Creative Decks

Your Outdoor Living Specialist

"Design Drawings and Construction Plans"

Framingham, MA

508-877-1060

Decks

Winter Means Creative Deck Design Dreams for Metrowest Homeowners

By on

With Christmas only a few short weeks away, many Metrowest homeowners have a few holiday dreams of their own. Adding a deck or patio to the house is one of the home improvements most likely to boost curb appeal and deliver significant levels of homeowner satisfaction. Busy holiday schedules mean you might not be ready to call your Metrowest deck builder just yet – but there’s no law that says you can’t do a little dreaming.

Here are some of the deck features that are particularly popular regionally:

Fire pits, built in fireplaces, and other fire features: there’s something about the sight, sound, and smell of an open fire that puts the heart and mind at ease. If you’re driving around Framingham or other Metrowest neighborhoods now, the odds are pretty good you’ve seen at least one family enjoying their deck’s fire feature: don’t forget, they add warmth as well as charm to your deck design.

Storage that doubles as seating: if you have kids or pets, there will be toys on your deck. Having your Metrowest deck builder create seating that doubles as storage is a smart way to keep your deck tidy and organized while ensuring everyone has a comfortable place to sit. Are you worried about little ones or clever canines opening the storage when you’re not looking? Simple latches can conquer that issue!

Three season porches: Adapting part of a deck design with screening, trellises, or other structural elements to create areas that can be used comfortable throughout three seasons of the year makes sense in New England, where the winters arrive suddenly and with lots of snow. The nice thing about working with a custom deck builder is you have absolute freedom to create a space that makes sense for your family’s needs.

Outdoor Decks for Active, Athletic Families with Busy Lifestyles

By on

“When we first met with our outdoor deck builder, I tried to stress to him how busy and active our 3 kids are,” said Roy. “But then our dog Wilson came bounding up to introduce himself. Did I mention that Wilson is a Saint Bernard? That’s when the builder laughed and said, “We’ll have to build you an extra sturdy deck!”

When families are active, especially when they have pets, the outdoor deck can see a lot of use. For this reason, the best outdoor deck builders will recommend using a composite decking material. This composite material is more durable than wood, and requires less maintenance. “If your kids ride skateboards or you’re not hyper-vigilant about getting your dog’s nails clipped,” Roy said, “a wood deck might not necessarily last that long. Ask me how I know.”

When a family is very active and frequently on the go, special attention must be paid to porch stair design. “Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve got big feet,” Roy said. “I hate it when you go up the stairs and you have to turn your foot so it fits on the step properly. My son’s feet are 2 sizes bigger than mine already – and he’s only 12!” Custom deck design allows homeowners to have what they want – in Roy’s case, wider than average porch stairs. “The railings are built to stand up to a lot of wear and tear,” Roy added, grabbing onto the porch railing and pulling hard. “Which is good, because we need this deck to last for a while.”

The other issue that concerns busy families when it comes to their decks is maintenance. As outdoor deck builders, we’re often asked which type of deck is the easiest to keep clean. Composite decking and PVC decking are top choice for easy maintenance deck: a good power washing periodically is all you need!

Outdoor Decks for Introverts

By on

“I like to be outside, by myself,” Dani said. “You can call me an introvert – I admit it. My job requires me to spend a lot of time with people, so if I can get a chance to relax all by myself, you’d better believe I take it.” When it came time to put a new deck on her home in Western MA, Dani had some definite design ideas in mind. “I wanted pretty and private,” she explained. “While still being able to enjoy the sun and the breeze.”

There are a number of ways to create private-feeling outdoor spaces. Creative deck design can involve using trellises, screening, plants, and even artwork to compose retreat-like areas that exist, serene and tranquil, within even the busiest metrowest MA neighborhoods. The choice and positioning of deck stairs and railings can also communicate a sense of enthusiastic welcome or genteel reserve to the passerby; your deck designer will help you make the right choices for the type of impression you’d like to make.

