Creative Decks

Your Outdoor Living Specialist

"Design Drawings and Construction Plans"

Framingham, MA

508-877-1060

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A Framingham General Contractor for Kitchen Upgrade & Attached Deck

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“This may not be the biggest renovation project in the history of mankind, but it’s the largest one I’ve ever tackled,” Annie said. “When we bought this house, I knew it would need a whole kitchen makeover. And with the amazing backyard we have, I want a deck that comes right off of the kitchen, so we can enjoy our meals and the view at the same time.” Finding the right construction professional to make the project happen took a little bit of work on Annie’s part. “When you go to a kitchen place, they’re happy to talk to you about tile and drawer pulls and whatnot, but when you talk about taking out walls and building a deck, their eyes glaze over. One sales clerk told me, “Lady, what you need is a general contractor.”

A general contractor oversees and is responsible for all aspects of a complex home remodel. They may not do all of the work themselves – many general contractors subcontract electrical or plumbing work to reputable licensed professionals – but they are the one who’s responsible for making sure the job gets done on time, budget, and to the highest quality.

“For us, having a well built, comfortable deck was an essential aspect of this kitchen upgrade,” Annie explained. “When we were searching for Framingham general contractors, we asked to see examples of the decks they built as well as their kitchen projects. To get the job, we needed someone who could deliver on both ends of the job. I didn’t want the deck to be treated as an afterthought or add on.”

The trend for outdoor living is expected to continue in the Framingham region, as enjoying our area’s natural beauty makes sense for young families, retired couples, and everyone in between. If you’re considering a home renovation or want a deck to serve as a comfortable entertainment zone for your friends, give us a call. We’d be happy to help.

Metrowest Home: The Cost To Build a Deck

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Every family wants to have fun, and every family has a budget. These two factors impact deck design. As Metrowest deck builders, we work with families to maximize their budget. Here’s what that means:

Understanding Your Family’s Lifestyle: Every family has their own idea of fun. For some families, entertaining lots of people, and their pets, with a barbecue while the kids run around the yard sounds like a great time. Other families may prefer quieter, more solitary entertainments that involve curling up in a comfy chair with a good book. Your family’s preferences can dictate the size and design of your deck: if you know you’re never going to host a huge party, you don’t need to build for one. Save your money for features you’re going to use and enjoy. The family that doesn’t barbecue may get more enjoyment out of built-in flower boxes or a fire feature.

Know Your Long Term Plans: Are you living in your forever home? Or is your current address one you only plan to occupy for a few years? Knowing your long term plans can impact the choice of materials used to build your deck. Wooden decking is more affordable, but requires more maintenance and has a shorter useful life, as it is vulnerable to moisture and insect damage. Composite decking and PVC decking costs more, but lasts longer and resists damage more effectively.

Maintenance & Upkeep: In the appearance conscious Metrowest area, everyone wants their home to look good. Deck appearance matters. That means taking care of your deck. The decking materials you choose can impact the maintenance requirements and expense of your deck. For example, wooden decks need to be painted or stained and then sealed periodically; depending on the size of your deck, this is an investment of several hundred dollars, exclusive of the cost of labor. PVC and composite decking requires periodic pressure washing to look its best; if you do not already own a pressure washer, the cost to have this done by a contractor is generally less than $100.

With Great Deck Design, Your Happy Place Can Be Your Own Backyard

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People are looking for safe places to relax, unplug, and enjoy a little less stress in their lives. Obviously the best place to have a restful haven is in your very own home. Having a well-designed, comfortable area to enjoy with your sweetheart and kids is an investment in family happiness. For many Metrowest families, that means enjoying the deck.

Here are some principles of deck design you can use when creating a restful retreat for your family:

Make Sure There’s Enough Space For Everyone: Regionally, there’s a lot of enthusiasm for ‘monster-sized’ decks, which can be more than a thousand square feet. Be aware you don’t need a deck that large to have a great time: the typical deck averages between 400-600 square feet. As long as you have enough space for your family and guests to relax comfortably, your deck is big enough.

