Creative Decks

Your Outdoor Living Specialist

"Design Drawings and Construction Plans"

Framingham, MA

508-877-1060

Framingham Deck Builders

3 Signs It’s Time to Remodel the Deck

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Do you suspect you might need a new deck but aren’t entirely sure it’s the right time? Here’s a handy list of signs to watch for. If you say yes to three questions on this list, it’s time to remodel the deck:

#1: Has your deck been damaged by insects, the weather, or your family and pets?

Decks aren’t indestructible, especially older wooden decks. Inspect your deck carefully. If there are split, twisted, or warped boards, damaged stairs, loose railings, compromised banisters or other damage, an upgrade is in order. Don’t forget to grab your flashlight and look underneath your deck for insect and moisture damage – that’s often where the problems will show up first!

#2: Does your deck get really, really crowded when you’re trying to entertain?

Part of the fun of outdoor living is the ability to get together comfortably with your family and friends. If your deck just isn’t large enough to do the job, your favorite people are going to need to find a different place to hang out and enjoy themselves. Ideally, your deck will have enough seating to handle your entire family plus an average number of guests reasonably; frequent entertainers who like to throw big parties will need a larger space.

#3: Does your deck look tired and worn out – especially compared to the rest of the house?

Time takes its toll on everything, and outdoor living spaces are no exception. Look at your deck with an objective eye. Is it vibrant and inviting? Do you feel it accurately represents the personality of your family? Are you proud of your deck?

Here in the Framingham area, we run into many older decks that were built of white pine or other softwoods. While this may have been the affordable option at the time, as the years go by, the condition of these decks deteriorates quickly. This is due in part to the extreme weather we experience locally – scorching summer sun, followed by wicked winter winds, deteriorate wood.

The smart alternative to consider if you’re going to upgrade your deck is composite decking. This planet friendly material comes in a variety of colors, is long lasting, and resists insect, weather, and heavy traffic damage very well.

Can You Have a Three-Season Deck in Framingham MA?

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“Summers here are glorious and short,” Angie, who owns a home in the Framingham area, loves to entertain. “Our yard is just the perfect backdrop for the fall – when the leaves change color, it’s gorgeous. I want to host a harvest season barbecue, but I worry it’s going to be too cold to do much outdoors.”

As Framingham deck builders, we’re definitely see an increase in the number of people who want to make sure their decks stay comfortable when the temperature drops. Heating decks was identified as a cutting edge deck trend for 2017 by building professionals: top choices include deck designs that accommodate ceramic heater installation or built in fire pits.

“I had never really thought about having a fire pit built into our deck before, but when our builder suggested it, I fell in love with the idea instantly. It’s so fun for the kids – they can toast marshmallows! And it’s good for them to get at least some fresh air, which is hard to do when the days get short in the fall. Once bedtime happens?” Angie laughed. “It turns out adults like to toast marshmallows too – although we might have a glass of wine with our s’mores!”

Along with heating, adding lighting to decks is a popular trend in Framingham. “This really turned out to be an opportunity to add some personal style and do some creative deck design,” Angie said. “There are so many different ways to add lighting to your deck, and our deck builders came to us with many exciting suggestions. We looked those over and thought through what would work best for our family. Now that the lighting’s in place, I have to say it’s one feature of our custom built deck that really gets a lot of compliments: the lighting is bright without being harsh, and it creates a warm, welcoming space where everyone feels comfortable gathering.”

Decorating the Holiday Deck

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“John really surprised me by having this deck added to our Framingham home last year,” Melinda said. “This is the first year I’ve been able to decorate it for the holidays, and I’m so excited.”

Decorating a new deck for the holidays is a lot of fun. Here are some tips from your Framingham deck builders to keep everyone happy and healthy throughout the process:

Inspect your lights before you hang them: Older light sets can get very hot, and faulty sets present a fire hazard. Inspect all strands of lights end to end before hanging them. Any breaks, nicks, or frays in the wiring means your set needs to be repaired or replaced. When choosing replacement holiday lights, opt for today’s modern, cooler LEDs. Not only are they bright and colorful, they are safer and use much less energy than traditional light sets.

