May is National Deck Safety Month, as declared by the North America Deck and Railing Association for the past 7 years. To help ensure safety, especially for decks that are more than 10 years old, Archadeck is sharing these seven deck safety inspection guidelines with the acronym of “BE SAFER”:

BE  SAFER with these 7 Deck Safety Tips from Archadeck.

Deck safety is no accident. Ensure that your deck is safe by following these tips and suggestions from Archadeck Outdoor Living.

Boards
Look at the condition of your deck boards. Most wood will show some minor cracks and splits over time, but is the general condition of the boards good or are they damaged and unsafe to walk on?

Every Connection
A deck should be built using a variety of fasteners and metal hardware connectors. Check every connection on the deck to make certain that they are not corroded or otherwise compromised. Be on the watch for nails backing out, red rust and other signs of corrosion that can weaken the integrity of the deck.

Structure
If visible, look at the posts, beams and joists that provide the structural framework of the deck. What is their condition? Is there any noticeable sagging between supports?

Attachment
The attachment of the deck to the house (also called the house band) is where most deck failures occur. Pay special attention to this area and check to make sure that the deck is properly attached to the house with bolts and that it is properly flashed for water protection. Nails should never be used for this type of attachment.

Foundation / Footings
The foundation / footings receive and support the weight (also known as the load) on a deck and the columns that bear on them. A footing that is sinking may cause a noticeable sag in an area or a column to separate from a beam.

Exits
Check the areas where people exit from the deck. These exits usually involve stairs so be sure to check the condition of the material used on the stair stringers, stair treads and risers. Do the stairs require a handrail? Is there adequate lighting to safely use the exits at night?

Rails
Look at the condition of the rail posts and sections of railing to make sure that they aren’t loose or wobbly. Verify that the pickets/balusters are fastened securely and spaced no more than four inches apart.

BE SAFER by taking these precautions and preventative measures. The number of deck failures and related injuries has been increasing, and each year we hear about more deck collapses and accidents. Recent statistics show that about 40 million decks in the US are over 20 years old, so it’s crucial for homeowners to be proactive and check their decks.

Archadeck of Central Maryland is a leader in outdoor design & construction for Baltimore, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County MD. Our team has been designing & constructing outdoor living spaces for over 11 years and has been the recipient of CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and other distinctions, plus featured in the Washington Post. If you have an old deck that needs repair or remodeling, we’d love to help create the perfect outdoor living space for you, whether you’re thinking of building a new deck, 3- or 4-season room, sun room, screened porch, patio, trellis, pergola, arbor, fire pit or other project. We offer a free, no obligation design consultation. Give us a call at 301-926-3001 or email us to schedule yours today.

Have you built the perfect outdoor living space and are now wondering what are the best materials for outdoor furniture, that will insure not just aesthetic and function, but durability? Here at Archadeck of Central Maryland, for over a decade we have designed and installed sunrooms, screen porches, hardscapes, patios, decks, gazebos and more. Once our clients have their new outdoor living space, they often ask us what the best types of outdoor furniture would be as they decorate their space. So consider this post a round-up of the 5 best types of materials for your outdoor furniture!

Cedar and Teak make our list as the top two. They are both types of hard wood that can withstand the harsh elements of the outdoors. They don’t hold as much heat as metal furniture, and see little effect from rain due to their natural enzymes which prevent decay. Wood furniture is a classic choice for decorating your porch, patio or deck, but can be considerably more expensive than furniture constructed from other materials. It’s important to note that other woods that are softer, can absorb moisture and rot over time, so other types of wood would require paint or sealant.

Wicker is another popular material for outdoor furniture. It comes in woven wood or synthetic form. The synthetic wicker stands up well against nature and the elements, while the woven wood type is best with a coat of sealant for protection. The benefits of wicker is that it is lightweight, durable, and easy to clean. Some considerations and perhaps drawbacks of wicker furniture, are that the furniture sets tend to have high price points and can appear massive for smaller and more intimate outdoor settings.

Steel is a durable material found in many outdoor furniture applications. Furniture constructed from steel won’t move around in strong winds. Steel is sturdy and hefty, but can be pricey in outdoor furniture form, plus difficult to easily move or reposition. Steel furniture also necessitates a protective coating to safeguard against rust.

Aluminum is our fifth and final top outdoor furniture material. It is a malleable, lightweight material that works great in a variety of environments, including coastal settings which experience harsh salty/wet and extremely sunny conditions. Aluminum furniture with a powder-coat finish is particularly durable and resistant to both rust and fade. Another benefit of this type of material, is it is simple to clean. Outdoor furniture constructed from aluminum tends to come in a wide variety of styles due to the malleability of the metal.

