You’re ready for a brand new deck. But do you have to be home during the build?  Schedules are tight these days. But have no fear that the project could interfere too much with your schedule. Aren’t there a lot of inspections and things that could set back the process? You and your family have busy lives! So as much as you’d love

One of the more challenging decisions to make when building a deck is installing wood or composite. Like most homeowners, we feel that the more maintenance free decking something can be, the better. But does that mean a maintenance-free deck like Trex is the right choice for everyone? Because who wouldn’t miss sanding railing balusters, replacing rotting boards, fixing sticking up nails,

Living within an HOA or Condo association has many benefits. You may feel a sense of community, have access to great amenities, and your neighborhood or building likely has excellent curb appeal.  But when it comes to home improvement, like building a new deck, what kind of condo or HOA approvals do you need and to what extent? How limited

As a homeowner looking to build a deck, we’re sure it’s common to hear every contractor’s pitch on why you should trust them and how they can help you.  But in our opinion, it’s also important for companies to be humble and open about when things haven’t always gone as planned—sharing how they overcame these issues, what they learned and

Adding a deck is one of the best improvements you can make to your home. On top of adding functionality to your outdoor space, a deck will improve curb appeal and, when properly built, look stunning and last for years. But, considering decks are generally built right up against your home (or literally connected in some cases), do we need

We’ve all heard the stories: a friend hires a contractor, and everything starts off great.  But then the work becomes inconsistent; the crew is there one day but not the next, or they show up late and leave early. There’s no clear communication, and the homeowner has no clue what’s happening or when their project will be complete. This behavior

Why You Should Consider Upgrading To Cocktail Deck Railings If you’ve been exploring the idea of building a deck, you’ve probably heard the term “cocktail railing” or “drink rail” a few times already. It’s the popular upgrade that homeowners love and builders recommend.  But what exactly are cocktail railings for decks? Can you customize them to enhance your deck’s design?

Stair riser lights are one of the best add-ons you can install on your deck.  If you’re sitting in your backyard on a patio or next to your deck, they create a beautiful, warm, and inviting glow. Also, riser lights make it exponentially safer to use deck stairs at night. In our eyes, there’s no doubt that lighting up your

Building a new home is exciting, especially if you’ve had a hand in designing it to be perfect for you and your family. But you may face a couple of decisions that you wouldn’t have otherwise if you were moving into an already built home. And a big one has to do with the outside space. Not all newly constructed

Cracking (also referred to as checking) in lumber is somewhat inevitable.  Over time, you’ll likely begin to notice these cracks in the lumber that makes up your deck’s framing. They seem to happen without warning and can look rather concerning. Wanting to learn more is entirely understandable and the right move to make.  So are cracks in deck posts or