Creative Decks

Your Outdoor Living Specialist

"Design Drawings and Construction Plans"

Framingham, MA

508-877-1060

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Is Your Deck Safe for Summer Fun?

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“I never really thought about deck safety until Uncle Harold came over last summer,” Stanley said. “I love the guy, but he’s a big fellow. And maybe our deck was getting a little worn down, I don’t know. But we had a barbecue, Harold had a couple of beers, and the next thing you know, crack – his foot’s right through the deck. Scratched himself up pretty good, but luckily nothing serious.”

If you want to avoid being in Stanley’s position, take the time now to make sure your deck is safe for summer fun. We asked the Dover deck construction experts what to look for, and here’s what they said:

Check Wooden Decking Carefully

Look out for broken decking, as well as split, twisted, or cracked wood. White pine is one of the most common decking materials in the Dover area, and while it’s attractive and affordable, it doesn’t really stand up well to the summer sun and winter weather for too long. Redwood decking also deteriorates over the course of time, so you want to look for any damaged decking. If you find it – call in your Dover deck construction company for repairs.

Supports, Stairs & Rails Must All Be Intact

Take a good look underneath your deck. Moisture, mold, insects and other animals can do damage to the structure of your deck that could actually be dangerous – particularly if a supporting pillar or beam gives way.

During your inspection, pay careful attention to your deck stairs, as well as any railings you may have. This must all be in good repair, both for your family’s sake as well as to keep your home in compliance with your homeowner’s insurance policy’s rules and regulations.

Deck Repair or Replacement?

As Dover deck contractors, we know that every family has a budget. If a job can be repaired, we won’t try to sell you on replacing the entire deck. And if replacement is in order, we go above and beyond to make sure you love your new deck!

4 Reasons You Really Want a Sunroom, Not a Deck

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So here we are, looking at a long summer at home. Having a deck put on is a relatively quick and simple home improvement project. But before you call your Maynard deck contractor to get the job done, ask yourself: is what you really want them to build for you a sunroom?

Here are 4 reasons sunrooms are absolutely awesome:

Sunrooms provide privacy. Yes – it is wonderful to be outside, but do you really want to be on the deck where everyone walking around the neighborhood or stuck at home staring out their windows can see you?

Sunrooms are enjoyable even when it’s rainy, windy, or cold. There are some beautiful summer days in Maynard, but we also get our fair share of spring and autumn days. Because a sunroom shelters you from the elements, you can still enjoy the best of outdoor living in comfort.

Sunrooms are great at keeping kids & pets contained. Little ones and fur babies love to run all around, but sometimes you need the ability to keep them safely and conveniently in one place. Sunrooms provide shelter from the hot sun, unpleasant weather, and biting insects like mosquitos and ticks, which sometimes carry disease. If you’re interested in keeping your family safe, a sunroom can make a lot of sense.

Sunrooms are ideal when you want to get away from it all without going anywhere. As much as we all love our families, it’s nice to have some time to ourselves. When you don’t want to get out and about, the sunroom is a perfect alternative: pretty, comfortable, and quiet, it’s an ideal location to curl up with a cup of coffee and a book for a while.

Sunrooms are one of the most cost-effective ways to add usable living space to your home. Sunrooms come with screens, if you’d like, which means you never have to miss out on fresh air and nice breezes!

Getting a New Deck? Here’s How to Get the Most for Your Money

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With the situation being what it is and families planning on staying close to home this summer, lots of Marlborough area homeowners are having new decks installed. If you’re planning on doing the same thing, here are some tips on how to get the most for your money:

Work with a Builder Who Specializes in Decks

Lots of people are looking for work right now, and many of them will tell you it’s absolutely no problem to build your deck – even if deck design and construction is not normally part of what they do. It may be true that just about anyone can build a deck – but it’s also absolutely true that not everybody can build a great deck. And for your home, and your family? You want a great deck.

Have Your Deck Designed

There’s no such thing as a great, standard deck. That’s why you want to have your deck designed. Deck design results in an outdoor living space that’s customized to meet your family’s specific needs while complementing your home’s appearance and boosting curb appeal.

Deck design involves both form and function. That’s why your Marlborough deck designer will ask you a lot of questions about your family and how you plan to enjoy your deck. For example, if you have smaller children – especially babies and toddlers – it’s a great idea to have a shade feature that allows the kids to enjoy the outdoors without getting overheated.