Archadeck of Central Maryland is a leader in outdoor design & construction for Baltimore, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County MD. Our team has been designing & constructing outdoor living spaces for over 11 years and has been the recipient of CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and other distinctions, plus featured in the Washington Post. We’d love to help create the perfect green, outdoor living space for you, whether you’re thinking of building a new eco-friendly deck, 3- or 4-season room, sun room, screened porch, patio, trellis, pergola, arbor, fire pit or other project. We offer a free, no obligation design consultation. Give us a call at 301-926-3001 or email us to schedule yours today.

This weekend marks one of the top home shows in our area celebrating spring home design & landscaping in Maryland! Friday April 5th – Sunday, April 7th, 2013 is the return of the popular Suburban Maryland Spring Home Show at the Howard County Fairgrounds. Our company, Archadeck of Central Maryland, will be in the exhibitors area to meet with homeowners interested in updating their backyard or outdoor living space. We’ll also be promoting our Dream Backyard Makeover Contest worth over $70K!

The Suburban Maryland Home Show is an event designed for homeowners in all stages of remodeling, landscaping and decorating their homes. There will be hundreds of home improvement and landscaping exhibits with product demonstrations, displays and design ideas. With a combination of new products and expert advice from the pros, this home show helps inspire homeowners with countless ideas on enhancing their home’s comfort and functionality, as well as its aesthetic appeal and overall value.

This show is for geared toward new home buyers and long-time homeowners alike, and should be of particular interest to anyone wanting to update, enhance, or create a new look or amenity for their own home.

Show Address:

Howard County Fairgrounds (for direction click here, or view this on Google Maps)
2210 Fairgrounds Road
West Friendship, MD 21794

Show Hours:

• Friday, April 5, 11:00am – 9:00pm
• Saturday, April 6, 10:00am – 8:00pm
• Sunday, April 7, 10:00am – 6:00pm

Admission: FREE

Do you want to build a new deck, patio or gazebo to improve & extend your outdoor living space for this spring, summer & fall? Be sure to stop by the Archadeck of Central Maryland booth #707 to check out pictures of our latest projects, get more info on our custom-build services and products, plus ask our experts any questions about your upcoming home project. We hope to see you at the home show!

Archadeck of Central Maryland is a leader in outdoor design & construction for Baltimore, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County MD. Our team has been designing & constructing outdoor living spaces for over 11 years and has been the recipient of CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and other distinctions, plus featured in the Washington Post. We’d love to help create the perfect outdoor living space for you, whether you’re thinking of building a new deck, 3- or 4-season room, sun room, screened porch, patio, trellis, pergola, arbor, fire pit or other project. Our design consultation is free. Give us a call at 301-926-3001 or email us to schedule yours today.

Green outdoor living is all the buzz in the home renovation & construction industry. In case you’re looking for answers on how to build an eco-friendly deck or patio, we’ve got answers! This is the second in a 2-part series of articles on how to construct a green outdoor living space. Today we answer the remaining 4 of the top 7 questions we hear from homeowners who are considering building a green outdoor living space.
Please check out “Part 1 – Tips to Build an Eco-friendly Deck or Patio” which has the first 3 questions in this set.

4) What materials should be used in green outdoor projects and in what climates?

Answer: We recommend composite decking products for decks and outdoor living structures in all types of climates. Also, structural elements built with pressure southern yellow pine. Archadeck uses Trex, Fiberon and TimberTech eco-friendly products in our outdoor living space projects, and our customers have been extremely satisfied with the materials and look. There is a growing trend of composite decking products made from recycled, high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Eco-friendly decking and patio products are more natural-looking than ever before, and have better warranties than in prior years, including fading and stain resistant. Top manufacturers are supplying green and high-quality, repurposed decking materials for the industry.

5) What can you do to maintain and power wash/clean an eco-friendly deck?

Answer: We highly recommend Renew Crew, our sister company with locations nationwide, that uses eco-friendly products. They help property managers and homeowners maintain their outdoor projects so that they keep the beauty and protect it. The products Renew Crew uses are proprietary and are made for use with their 3 step process. Pressure or power washing is great at removing surface dirt quickly. For a deep, long-lasting clean, there’s nothing better for your outdoor surfaces. Unfortunately, if done incorrectly, it can also quickly gouge your surfaces, leaving irreparable damages to your home or deck. If you want a true, deep clean — with no risk of gouging — nothing beats a Renew Crew Clean.

6) What type of layouts or designs work well for eco-friendly outdoor spaces and why?

