whenever you can!

Shade & Screen Porches: If your deck is in the direct sunlight most of the time, it can get uncomfortably hot. Having your deck contractor add a partial roof or awning to create a shady area is a great idea. Screen porches are a great solution when you want to enjoy your cocktail away from biting mosquitoes and other insects.

What are the advantages of choosing a PVC deck?

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“We were talking about having a deck added to our home, and I don’t know – I just assumed decks were made out of wood. But it turns out that the deck company near me specializes in PVC decks,” Amber said. “So tell me, what are the advantages of a PVC deck?”

The first thing to understand is that a deck is outdoors, continually exposed to all kinds of weather. Here in the Framingham area, we see every extreme. Summers can be extremely hot with bright sunshine; in the winter, we get lots of snow and icy-cold temperatures. In between, heavy spring rains and frosty fall mornings happen. A wooden deck will respond to these changing weather conditions in a number of ways: shrinking, twisting, splitting, changing color, and generally falling apart over time. A PVC deck doesn’t respond to the elements. It stays strong, durable, and looking good no matter what Mother Nature throws at it.

Another reason PVC decks are awesome has to do with animals. We’re not talking about your dogs and cats – although PVC decks do stand up to the wear and tear of pet traffic much better than wooden decks. Instead, let’s talk about termites, carpenter ants, and the countless other insects that like to snack on and make their homes in wooden decks. These little creepy crawlies just aren’t interested in PVC decks. There’s nothing there for them to eat or nest in, so they don’t even bother. As a result, your deck lasts longer and you never have to worry about insect damage.

Did somebody say maintenance? Wooden decks are a lot of work. They have to be cleaned, stained and sealed periodically. Depending on the size of your deck, this could be an entire weekend’s worth of work. Is that how you want to spend your free time? No – and that’s what makes PVC deck so appealing. Every now and then, you spray off the deck with a hose to keep things tidy and that’s it. Super easy and smart!