Creative Decks

Your Outdoor Living Specialist

"Design Drawings and Construction Plans"

Framingham, MA

508-877-1060

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Need Space Away from Your Family Sometimes? Build a Sunroom

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Kids are great, aren’t they? So full of energy and creativity, their rambunctious play fills the house with joyful noisy laughter. And of course, we all treasure our sweethearts. Having someone to share life’s triumphs with, and being able to support them through the twists and turns this world has for us – that’s what love’s all about. And it may be that you’re blessed to have your parents or in-laws sharing your home: what a gift to have so much wisdom under one roof.

Yet every now and then, wouldn’t it be lovely to get away from everyone? Just to have a little bit of peace and quiet in a pretty setting, where no one needs anything from you and all of the things on your to-do list can just wait? A space to enjoy a cup of coffee, or meditate, or just do nothing for a little while?

That’s where the sun room comes in. Your local deck builder can install a sunroom on your deck, or they can convert your existing three season deck into a sunroom you can enjoy all year long. Sunrooms are great: they add extra space to your home affordably, feature lots of natural light, and are the perfect setting for Mom or Dad to have a little time to themselves.

Everyone in the family can enjoy the sunroom. For the kids, it’s a great place to unwind. If your kids been having a hard time finding a quiet place where it’s possible to concentrate and get homework done, the sunroom might be exactly what’s required. They make great studies, casual game rooms, or even a nice place to entertain your favorite people.

To learn more about adding a sunroom to your Massachusetts home, talk to your local deck builder. They’ve got all the information you need to make a great decision.

Can You Have a Great Deck Without Going Broke?

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“We’ve got three kids, two dogs, and a very busy lifestyle,” Meghan said. “That also means we’ve got a pretty tight budget for our home renovations. It would be great to have a deck, a really nice deck that is big enough for us to enjoy ourselves & cook out with our friends, but can we actually afford to do that?”

You can have a great deck without going broke. The key is to be smart with your deck design choices. Not all decking materials are created equal, and they certainly don’t all cost the same. In this article, we’re going to look at one decking option that gives you great lasting value for a reasonable price: composite decking.

Composite Decking Prices

When you’re considering composite decking prices, the obvious comparison point is wood decking. This is a little big tricky if you’re also concerned about the aesthetics of your home – the most affordable wood decking option is treated southern pine; if you’re not into the look of bare wood, you’re also going to need to invest in having your wooden deck stained or treated.

Moving from southern pine into more upscale wooden decking options raises the project price point considerably. While cedar decking is a big favorite in this part of Massachusetts, you’re going to pay a little more for it. The pricing is comparable to composite decking, which has the added advantage of being available in a multitude of colors, extremely durable and stable, and impervious to damage from mold, mildew and insects.

Comparing Composite Deck Prices to Wood Deck Prices – Maintenance & Upkeep

It’s important to understand that having a deck built is like any other home improvement. There are some costs you incur up front and some costs that happen over the life of the improvement – maintenance and upkeep costs. When we’re comparing the prices of composite decks to wooden decks, in this regard, composite decking comes out the clear winner.

Patio vs Deck: What’s Right for Your Home?

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If you’d like to spend more time outdoors this summer and want to boost your home’s curb appeal, adding a deck or patio makes sense. But what option is right for your home?

Many people use the terms patio and deck interchangeably, but there are differences between them. The primary differentiator is elevation. Decks are usually built at least a little bit above your property, while patios rest directly on the ground.

This means that the first factor when choosing a deck or patio is your building lot. The lay of the land can be a determining factor that dictates whether a patio is possible or you’ll need to have a deck built to meet your needs. Sloping, narrow lots are common in our region, which explains why you may see more decks than patios in your neighborhood.

There are two other factors to consider when choosing between a patio and a deck. The first factor is maintenance. Decks can be built out of many materials – as Massachusetts deck contractors, we work primarily with composite decking as well as wood – while patios are generally concrete, stone or brick. Composite decking needs virtually no maintenance – you’ll want to spray it with a hose when it gets grungy – while patios generally require more care to stay looking great.

Finally, cost is a consideration. The materials used in constructing a patio don’t have to be expensive – unless you choose an upscale stone or flagstone patio – but there’s a lot of labor involved. Decks are generally more affordable, and can be installed by an experienced local deck contractor very quickly. That’s an important consideration if you want your family to be able to start enjoying outdoor living right away – and it’s always nice to have a little extra money in the budget to have fun with!