Answer: The latest generation of eco-friendly products can be used in all applications, so the design of your deck really depends on the existing structure of the building and landscaping and want type of space you want to create.

Where possible, deck floorboards should be installed diagonally for added structural integrity and visual appeal. (If a parallel or perpendicular decking pattern is desired you can incorporate a diagonal brace below the deck frame.) Boards are typically screwed or installed with hidden fastening system rather than nailed.

Be sure to design and construct around specific functional issues in your outdoor space. Wherever possible, wood grain should be aligned perpendicular with the traffic pattern to reduce the opportunity for splinters on bare feet. If a hot tub is planned, a multi-tier design is often recommended for aesthetic appeal and ease of access to both the tub and control panels. Interesting angles are employed on most deck designs to avoid an unimaginative, “boxy” appearance.

7) How should property owners determine the size of the deck?

Answer: Think about how you want to use the space and how use of that space may need to change over time. You will need to balance function, aesthetics and budget in implementing your outdoor project. You can discuss the size and layout with a contractor or deck builder. The most important advice I can give is to employ a quality, reliable contractor who specializes in outdoor living spaces, is insured and licensed, and who is knowledgable of national construction codes.

Archadeck of Central Maryland is a leader in outdoor design & construction for Baltimore, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County MD. Our team has been designing & constructing outdoor living spaces for over 11 years and has been the recipient of CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and other distinctions, plus featured in the Washington Post. We’d love to help create the perfect green, outdoor living space for you, whether you’re thinking of building a new eco-friendly deck, 3- or 4-season room, sun room, screened porch, patio, trellis, pergola, arbor, fire pit or other project. We offer a free, no obligation design consultation. Give us a call at 301-926-3001 or email us to schedule yours today.

Looking for the best tips on how to build an eco-friendly deck or patio? This is the first in a 2-part series of articles on how to construct a green outdoor living space. Today we answer the top 3 questions we hear from homeowners who are considering building a green outdoor living space.
Also, we invite you to check out this article “Green Your Deck, Save Big” on the Lowes for Pros website which has additional expert advice for those considering a sustainable project.

1) What are the benefits of building an eco-friendly deck/patio?

Answer: Eco-friendly and sustainable projects are growing trends in the home and build category. We’re hearing from a growing number of clients that want outdoor living spaces that are green and built from high-quality, repurposed materials. The result of using green materials is that our landfills are cleaner and it is another step that property managers and homeowners can take to be environmentally responsible. You can also look into possible tax credits, savings and rebates from installation of eco-friendly materials.

2) What are the current trends in eco-friendly decks/patios?

Answer: In regards to materials, there is a growing trend of composite decking products made from recycled, high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Eco-friendly decking and patio products are more natural-looking than ever before, and have better warranties than in prior years, including fading and stain resistant. There’s been a growing trend of more color options to help give property managers and homeowners even more choices in the design process. Archadeck uses Trex, Fiberon and TimberTech eco-friendly products in our outdoor living space projects, and our customers have been extremely satisfied with the materials and look.

3) What should homeowners consider when trying to build an eco-friendly deck?

Answer: Get multiple quotes from contractors and be sure to ask for referrals, plus check the contractor for accreditation and to make sure they are licensed and insured. Look for a contractor that is knowledgable on green building and renovation. Also do your own research on eco-friendly materials that will be durable and require less maintenance, allowing you to save on labor costs for upkeep of a deck or patio over the years.

More of your green deck and outdoor living space questions answered next week in Part 2 of this series!

Archadeck of Central Maryland is a leader in outdoor design & construction for Baltimore, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County MD. Our team has been designing & constructing outdoor living spaces for over 11 years and has been the recipient of CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and other distinctions, plus featured in the Washington Post. We’d love to help create the perfect green, outdoor living space for you, whether you’re thinking of building a new eco-friendly deck, 3- or 4-season room, sun room, screened porch, patio, trellis, pergola, arbor, fire pit or other project. We offer a free, no obligation design consultation. Give us a call at 301-926-3001 or email us to schedule yours today.

This weekend we’re finally enjoying some spring-like weather here in Maryland and homeowners will be excited to hear that one of the top home shows in our area is taking place this weekend! Saturday March 9th – Sunday, March 10th, 2013 is the return of the popular Suburban Maryland Spring Home Show at the Discovery Sports Center at Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown MD. You can print a free admission pass from their website, and our company, Archadeck of Central Maryland, will be in the exhibitors area to meet with homeowners interested in updating their backyard or outdoor living space. We’ll also be promoting our Dream Backyard Makeover Contest worth over $70K!

