Creative Decks

Your Outdoor Living Specialist

"Design Drawings and Construction Plans"

Framingham, MA

508-877-1060

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The Dog Friendly Deck

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Part of great deck design is making sure the deck is a fun, safe space for everyone who will use it. This certainly includes your canine companions! Dogs spend a lot of time on decks, especially during the warm weather months. When you’re talking to your local deck contractor about having your deck built, you’ll want to keep the following tips in mind:

Everything Needs to be Non-Toxic – Especially if You’ve Got A Chewer

Dogs chew when they’re anxious, when they’re bored, when they know you have company coming over…the list is endless. You don’t want them chewing on anything that will make them sick, so make sure your local deck contractor knows how important it is to use non-toxic building materials. This means no pressure treated wood or any other building product that contains arsenic. If your dog is a big-time chewer, look into spray on cribbing solutions – these are often sold in the equine section at farm stores. These coatings make wood taste bad, so your dog won’t chew.

Dogs Need Shade

A sunny deck is great -if you have the ability to leave it whenever things get too warm. If your dog is going to be confined on the deck for any period of time, it’s important to make sure they have a shady place to get out of the sun’s hot rays. It’s also nice for them to have shelter from any sudden rainstorm or other weather event.

The Rails Need to Be Close Together

Tell your local deck contractor that it’s important that your dog not be able to squeeze their body between the deck rails – something a determined pupper might do if they see a squirrel, another neighborhood dog, the mailman, or an opportunity to go exploring. This is particularly important on upper level decks, as not all dogs understand that they will fall a great distance if they try to escape!

Bedroom Additions on a Budget: How to Make It Happen in Framingham, MA

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Sometimes, families grow faster than budgets do. If you need more space, but you also have to keep costs under control, you’ll appreciate these tips for saving money on your bedroom addition in Framingham, MA:

Know Your Limitations

Before you even begin planning, make sure you know how your home is situated on your lot, and how close you are to your property lines. There are rules and regulations governing how close your home can come to the property line, and if you violate those rules, any structure that’s been built may have to be torn down. That’s extremely expensive and frustrating – but it’s also entirely avoidable.

Be Open to Going Up

If your home is too close to property lines, a first floor addition may not be for you. Don’t despair! Second and even third story additions are great ways to add more bedrooms to your home. In some instances, it may be possible to put an addition over a garage as well – great if you need space for your adult children.

Know What You Need & What You Want

We all have the ideal bedroom in our mind – which can be filled with high end features like a fireplace, huge bathroom and walk in closets, a hot tub, a built in wine refrigerator…you get the idea. Make a plan detailing what you absolutely need to have in order to be happy with your bedroom addition – that will be the most budget friendly option. As for the nicer features? Talk to your Framingham building contractor about them. Some things may be more affordable than you might imagine.

Work with a Design/Build Contractor

You can have an architect draw up the plans for your bedroom addition and then find a contractor to build them, or you can work with a design/build contractor who does everything for you. Obviously, the latter option is more affordable and efficient – great if you’re short on money and time.

Deck Contractors in MA: Who Can You Trust?

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This winter and spring has been pretty rough on homes throughout Massachusetts. Storm damage from high winds, water, flooding, ice and snow was widespread. Anytime this happens, a number of new contracting companies appear, eager to do business. If you’re looking for a deck contractor in MA to repair your existing deck, or to add a new deck to your home, you’ll want to know you’re working with someone who is professional, reliable, and trustworthy. Here are some tips for finding that person:

Does Your Neighbor Have a Great Deck? Ask Who Built It

When you’re going through the community as part of your daily routine, pay attention to the area homes. If your friend, neighbor, or community acquaintance has a great deck, ask them who built it. This is often the easiest way to find a deck contractor in MA: the work recommends itself.

Use Social Media – Strategically

Let your online friends know you’re looking for a deck contractor in MA. Facebook has a ‘looking for recommendations’ feature that’s very handy. If you belong to any community based Facebook groups, they can also be a great source of information on local contractors. Bear in mind that some people online will be recommending either their own business or that of their friends, so you’ll want to do a little more research before moving forward, but it can be a great starting point.

Do an In Person Interview Before Saying Yes

You want to have a meeting with any prospective deck contractor before they start working on your home. During this meeting, you will discuss what you’d like your new deck to be like, as well as your timeline and budget. Use this opportunity to ask the deck contractor about their experience, licenses, insurance and so on. It’s also a good time to get a sense of if this contractor is the type of person you want to have around your home. You’re not obligated to say yes to anyone, so if you don’t feel right about someone, say no until you find someone who is right for you.

5 Reasons to Build a Sunroom

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There are few home improvement projects that make homeowners as happy as a sunroom. As creative deck designers and Framingham building contractors, we work on a lot of local projects and get to see the impact our work has on family life. Here’s what we’ve learned about the five reasons to build a sunroom:

1) Kids love sunrooms. When it’s too cold to play outside, the sunroom has great natural light and a cool outdoor feel that’s great for hanging out, playing games, doing artwork and having fun.

2) Pets love sunrooms. If you have cats, you already know how much they enjoy having a comfortable, sunny spot to snooze. And being able to watch birds, squirrels and other local wildlife from a safe location is pretty neat. Dogs love sunrooms too, especially if they get to hang out with their favorite people.

3) Plants love sunrooms. Whether you want to go for the classic English conservatory look and fill your sunroom with gorgeous orchids and other tropical plants, or you just want some space to start a few tomato plants for the patio, a sunroom is a great spot to do it. Having living green plants in the home lowers stress, boosts creativity, and can contribute to positive indoor air quality.

4) Sunrooms are great for rest & relaxation. Do you need a break from always being on the go? The sunroom can be your quiet retreat. Curl up in a comfy chair and lose yourself in a great book, or simply watch what’s going on outdoors. If you’re a birdwatcher, nature lover, or enjoy having a great view of the weather as it happens, you’ll love your sunroom.

5) Sunrooms add to the beauty and curb appeal of your home. Conventional wisdom says it’s kitchens that sell homes, but in our experience, having a great sunroom has certainly persuaded at least a few buyers to make an offer on the home of their dreams. Sunrooms look great inside and out, and are the perfect addition to any Framingham home.