Make sure to keep stairways and entranceways clear. While putting a basket of holiday color on the stairs may look cute, it is actually an obstacle that could be problematic for anyone who is young, balance challenged, or has vision issues who tries to get into your house. And once the snow starts falling, having items on the stairs makes it difficult to shovel them easily.

Use outdoor rated extension cords for lighted decorations including inflatables, animated decorations and more. Winter in Framingham is cold and wet. You don’t want indoor rated extension cords connected to your holiday decorations. Outdoor rated extension cords cost slightly more, but they are exponentially safer and more durable.

Don’t forget to have fun decorating your Framingham deck. If dressing your deck for the holidays becomes a huge chore, you won’t want to do it. Involve the entire family and make an afternoon out of it. Take plenty of pictures – especially of your layout. That way if you want to recreate the same look next year, you’ll have records!

Choosing Rails for Your New Deck

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Decks have to be both functional and beautiful. Outdoor living spaces are, by their very nature, outdoors for all the world to see. In today’s world, curb appeal matters. Your deck should enhance the appearance of your home, acting almost like the building’s jewelry: a statement of your personal style and taste.

Choosing rails for your new deck can be one of the most fun parts of the process. If you’ve chosen to have a composite deck built, be aware that there are certainly rail options available beyond the classic post and rail configuration. If you’ve chosen to have your Framingham deck builders work with wood, there are countless rail styles available. Be aware that all deck rails must meet strength and spacing requirements; local building regulations require rails to be positioned so a small child’s head could not become trapped. This is a very important safety rule.

Cable and clear glass deck rails are becoming increasingly popular, particularly as Framingham does have some very lovely views that shouldn’t be missed. The cable deck rail look works well on homes with that classic Cape Cod aesthetic of relaxed nautical elegance, as well as those decks that are designed with a classic contemporary look. Glass deck rails manage to work exquisitely on both modern design homes and homes built to have more of a country feel.

When choosing deck rails, consider other features on your home, such as window frames, shutters, trim boards and more. Choosing rails that have a similar aesthetic and design lines as other home features helps create a pleasing visual symmetry that helps make the deck look like it’s always been part of your home.

Rail maintenance is a concern for many homeowners. Depending on the finishing choices you make, wood rails will need some attention on a yearly basis, but should last for many years; composite deck railings last just as long but require only periodic hosing off in terms of maintenance.

Get Your New Deck Built By Thanksgiving!

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Thanksgiving is just about a month away, which means you’ve got just enough time to have a new deck built. Why would you want to do such a thing? Well, if you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, a new deck means extra space for everyone to hang out and congregate. A new deck is the ideal location for generations to gather, especially those who don’t want to help in the kitchen or watch the football game.

Another reason to have your Framingham deck builders do their thing in advance of Thanksgiving is that your home will look even more impressive and inviting than your family may have remembered it. Our homes are our biggest investment, and there’s nothing wrong with being proud of your place. A spacious deck is a way to enhance your enjoyment of your home. Positioned in the front of a home, a deck makes the entranceway larger and more welcoming; choose a back deck to find your understanding of your landscape transformed by new possibilities.

It’s a good idea to choose an experienced company that specializes in building decks when you’re working on an accelerated timeline. The planning, permitting and materials procurement process all go much more efficiently when you’re working with someone who knows what they’re doing. Deck building requires understanding how to create work that stands up to all four seasons of Framingham weather: you need quality construction that can endure deep snow, blistering summer heat, and of course our local winds!

A great deck can play an integral role in your Thanksgiving entertainment plans. If you’re planning on outdoor cooking, from deep frying a turkey to barbecued pumpkin pie, your deck can serve as the staging site for these culinary activities. Make sure no open flames happen beneath a roof to keep your house safe! To make this happen, you have to act right now. Call your Framingham deck builders today!