Creative Decks

Your Outdoor Living Specialist

"Design Drawings and Construction Plans"

Framingham, MA

508-877-1060

Decks

What Are Good Plants to Grow on Decks in Framingham, MA?

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Gardening is incredibly popular because people love having their own fresh grown vegetables, herbs and flowers. One easy, convenient way to enjoy all the benefits of a garden without a ton of physical work is to to grow plants on your deck. Creative deck design can include built-in planters and flower boxes. It’s a smart idea to position these features strategically, to take advantage of the best sunlight.

Framingham is in hardiness zone 6A, which means popular garden vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, beans, and lettuce all grow well here. You can also grow Asian vegetables including bok choi, tatsoi, mustard spinach and bitter melon. Love the idea of having an orchard on your porch? Have your deck designer include space for container-grown fruit trees: miniature varieties of apple, cherry, plum, peach, and citrus trees will all thrive in the Framingham sunshine. Fruit trees will need some special care and may need to be sheltered indoors to survive through the winter – you’ll want to keep that in mind when making your garden plans. To enjoy fruit on your deck with less work, choose to grow strawberries or blueberries. They do great in containers and add a bright pop of color to your deck.

You can grow a lot of different kinds of herbs in Framingham, MA. Herbs grow very well in containers. Oregano, basil, dill, parsley, chives, and other herbs are really pretty plants as well as being very tasty additions to your cooking. Growing herbs from seed can take a lot of patience – some varieties take weeks, even months, to sprout. The quicker route to a great herb garden is to buy herb plants – try 4″ pots in flowerboxes.

Growing flowers on your deck is a fun way to add a splash of color to your home. Zinnias and marigolds are fun for the kids to grow from seed. Petunias, pansies, impatients, and other colorful annuals come in gorgeous shades of yellow, red, orange, pink, purple, and more. For a really dramatic look, choose to grow flowers that are all the same color family; if you’re aiming for a warm welcoming casual look, use a combination of your favorite colors.

Finding Reliable Deck Builders in Metrowest MA

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“Having a deck put onto our home was the first home improvement project I ever tackled, and I have to say it didn’t go very well.” Phyllis shook her head. “I found a guy on Craigslist, he came out, did some measuring, gave us a bid, took a deposit, and worked on the project for half of an entire day. Then he left for lunch and never came back!” She shook her head. “Now I have to get a deck built, but I’m worried about getting burned again. How do you find a reliable deck builder in the Metrowest MA area?”

Unreliable contractors are one of the top complaints homeowners have. People are very good at making promises and very bad at following through with what they said they’re going to do. When interviewing potential contractors, ask to see photographs of other decks they’ve built. You want to see the quality of the work – but you also want to see that they have numerous completed builds to show you! Be particularly wary of people who are building decks on the side or as a source of extra income: they often have career and family demands that can keep them from getting your deck built in a timely fashion. If professionalism matters to you, it’s best to hire a professional.

It’s a good idea to talk to people you know who have well-built, attractive decks you admire. Ask who did the work and if the homeowner has been pleased by the contractor. Personal recommendations are worth a lot, as people won’t generally recommend a bad builder!

When you’re trusting someone to work on your home, you want to know they’re skilled and reliable. Creative Decks has been serving the Framingham and larger Metrowest area for over twenty years. We’re an established construction company that’s in it for the long haul: you never have to worry about our crews not coming back after lunch! We’ll be there until the job is done properly.

Our Dogs Are Destroying Our Porch Steps: Help!

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“We have two dogs, Jackson and Ponder. And they are definitely high energy canines,” Samuel said. “They go everywhere at full speed, all the time. That includes out the door, across the porch, and down the steps. You can definitely see where they travel. Their nails dig into the wood, and the edges of the stairs are all rounded off. The second stair from the bottom actually has a chunk gone out of it! We’re going to have the Framingham deck builders come and replace everything this summer, but I want to make sure we’re spending our money wisely. What can I do to keep the dogs from destroying our new porch?”

Dogs add a lot of joy to our lives, but they can be destructive. When durability is a top concern, you want to think twice about using wood for your porch steps and decking. Wood splinters, cracks, and crumbles under a steady onslaught of dog traffic. Your dog is not going to stop going outside for walks or to play once the new porch is in place! You need a building material that’s made to look great no matter who’s running across it.