The Suburban Maryland Home Show is an event designed for homeowners in all stages of remodeling, landscaping and decorating their homes. There will be hundreds of home improvement and landscaping exhibits with product demonstrations, displays and design ideas. With a combination of new products and expert advice from the pros, this home show helps inspire homeowners with countless ideas on enhancing their home’s comfort and functionality, as well as its aesthetic appeal and overall value.

This show is for geared toward new home buyers and long-time homeowners alike, and should be of particular interest to anyone wanting to update, enhance, or create a new look or amenity for their own home.

Show Address:

Discovery Sports Center at Maryland SoccerPlex (for direction click here, or view this on Google Maps)
18031 Central Park Circle
Germantown (Boyds), MD 20841

Show Hours:

• Saturday, March 9, 2013 10:00am – 8:00pm
• Sunday, March 10, 2013 10:00am – 6:00pm

Do you want to build a new deck, patio or gazebo to improve & extend your outdoor living space for this spring, summer & fall? Be sure to stop by the Archadeck of Central Maryland booth to check out pictures of our latest projects, get more info on our custom-build services and products, plus ask our experts any questions about your upcoming home project. We hope to see you at the home show!

Archadeck of Central Maryland is a leader in outdoor design & construction for Baltimore, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County MD. Our team has been designing & constructing outdoor living spaces for over 11 years and has been the recipient of CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and other distinctions, plus featured in the Washington Post. We’d love to help create the perfect outdoor living space for you, whether you’re thinking of building a new deck, 3- or 4-season room, sun room, screened porch, patio, trellis, pergola, arbor, fire pit or other project. Our design consultation is free. Give us a call at 301-926-3001 or email us to schedule yours today.

It’s official: Survey says that more American homeowners are adding outdoor rooms to their property!

A recent survey conducted by the American Society of Landscape Architects, found that the demand for projects in the outdoor living space category is continuing to increase. 94% of residential design respondents thought that 2013 would be popular for outdoor living space design and construction. The survey revealed the following top features/trends were either somewhat to very much in-demand for this year:

Outdoor Living Features:

• Fire pits and fireplaces (97%)
• Grills (96.3%)
• Seating and dining areas (96.3%)
• Lighting (95.1%)

Outdoor Structures:

• Terraces, patios, and decks (97.6%)
• Fencing (89.6%)
• Ornamental water features (84.2%)
  

Landscape/Garden Design:

• Low-maintenance landscapes (93.9%)
• Native Plants (86.6%)
• Organic (65.3% compared to 61.2% in 2011)
• Food & vegetable gardens, including orchards and vineyards (82.7%)

Sustainable Design Elements:

• Native/adapted drought-tolerant plants (83%)
• Drip/water-efficient irrigation (82.5%)
• Permeable paving (72.8%)

Here at Archadeck, we agree with the survey results and anticipate to see a high demand for these outdoor living features in 2013, with importance placed on function, durability & aesthetic.

Archadeck of Central Maryland is a leader in outdoor design & construction for Baltimore, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County MD. Our team has been designing & constructing outdoor living spaces for over 11 years and has been the recipient of CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and other distinctions, plus featured in the Washington Post. We’d love to help create the perfect outdoor living space for you, whether you’re thinking of building a new deck, 3- or 4-season room, sun room, screened porch, patio, trellis, pergola, arbor, fire pit or other project. Our design consultation is free. Give us a call at 301-926-3001 or email us to schedule yours today.

Are you a Marylander with an eye for design, looking to savor spring in style? Then you’ll definitely want to attend the Savor Sip & Style Luxury Home Show at Turf Valley in Ellicott City, Maryland this weekend! This annual home show features the best in vendor showcases, food, wine & spirit tastings, informative seminars and more. Attendees will be able to see the latest in upscale lifestyle when they visit with more than 100 luxury home, food, and style vendors gathered for the event.

The Savor Sip & Style home show will be held: Saturday, February 16 – Sunday, February 17, 2013 from 11 am – 5 pm.
Location: 2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City, Maryland 21042
Tickets: You can buy tickets online here starting at $10 each, or you can get 2 VIP passes through this Living Social deal for just $9 each (ends today).

Tickets are good for admission on both days. VIP tickets include 5 tasting coupons and souvenir tasting glass.

Be sure to stop by booth 448 in the grand ballroom to see Archadeck of Central Maryland, your premier deck, patio & outdoor living space contractor. We’ll be displaying pictures of our projects, promoting our Dream Backyard Makeover Contest, plus answering any questions you may have about creating the perfect outdoor oasis. We look forward to seeing you there!