How Big Should Your Deck Be?

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Because we specialize in deck construction and creative deck design, local homeowners ask us a lot of questions. One of the questions we hear most often is how big is the average deck?

On one hand, that’s an easy question to answer. Locally, decks average between 400-600 square feet. Front decks tend to be slightly smaller than back decks. Second and third story decks are smaller than ground floor decks. Multi-level decks can be much larger than average, and decks that surround another feature, such as a pool or fire pit, can wind up being quite large in their own right.

But these answers don’t really answer the true question that’s being asked, which is “How large should the deck for my house be?” We’ve never met the homeowner who truly felt their home was average. Every house has its own unique character and charm, and there’s no one right deck design that works on every structure.

This means that on some houses, a small, cute deck is exactly what’s wanted. Other houses – and the family that lives there – may require a gigantic spacious deck with lots of room for entertaining, outdoor living, and lots of kids and pets to play.

Creative deck design principles dictate that the deck should fit the house and the family. This means that a deck should be in scale with the structure it’s attached to. You wouldn’t want to stick a tiny deck on a huge house, nor vice versa: the disconnect in scale would create an unpleasant, jarring visual.

That being said, it’s important that the deck be large enough to accommodate all of the family’s needs. If you’re planning on using the deck to entertain large parties, it needs to be quite large – even if the house it is attached to is on the modest side.

The Front Entrance Deck: Setting the Tone for Your Home

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The front deck is special. This is the deck that connects your home to the world; a landing that transitions people from the sidewalk or driveway into the entrance of your home. This is the very first point where your guests experience your hospitality. It’s the stage where you’re letting people know what they can expect when they visit you.

No pressure, right? Luckily, front deck design doesn’t have to be complicated. Make the process super simple by working with a local deck builder who specializes in creative deck design.

The best front deck designs complement and enhance your home’s appearance. In other words, the deck and the home should coordinate. If you have a traditional, formal home, you’ll want an elegant deck. If your place is more quirky and family friendly, you’ll want a cute deck design.

Essentials of Front Deck Design

All great front decks have to stay looking great, no matter what the weather is. That’s a tall order in Massachusetts, where the summer temps can soar into the high 90’s, and winter winds can result in temps dropping way below zero.

For this reason, the best deck builders rely on composite decking materials. These planet-friendly materials come in a variety of colors, don’t warp, split or bend, and resist insects, mold, and mildew. Composite decking also requires very little in the way of maintenance, especially compared to traditional wooden decks. While a wooden deck must be stained and sealed repeatedly throughout its lifetime, a composite deck needs only to be sprayed down with a hose periodically to stay looking great.

Front decks can be any size you’d like. The average deck in our area is between 400-500 square feet, although some multi-level decks are larger. To discover your front deck options and to see samples of our work, give us a call. We’ll be happy to discuss all of the possibilities with you!

Converting a Screen Porch to a Sunroom: Why This is the Best Idea Ever

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Screen porches are awesome. There’s no doubt about that. If you need a comfortable place to relax, enjoy hanging out with your family and friends, or just have a quiet moment away without having to go anywhere, a screen porch is the best.

But we live in Massachusetts, which means there’s some pretty hard limits on when we can enjoy a screen porch. Remember January, when it was so cold, or December, when it just wouldn’t stop snowing? That’s not exactly screen porch weather – and that means that even though you’ve got the space, you’re not using it.

Sunrooms are also awesome. However, because sunrooms feature glass windows, rather than screen, you can enjoy them throughout the year. Depending on the design options you go for, your sunroom can be insulated and heated – a true outdoor living space for all four seasons.

The Advantages of Converting a Screen Porch Into a Sunroom

As home renovations go, converting a screen porch into a sunroom is easy and affordable. All of the essentials of the structure are already there. Your local deck designer can incorporate the existing screen porch into a sunroom, integrating windows and doors as needed to create a gorgeous, spacious sunroom.

What will you use your sunroom for? There’s literally no limit on how you can enjoy a sunroom. Some people use their sunrooms in much they way they use the screen porch – as an area to relax and unwind. Sunrooms are also very popular as children’s playrooms. They’re great concentration spaces – if you need to study, work on creative projects, practice a musical instrument, or mediate, a sunroom can be exactly what you need.

If you think you’d like to convert your screen porch into a sunroom, the time to talk to your local deck builder is now. The spring building season has already started. The sooner your screen porch conversion is completed, the sooner you can begin enjoying your new sunroom.