Composite decking and PVC decking are two top choices for heavy traffic decks. This engineered materials are far more durable than wood. They resist the weather, standing up to all four seasons in Framingham. Whether the winter winds are blowing or summer sun is beating down, composite decking stays solid and strong. Many times dogs’ toenails damage decks in areas already compromised by the weather, expanding existing cracks or splits. Because PVC decking won’t develop those cracks or splits, it means less damage from your dogs.

Another nice thing about choosing composite or PVC decking is the color stays strong and true for many, many years. As you know, wooden decks have to be stained, painted, or sealed on a regular basis. If you’ve ever had your canine companion run over a freshly painted porch, leaving colorful pawprints everywhere they go, you know how much fun that is! With PVC decking for your Framingham porch, you never have to worry!

Creative Deck Design in Framingham Centers on Convenience, Fun

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“We spend our summers outside,” Linda said. “And honestly, if we can be out during the spring and fall, we are. We moved to Framingham because we love it and want to enjoy this great environment.” Linda’s not alone. Outdoor living has become a top priority for many homeowners, who intend to derive maximum enjoyment from their outdoor living spaces. This is influencing creative deck design in two primary ways: an emphasis on convenience and fun-boosting features.

“I don’t want to run into the house every time one of the kids wants a drink,” Linda said. “And let’s be real, with three little ones, someone always wants a drink.” She worked with her deck designers to create a versatile outdoor kitchen space. “We can grill. There’s space for entertaining. But my favorite, favorite part is the little fridge and the sink. It makes dealing with all those on-the-go snacks and clean up so simple.”

Other convenience boosting features include built in storage integrated into the deck’s seating. “Everyone’s not completely toilet trained at this point, so sometimes you’ve got to do an emergency change,” Linda explained. She flipped up a seat cushion to reveal an area stocked with diapers, wipes, and kid’s clothes. “This way, I don’t have to bring all of the kids indoors to change a diaper.”  After her kids are older, Linda plans to use the compartment for toy storage. “As you can see, we have no shortage of toys!”

Linda’s deck isn’t just for the children. “Bedtime can be the best part of the day,” she said with a laugh. “Once the kids are asleep, my husband and I love relaxing out here under the stars.” Fire features are extremely popular deck upgrades right now, ranging from simple fire pits to built in fireplaces. In more urban areas, wood burning fire features are replaced by units that burn bioethanol.

Spring Brings Beginning of Outdoor Living Season

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Some people like snow, cold and freezing winds. And for much of the year, Western Massachusetts delivers exactly what those people love. But now spring is here, and those of us who love sunshine, warmth, and being able to go outdoors without ever once thinking about developing frostbite can begin enjoying the great outdoors. Here are some tips for getting your deck ready for spring:

  1. Start with a Spring Cleaning: PVC and composite decking is a snap to clean. A quick spray with the hose will leave everything looking good. Patio furniture should be thoroughly wiped down with a cloth to remove any loose dirt or cobwebs. Any toys that spent the winter outdoors should be inspected to make sure they didn’t break or crack. If your child has outgrown a toy, donate it & reclaim that space in your deck storage bins.
  2. Look at Your Lighting: Spring days are shorter than summer days. Stretch the amount of enjoyment time by having your Massachusetts deck builders add features that brighten your space, such as illuminated deck columns or an outdoor kitchen. Choosing the right outdoor lighting fixtures is so important.
  3. Go Green: Pantone’s color of the year is Greenery, a natural verdant shade outdoor living designers love. Expect to see this cheery green color in patio furniture cushion covers, umbrella and outdoor linens. Another way to add greenery to your deck is with the addition of living plants. Your Massachusetts deck builder can install custom planters and flowerboxes to your deck design. Grow roses! Grow tomatoes! Grow whatever makes you happy – that’s the point.
  4. Everybody Eats! BBQ is only the beginning of enjoying outdoor cuisine. Talk to your Massachusetts deck builder about your outdoor kitchen options. Features can be added to an existing deck, or you can choose to have an outdoor kitchen designed as an integral element of a new deck you’re adding to your home – back yard decks are the top choice for families who have kids who play in the back yard!