Archadeck of Central Maryland is a leader in outdoor design & construction for Baltimore, Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County and Prince Georges County MD. Our team has been designing & constructing outdoor living spaces for over 11 years and has been the recipient of CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and other distinctions, plus featured in the Washington Post. We’d love to help you with your next home renovation, whether you’re thinking of building a new deck, 3- or 4-season room, sun room, screened porch, patio, trellis, pergola, arbor, fire pit or other project. Our design consultation is free. Give us a call at 301-926-3001 or email us to schedule yours today.

Grand Prize: Dream outdoor living project for your backyard designed and installed by Archadeck ($70,000 in retail value)

2nd Prize: Deck Renovation ($7,000 retail value)

3rd Prize: Outdoor Lighting Package ($3,000 retail value)

To enter: Visit our Facebook page (or any Archadeck franchisee) to enter: http://bit.ly/DreamBackyard

Note: You’ll be asked to “like” our Facebook page, and then you’ll see the entry form on our “Promotions” tab. You’ll be asked to fill out a short entry form including uploading a picture of your backyard and a writing a brief (maximum 250 words) description. Also, please note you’ll need to enter this contest from your computer, as it is not currently accessible via mobile devices.

Other important information:
The contest runs: Feb. 1st – April 22, 2013
Two finalists will be announced each month, and then Facebook voting will take place from April 23-30, 2013.
Grand prize winner announced in May and the project build should begin during June/July 2013.
Fine print: DREAM BACKYARD MAKEOVER CONTEST – NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. OPEN TO LEGAL U.S. RESIDENTS AND LEGAL RESIDENTS OF PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA. VOID ELSEWHERE & WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. See complete Official Rules for entry instructions, full explanation of determination of winners, prize restrictions and other details. Limit one entry per person/household/property. SPONSOR: Outdoor Living Brands, Inc., TimberTech & Belgard, Richmond, VA USA 23294. This Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Good luck to all who enter and we can’t wait to help one lucky person win the backyard makeover of their dreams!

We were recently asked what the upcoming top home improvement trends for decks and outdoor living space materials are for 2013. Since we here at Archadeck of Central Maryland work with many clients to create the perfect outdoor spaces, including decks, patios, sunrooms, screen porches, hardscapes, gazebos and more, we were happy to tackle the question. So what materials, techniques and types of projects do we think will dominate 2013?

Short answer: Top materials trends we’re seeing are Cap Stock materials & PVC technology.

And a more thorough answer: Three technologies exist today for producing low maintenance decking: composite, cap stock and PVC.

Composite was first introduced by Trex and is still available from all of the major manufacturers today. However, composite is prone to staining, scratching, fading and is more susceptible to mold and mildew. Many of the composite product do not look very natural. Its only advantage today is cost. As a result of the improved products on the market composite is quickly losing market share. Many of the products have been discontinued and those still in production will likely not be around much longer.

PVC

We’re seeing a trend in PVC Technology using top-notch materials like Azec and Fiberon. The benefits of using these types of materials for decks and outdoor living areas are that it’s stain-, mold- and scratch-resistant. The product can dent, but is a lower price point, and we’re seeing a growing number of decks and outdoor structures constructed from it. PVC is generally the most expensive material compared to the other materials we’ve already described.

Cap Stock

Another top 2013 trend for outdoor structure materials are Cap Stock materials. These are recycled wood and recycled plastic on the inside with an acrylic, high density polypropylene or other propriety formulation shell. This provides extra protection for the boards and helps extend the life of the deck. Cap Stock has all of the stain, mold, mildew resistance as PVC, looks more like natural wood, is almost as scratch resistant, and is lower in cost than PVC. As a result this has been the most popular choice for customers looking for the best value in low maintenance flooring. All of the major manufacturers including Trex, Fiberon, TimberTech (acquired by Azek in August 2012) and some of the other lower profile manufacturers like Rhino Deck all offer this technology.

We’ll be sharing more top home improvements trends and projects right here on our blog, so feel free to email us any related questions and we may feature your query in a future blog post!

Archadeck of Central Maryland is a leader in outdoor design & construction for Montgomery County, Howard County, Anne Arundel County or Prince Georges County MD. Our team has been designing & constructing outdoor living spaces for the past 11 years and has been the recipient of CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and other distinctions, plus featured in the Washington Post. We’d love to help you with your next home renovation, whether you’re thinking of building a new deck, 3- or 4-season room, sun room, screened porch, patio, trellis, pergola, arbor, fire pit or other project. Our design consultation is free. Give us a call at 301-926-3001 or email us to schedule yours today.