Massachusetts deck builders

Small kids can have a big influence on deck design! Whether you’re parents, grandparents, or have lots of young visitors on a regular basis, you want to be sure that your deck is safe and fun for kids. Here’s what that looks like:

Strong deck rails and gates: Children always need to be supervised when they’re outdoors – especially lightning fast toddlers who can get themselves into a dangerous situation before you can say “Where did they go?” That being said, it’s a smart idea to talk to your Massachusetts deck builders about deck rails, balusters and spindle options, and gates to keep kids safely on the porch. Let your contractor know if you’ve got a little climber or acrobat – they can make recommendations that help keep everyone safe.

The outdoor kitchen: Outdoor kitchens are often discussed as a place for grownups to have a lot of fun but the fact is that having a small refrigerator and sink outdoors can make life with the little ones much, much easier. The sink is useful for quick clean ups and as we all know, little kids can make big messes.

The shade feature: The summer sun is fun, but when you’re little, it’s easy to get overheated quickly. Have your deck builders install a shade feature where the kids can enjoy themselves out of the direct sun. This is also important for people who are getting older, as well as anyone who takes medication that makes them more sensitive to sunlight.

A screen house on the porch: Mosquitoes and other insects carry lots of diseases you don’t want your kids coming into contact with. One way to keep everyone safe and happy is to have your local deck builder put a screen house on the porch. Screen houses also make it easier to keep little kids on the porch and out of the direct sun. It turns out that some kids just love taking naps in a screen house, which is an extra bonus!

“You hear about kitchens and bathooms getting dated, but I never really thought about our deck,” Frank said. “But our son’s high school graduation is coming up fast, and we’re planning on having a big party. So I went out and looked at our deck with a critical eye, and let’s just say you can tell it was built fifteen years ago.”

While the overall structure of Frank’s deck was solid – a benefit of choosing composite decking – the deck railing was looking rough. “My son’s a big guy, and he has a habit of leaning up against the railing looking at his phone. That’s why it’s all bowed out here.” Another portion of the deck railing was damaged during the heavy snows Western Massachusetts experienced a few years ago.

“I didn’t want to just replace what we had,” Frank said. “So I talked to our Massachusetts deck builders to see what they recommended that would look better.” The creative deck design team came to Frank with a number of options, including a contemporary cable-style railing and traditional more decorative balustrade. “My wife and I enjoyed looking at the various choices. It took a little while to decide which one was our favorite, but once we did, we agreed with the deck builders that our deck steps could use some attention as well.”

Steps are the most heavily trafficked area on any deck. “We have teenagers and dogs,” Frank explained, “and neither group is particularly careful. The steps were beginning to bow in the middle, and the edges were worn. Since we were having the deck railing updated anyway, we decided to have the porch steps replaced at the same time.” Frank chose to have the new deck stairs built out of composite material. “The deck has held up so well, it makes sense for the porch steps to be made of the same material.”