Creative Decks

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"Design Drawings and Construction Plans"

Framingham, MA

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The Wellesley Home: Deck Design to Boost the Mood & Encourage Creative Thinking

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We are shaped by the spaces we occupy, and the work we do shows it. When you examine the habits of some of the world’s most innovative, creative people, it turns out that they all take time to rest and relax – whether that means taking in the glories of nature or escaping into the pages of a favorite book.

What space do you have at home that’s designated for relaxation and enjoyment? For many of us, especially those of us who have busy, active families, the answer may be there is no space. Kids are doing homework in the kitchen, the family room’s full of the family, and somehow even though you said you’d never do it, there’s a make-do home office in the corner of the bedroom – not exactly restful.

Adding a well-designed three-season porch to your home is a smart, cost-effective way to add space to your home without spending a ton of money. A three-season porch doesn’t have to be huge to add a lot to the functionality and enjoyment you receive from your home.

How to Enjoy a Three-Season Porch

If you’re looking for a space to boost your mood and encourage your creative nature, a three-season porch is ideal. Talk to your Wellesley deck designer about how many windows you’d like to have and how you’d like them positioned – abundant natural light is a key feature of many three-season porches, and you also want to take your view into account. Whether you’re an aspiring or established artist, you’ll enjoy having a sketch-worthy subject while sitting in the comfort of your own home.

Choose your color scheme and furnishings with relaxation in mind. What do you enjoy doing? If the answer is reading, you know you’ll need a comfy reading chair, with a table close at hand for your favorite beverage. Looking for a place to meditate or do yoga? Work with your Wellesley deck designer to ensure your new three-season porch has plenty of floor space and room to store your mat & gear.

Want the Feel of Country Living in a Crowded Neighborhood?

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There are a lot of really nice homes in the Metrowest area – and a lot of them are pretty close together. If you’re trying to capture some of the comfortable aspects of country living – relaxing with the family, having fun with friends, enjoying the outdoors – you need space to make it happen and a reasonable amount of privacy.

That’s where the value of working with a deck designer becomes clear. Don’t limit yourself to the possibilities you can envision building – there’s so many design options, deck features, and customization elements to discover that can help you achieve the deck of your dreams.

Space saving deck design means making the most of the area you’ve got available. On some homes, this means building a second-story deck, or converting the area beneath the deck into a screen porch or sunroom.

Adding Privacy to Your Deck

Many homeowners like their neighbors and neighborhood, but would still prefer a certain degree of privacy when they’re enjoying their deck. There are several ways to approach this. Built in planters with shrubbery and trellised climbing plants is one easy, elegant way to obscure the view; of course, there are multiple fencing and screen options to choose from as well.

One very popular way to add privacy to your deck that also delivers the benefits of shade and protection from biting insects is having a screen porch built on your deck. You can have the screen porch built on top of an existing deck that’s in good condition, or if that’s not an option, a screen porch can be custom built to suit your family’s needs and your home’s style.

Enjoy Fall with a New Deck!

Let’s be real – autumn is the reason New England is so special. Make the most of this beautiful season with a new deck. Start the process now, and you could have everyone over to enjoy the Pats play on your new deck.

The Dog-Friendly Deck: Must Have Features for the Pampered Pooch

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If you’ve ever walked around Needham, chances are you’ve noticed that people here really love their dogs. Making sure our canine companions are comfortable and safe during the day is easier when you’ve got a great deck. Here’s what you need to know about pet friendly deck design, with local tips from Needham deck contractors.

Composite Decking: Better for Dogs

Traditionally, decks and porches in our area have been built from wood, including white pine and redwood. Dogs can be tough on wooden decks and porches. Their toenails can dig into the surface, creating deep scratches and gouges. And some dogs are chewers – they love to bite banisters, railings, stairs, and other deck features. But composite decking doesn’t taste good, and dogs don’t chew on it with the same degree of enthusiasm. The tougher surface also resists damage better, and maintains its color for years.

Shade Features for Safe, Happy Puppers

Summer’s almost over, but that sun’s still pretty hot. Dogs, especially young puppies and their elderly counterparts, are especially vulnerable to sunstroke and can become overheated easily. To keep everyone safe and happy, consider having your Needham deck contractor add a shade feature to your porch. Having a roof over some or all of your porch makes it a comfortable space the whole family can enjoy.

Screen Porches – Smart Protection from Biting Insects

If you love your dog, you know you can spend a lot of time and money at the vet trying to keep them healthy. One way to help your dog stay healthy as possible is to protect them from biting insects that spread diseases – especially mosquitoes and ticks. The diseases these insects carry can also be harmful to human beings! Screen porches protect everyone while adding to the elegance, privacy and comfort of your deck. Talk to your Needham deck contractor about adding a screen porch to your deck today.

