decks & Patios
A deck installation requires maintenance, whatever it is made of be it wood or composites. It is subject to both visible and hard to see wear and tear. Dependent on the local climate, the deck material may rot or suffer water damage, insect attack or just simply discolor from sunlight. While some damage may be purely cosmetic, some may potentially cause injury to users.
Over time, a deck will move slightly as the main support members settle in the ground or simply grow old and weaken. If the settling is minimal this may not amount to much, but uneven or excessive settling can give rise to strains between the main structural support members. In time these strains may cause the deck to fail completely and collapse. Evidence of settling can include an uneven deck, a slanted deck or a wobbly deck.
How Will You Use Your New Deck?
Take a moment and imagine your new deck. Will it be used as a space for family time? Will it be used to entertain friends with a dinner party? Will it be connected to an outdoor kitchen? Or, perhaps you’re more of the type who would prefer to lounge poolside while catching some rays.
What will you use with your deck? You could use a hot tub, a jacuzzi, or a fire pit. You can have outdoor speakers integrated to pipe in your favorite tunes, or perhaps you’d like to have some beautiful accent lighting. The only limit is your imagination, and we say let it run wild.
When you’ve returned from cloud nine, it’s important to remember that the intended use of your new deck is a key consideration in its design. Having a clear idea of what you want to use it for will help both you and us immensely in the design process.
Which Deck Materials Will You Use?
One of the essential considerations is selecting the deck material, whether wood or composites. This will be influenced by your budget, the desired appearance, and the requirements for ongoing maintenance. And don’t forget about that Texas summer sun and heat.
Wood offers a beautiful natural look. Because of the variety it offers solutions that fit most budgets, but it can also require a modest amount of maintenance. You will need to seal and stain a wood deck to provide weather-proofing and longevity, unless you’re looking for that distressed, weathered look.
Composite materials are much easier to care for by contrast. Because of developments in technology, they also come with a wide range of colors without the need for staining. Yet, they still have not achieved the natural an appearance as wood.