“The fire pit is by far the best part of our new outdoor deck,” Dani said. “The days are getting shorter now, and it’s been cold. But you turn on that fire pit, and grab a mug of hot cocoa, and it’s perfect for getting away from everything. I don’t bring my phone out on the deck. It makes it a space that’s truly relaxing. Even if you’re out there for only 10 minutes, you feel better.”

“One thing I really enjoy doing is reading,” Dani added. “I love getting absolutely lost in a good book. So as part of our creative deck design, I wanted to be sure there was space for reading. We chose a two-level deck, and our deck builders created a nook in the corner of the second level that provides shelter from the wind and has deck lighting built in. It’s been wonderful.”

Pet Friendly Deck Design

By on

Decks are meant for the whole family to enjoy. For many families, this means dogs and cats as well as children – not to mention more exotic animals like iguanas and guinea pigs. Here are some points to keep in mind for truly pet-friendly deck design:

Have a plan to keep your pets on the porch: There is no amount of animal training that will result in your pet reliably staying on the deck 100% of the time. There are just too many tempting distractions, including neighborhood dogs that want to play, cars to chase, and strange smells and sounds that demand investigation. Having a gate that closes will provide some measure of containment, but be aware that dogs can jump much higher than you think and a gate will do nothing to keep cats in.

Shade and shelter are a priority: A pet shouldn’t be left unattended on the deck for any prolonged period of time, but if you do, make sure your pet has shade and shelter. The sun in the Metrowest area can be brutal, and rainstorms do happen, even when the weather forecast says they won’t. Having a shelter also gives your pets a place to hide from predatory birds and neighborhood animals that may want to get too close.

Food and water stations: Your pet needs continual access to fresh food and water. Your Metrowest deck builder can integrate a food and water station into the deck design to allow your pet metered amounts of food and water. Many of these systems can be shut off when your pet is indoors, which keeps your deck from becoming an all-you-can-eat buffet for neighborhood animals and birds.

A word about the bathroom: Pets need to go to the bathroom, and they can’t necessarily wait until they get back inside with their litterbox. Set up a litterbox for cats and other small animals outdoors; have a plan in place to allow the dog to access the yard as needed.

Is Your Deck Ready for Halloween?

By on

Halloween is right around the corner, and you know what that means: trick or treaters! Is there anything cuter than a parade of costumed tiny tots going door to door? You’ll want to be sure your porch is ready to welcome your tiny visitors. Here’s what you need to know:

Check your porch stairs now: as Metrowest homeowners, we can become accustomed to the fact our porch stairs are less than ideal. But if the porch steps are sagging, unevenly spaced, or otherwise damaged, they can be hard for little ones to climb safely. Give the stairs a quick inspection and if things aren’t up to snuff, call your deck builders for repairs: it’s a small job that can make everyone’s holiday better.

Test your lighting now: Families feel best about trick or treating at homes that are well-lighted and inviting. Don’t count on your porch lightbulb to be up to the task if you haven’t used it in a while. Test your deck lighting now. Turn it on and stand on the street or sidewalk: is it easy to see a route to your door? If not, change lightbulbs or install additional lighting fixtures.

Position decorations strategically: Wild witches and scary monsters are part of the Halloween fun. You want to be sure that all of your Halloween decorations are securely in place – it does get windy in the Metrowest area! – and positioned in such a way that children can approach your house without being too frightened. Some families have decks with two entranceways and decorating accordingly – one family friendly entrance that’s not so scary and a terrifying entrance for older kids who enjoy being scared.

A word about teal pumpkins: In nature, pumpkins are orange, white, and very occasionally pink. You may see teal pumpkins for sale or displayed at homes. These teal pumpkins are for homes that give out treats for children with food allergies, such as nuts, chocolate or soy. Many times this means toys or stickers instead of candy – it’s a nice gesture to be sure everyone can enjoy the holiday.