Deck Remodeling Do’s & Don’ts

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If you’re a Newton area homeowner about to embark on a deck remodeling project, you’re going to want to know these deck remodeling do’s and don’ts:

DO: Work with an experienced creative deck remodeling professional. Choosing a builder who specializes in decks is the smartest, most cost-effective way to ensure your new deck is everything you dreamed of.

DON’T: Cling too tightly to tradition. While wooden decks may have been good enough for your parents and grandparents, building technology has evolved. Composite decking means your deck will look good longer, need less care, and resists weather, mold and mildew damage better than white pine.

DO: Center your family’s lifestyle in your creative deck design. Your Newton deck builder will talk to you about what your family’s like and what you enjoy doing. The reason they do this is to gather information that can influence your deck design. For example, if your family likes to host big gatherings and entertain, integrating a large outdoor kitchen into your deck design might make sense – whereas if you prefer to keep things more quiet and private, an enclosed deck just large enough for your family and a few favorite friends could be the better option.

DON’T: Go with the lowest-bid deck contractor. A deck is a very visible part of your home. Its appearance will influence how people view your property and your family. A well built deck complements and enhances the home, while a poorly built deck reveals the shoddy workmanship with every passing season. Invest in your deck just like you’d invest in any other home improvement. Choose a qualified professional who will do the job right. That way you’ll be proud of your deck for years!

DO: Ask questions before you choose your deck builder. You want to see examples of other decks they’ve built. It doesn’t hurt to ask for references either! Doing a little research ahead of time can help you choose the right Newton deck contractor.

A Great Garden Demands A Great Deck

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“There’s so much love, work, forethought and planning that goes into John’s garden,” Ace said. The couple has lived in the Framingham area for decades. “But you really don’t get the full effect unless you’re in the right spot, which would happen to be right there.” He pointed to the back of their shingle style home. “That’s why we decided to have a back deck put on.”

Decks are popular with gardeners for several reasons. First and foremost, built in planters and flower boxes provide avid gardeners with more space to plant things – whether it’s favorite flowers, heirloom tomatoes, or fresh herbs for the kitchen.

Second, as Ace said, a well-designed deck can serve as a way to derive greater enjoyment from the family garden. By providing space for seating and dining, the deck also serves as a viewing platform: your family and guests can truly appreciate the beauty of the garden while they enjoy dinner and drinks with you.

The deck can also visually anchor and complement the garden. John and Ace chose a very dark charcoal gray composite decking, which is echoed in some of the garden furniture and an ornamental fence they have along their property line. This ties the garden design together beautifully, while serving as a neutral background for the vibrant, colorful flowerbeds John carefully nurtures.

“We also wanted some kind of storage solution built into our deck,” Ace explained. Because the couple’s lot slopes, there was a useful storage area available beneath the deck – now that it’s fitted out, they store the lawn mower, weed whacker, and other lawn tools there. Additional storage was provided in the built-in seating – the seats lift up to access the storage boxes below – as well as in the form of hose and tool hooks strategically positioned on corner posts.

The Romance of the Enclosed Deck

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There are several reasons enclosed decks are so appealing. First and foremost, let’s talk about privacy. An open deck means you can see everything that’s going on around you, in all directions – and it means other people can see you on your deck. If you’d prefer to not be on continual display to your neighbors, community, and random passers-by, an enclosed deck makes sense.

Another reason enclosed decks are awesome has to do with everyone’s least-favorite flying insect, the mosquito. Those little buzzers bite – and sometimes they’re passing along deadly diseases when they do so! If you’re worried about West Nile Virus or other insect-borne illnesses, you’ll appreciate how an enclosed deck – which can feature screens or windows, per your preferences – keeps the mosquitoes outdoors.

The screens and windows that keep biting insects outdoors can also keep other allergens, such as pollen, from getting into your living space. That’s useful to know if someone in your family has allergies or environmental sensitivities.

Enclosed decks are a very cost-effective way to add usable living space to your home. If you’ve got a busy, active family, it doesn’t take long for the house to fill up with noise. The enclosed deck can serve as a quiet retreat space, where you can enjoy a cup of coffee, curl up with a book, or just have a moment to yourself – or, conversely, you can send the kids onto the deck to play safely while you enjoy some peace and quiet indoors.

Enclosed decks are a smart option for pets as well – they love the fresh air, and you will love the fact they just can’t wander off. Older pets are particularly appreciative of enclosed decks, especially on sunny days.

If you’re interested in having an enclosed deck, you have options. Talk to your Framingham deck contractor about having your existing deck closed in, or about having an enclosed deck added to your home.