Build In What Makes You Happy: Passionate about gardening? Your Metrowest deck builders can incorporate flower boxes and planters into your deck design. Love the sight and sound of running water? Fountains and water features are very trendy right now – as are built in fire pits. Avid entertainer? Part of your deck design can be devoted to grilling, barbecuing, or mixing up cocktails at your outdoor bar.

Choose the Low-Maintenance Option: Let’s be real – the words “Happy Place” and “Doing Chores” just don’t go together. Your Metrowest deck builders can help you choose decking materials like composite lumber or PVC that offer stylish performance for decades without the need to stain or paint your deck. Best of all, composite decking doesn’t warp, twist, or splinter like old-school wood decking can. This makes it a smarter investment for the homeowner. Another added bonus of composite decking? No worry about mold, mildew, or insect damage!

A Great Deck for a Reasonable Price

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For many Framingham homeowners, the question is not whether or not to have a deck built – obviously everyone wants a comfortable place to enjoy outdoor living – but how to get a great deck for a reasonable price. The urge to save money leads many to consider building a DIY deck, but that can be a surprisingly expensive option: purchasing the tools needed to build even a basic deck can be a costly investment. Factor in the cost of materials and your time and labor, and before too long, you can spend just as much money to have an amateur build your deck as it would cost to have professional Framingham builders do it.

Here are some tips to help you get a great deck for a reasonable price:

1) Create a plan and stick with it.

The most common reason deck builds – and any other home renovation project – goes over budget is that the project evolves and changes as it’s being built. Sometimes that is necessary, such as when a remodel job reveals damage that needs to be addressed to maintain the home’s integrity. However, for most deck projects that’s not an issue. Spend the time to make sure you’ve completely thought through your deck plan, that it includes the features you want most, and commit to it. This will save you money.

2) Work with your Framingham builders on material sourcing

The two largest cost components of any deck build are labor and materials. Contain labor costs by working with experienced Framingham builders who by virtue of their professionalism are more efficient. Materials costs vary by build. Talk to your Framingham builder about the materials required. Working together, you can identify the most cost-effective ways to source the lumber and other deck components needed. Remember too that choosing PVC or composite decking means your deck will last longer than a deck built from traditional wood, which saves money in the long run!

It Turns Out Size Does Matter: A Look at Deck Design Trends

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Realtors are the experts on what features make a home more desirable. RealtorMag has been tracking trends in deck design. This year, there are two trends Metrowest home owners will want to know about: decks are getting much larger – you might even say they’re monster sized! – and are designed for a leisurely, low-maintenance lifestyle.

Bigger is Better: Since 2014, deck size in the Northeast has grown by 53%. This research is definitely in keeping with what we’ve seen as a Metrowest deck company. Deck size averages locally at just above 400 square feet. Super-sized or monster decks are 1,600 square feet plus.

Family Friendly Deck Features: Larger decks have enough room for an entire family to gather. Families like to have things to do. That’s part of the reason of the surging popularity of fun deck features like hot tubs, lap pools, fire places and fire pits. Built in seating with storage and integrated planters are also top pics. Families with small children have added shade features and screen rooms to their deck design.

Low-Maintenance Living: One of the advantages of choosing a large or monster-sized deck is that it reduces the amount of lawn that needs to be mowed. Low-maintenance living is very appealing to busy people. That’s why PVC and composite decking are top choices in the MetroWest area. These decking materials look great for years without needing to be painted. They also resist damage from mold, extreme weather, and insects, which cuts way down on the amount of upkeep work for the homeowner.

Bring Your Electronics Outdoors: Some families choose to reserve the deck as an outdoor, tech-free zone: it’s nice for the kids to have a place where everyone’s unplugged. Others are embracing the outdoor living room concept and have their Metrowest deck builders create spaces for big screen tvs, wireless speakers and gaming systems.