Choose Composite Decking Materials

Many of the families who are having decks installed in Marlborough now are doing so because it’s a unique opportunity to do so. It’s a good idea to invest your funds in decking materials that can really stand the test of time. Composite decking is available in a variety of colors, doesn’t twist, warp or split when it’s really hot or very cold, and resists damage from moisture, insects, and mildew. It lasts an incredibly long time and is planet friendly.

Creating Serenity: Deck Design for Calm Peaceful Enjoyment

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Some people want to have a deck built because they want to have outdoor parties with their family and friends. Other people choose a custom deck because they need a place for their kids and pets to play and get fresh air. As Bellingham deck contractors, our job is to give homeowners the ideal outdoor space to meet their needs – so what happens when you’ve got a need for a serene place to relax and get away from the world?

Every deck design we do is unique, but there are certain features that would certainly make sense for the Bellingham homeowner who wants a peaceful, retreat-style deck:

Privacy Features: Nothing is as serene as solitude. Privacy features for your deck can include screening or trellises; the use of greenery or strategically positioned artwork is another option.

Focus Points: Choose a fire feature, water fall, or even a built-in rock garden to serve as a key element of your serene space. Larger decks can incorporate more than one focus point. Your Bellingham deck designer can help you choose elements that work well with the overall design of your home and landscape to enhance the calming effect.

Comfortable Seating: Choose seating that you’ll be able to enjoy sitting in for a prolonged period of time. Think about what you like to do in your serene space: the seating choice that might make sense to an avid reader could be very different than what the person who plans on doing a lot of napping wants.

Soothing Color: Color has a huge impact on mood. That’s why many spaces that are designed to be calming, serene areas feature cool blue and green tones, as well as natural wood elements. One way to integrate color effectively into your deck design is by your choice of decking material. Composite decking is a form of planet-friendly building material that comes in dozens of strong, vibrant colors. The color stays strong for decades without fading, and it doesn’t need any special maintenance. Want to find out more? Talk to your local deck builder today.

Great Decks for Small Lots

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“Even if we’re not sheltering in place by the summer, we’re going to be close to home,” Dana said. “And our kids are only going to be this young once. I’m determined that we’re going to enjoy ourselves as best we can.”

Dana was concerned the narrow dimensions of her lot limited her deck design options. The Hudson homeowner found out that was not the case after a conversation with her local deck designer. “They really opened my eyes to the possibilities. I’d never thought about having a multi-level deck built, or considered building a deck around a corner of the house.”

Strategies for creating great decks on small lots include converting the area beneath a second story deck into a screen porch or three-season deck. Another idea is the floating deck – the popular elevated platforms that are positioned strategically in the yard to make life more fun for everyone. Floating decks can support a screen room, making them ideal for families with small kids who need shade and protection from biting insects.

“The screen room is really ideal for nap time,” Dana said. “I love the idea of a quiet, restful space outdoors for the kids to calm and center. And it makes for a nice change of scene when they want to do their reading or have a little time to themselves.”

Don’t let a small lot limit your summer plans. Working with an experienced local deck designer can help you overcome the design challenges that come with a small lot.

Superior construction is the key to a satisfying small deck. When you’re working on a smaller scale, every detail becomes that much more important. Choose an experienced Hudson deck contractor to build your new deck. It’s an investment that will make enjoying your summer easier for the whole family.

It’s Going to Be a Long Summer: You Need a Better Deck

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At this point, no one knows what the future holds. However, we can make some guesses, and for most people, that includes the fact that summer is going to be spent close to home. What’s involved in making this as pleasant as possible for everybody involved?

One answer is to embrace outdoor living. Let’s be real: the hardest part of quarantine is staying in the house. The kids need fresh air and so do you. A great deck is your answer: it can serve as your command center while the kids and pets run around the back yard. Enjoy the shady comfort of a screen room while the little ones take a nap. Take the heat of cooking dinner outdoors – after all, nothing could be easier or more kid friendly than hot dogs on the grill.

Lincoln Deck Trends: Smart Style

Lincoln is a very family friendly community, and the custom built decks in the region feature those amenities that make outdoor living fun and easy. A great example: local deck builders integrated built-in storage for kids’ toys and garden gear into the design for an active family with three small kids.

And we’re all doing more cooking at home. Outdoor kitchens are easy to love, but with running water, gas lines, and electrical, they can be tricky to build. One of the advantages of working with a Lincoln local deck contractor is the seamless coordination with the appropriate trade professionals: it’s a smart way to keep expenses down!

Keep your family out of the sun’s harsh rays and away from biting insects with a screen porch. The cost-effective way to add a shade feature to your deck is to have a screen porch built on your existing deck. Another option is to have the space beneath a second-story or elevated deck converted into a screen porch.