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Deck Education

Grey stairs with black railing leading up to an exterior deck on the back of a condo

All-Inclusive Guide to Stair Handrail Building Codes

When you’re designing a deck, building codes regarding handrails and stairs can seem a bit mysterious at first. Fortunately, you don’t have to give yourself a headache trying to figure it all out on your own. As deck builders, we deal with the rules and regulations on a daily basis. So today, we’re going to share what we’ve learned in

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Trex Island Mist Deck in Backyard with Wide Stairs

What is a Good Size Deck? 6 Things You Should Consider

A backyard deck can be your outdoor haven to relax and spend time with friends and family. But the size of your deck will either add to the experience or take away from it.  That leads us to one of the most common questions we get: “What is a good deck size?” There’s no one size fits all answer. After

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AC Unit and Vent On New Home

Can You Build a Deck Around an AC Unit, Dryer Vent, or Gas Meter?

Homebuilders love to create little obstacles for us deck builders. Everything from AC units, gas meters, dryer vents, sump pumps, water spigots, and so on… Of course, we understand they all serve a purpose. Fortunately, any difficulties they create during a deck design or build are usually quick and easy to solve. Today, we’ll cover the guidelines for building around

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Two-tiered taupe and brown composite deck with stairs leading to backyard, and a street lamp on the deck

Single vs Two-Tiered Decks: Which Should You Build?

We’ve had the opportunity to design and build hundreds of one and two-tiered decks for our clients over the years.  We know how important it is to design the style of deck that will most functionally work for your home, so you don’t find yourself wishing for something different after it is built because it doesn’t suit your needs.  So

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Trex Deck in Backyard, Canton, MI

How Long Do Composite Decks Last? Here’s What to Expect

Clients often ask us if their composite deck will look the same from day 1 to year 10. Fortunately, a properly built composite deck will age nicely and still look great in its 10th year and on. But how long do composite decks last before they need replacing? I have good news; it’s probably longer than you think.   Composite Decking Lifespan 

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Trex Deck for Newly Built Home in Canton, MI

Trex Decking Colors & Railing Styles: What Do We Offer?

Congratulations! You’ve decided it’s time to build a composite deck, or you’re at least entertaining the idea.  We’re here to help you through the process. Custom Deck Creations specializes in designing and building composite decks, specifically using Trex. While we get many questions from clients, one of the most common we hear is: Which Trex decking colors and railing styles

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New construction home in New Hudson, MI needing a new 2nd story composite deck

How Long Does It Take To Build a Deck? Here’s The Truth

The short answer is, it depends. I know that’s not a satisfying answer. But the truth is, the process of building a deck goes far beyond the actual physical installation.  All the fun things like submitting permits and getting the proper approvals need to happen first. (Fortunately, your contractor usually handles this, but more on that later.) To give you

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2nd story grey composite deck with unique and beautiful landscaping under the deck

Freestanding Vs. Attached Decks: Which Should You Choose?

Are you debating with yourself over building an attached vs. freestanding deck, trying to visualize how both will look next to your home? The good news is you won’t be able to tell them apart while you’re standing on your deck. Both create a beautiful extension of your home and a place to enjoy spending time with friends and family.

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Looking down parallel with the boards of a backyard deck

Does Trex Decking Scratch Easily? Here’s What You Need to Know

Will Trex decking easily scratch, becoming an eyesore every time you walk outside? We’ve spoken to many homeowners who have the same concern; they ask questions like: Will patio furniture or dogs scratch Trex decking? How do I prevent scratches on my Trex deck? How to get scratches out of composite decking? What’s the best scratch-resistant composite deck? These are

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