I have great news. There are 3 key questions to ask your prospective contractor that truly will help you make the right decision.

1. Exactly who in the company is deciding how the project will be built?
2. How EXACTLY will it be built?
3. Can you absolutely guarantee that it will be built and that it will be built as agreed?

Here are the answers you’re looking for. Make sure the company is not only willing to but includes this information in your contract.

Exactly who in the company is deciding how the project will be built?

Will the company owner make this determination? Will the contractor or subcontractor make this decision based on some hand-drawings and a list of features? Will the carpenter make this decision? The contractor you want will have a unified body that governs their process. At Archadeck, we have such a governing body that creates our Unified Structural System. This system is a completely documented, tested, and fool-proof system for designing and constructing every facet of the job. No stone should be left unturned. Our national office had engineers test our system to review the details of how things are built.

How exactly will my project be built?

Does company have a standard for things like how big footers will be and what type of hardware will be used and specifying the proper size bolts to secure structure? Governing bodies in your local jurisdiction will dictate minimum code requirements and what do you think most contractors are going to build to? In our experience they will build to the minimum. They will use least material and least labor to build to minimum standards. Make sure your contractor has their own high quality standards. Almost always, those standards will exceed what is required by code. At Archadeck, we always build to exceed the standards set by code.

Can you absolutely guarantee that it will be built and that it will be built as agreed?

Ask the builder if they have a written binding guarantee that your project will be built as agreed. At Archadeck, we provide two distinct warranties. One guarantees it will be built according to our standards. The other unique warranty guarantees completion. We guarantee in writing.

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Give us a call to discuss outdoor project ideas you have for your home. Whether it’s a roofed structure such as a porch, patio or sunroom or a deck or patio, we look forward to providing you with a free consultation and the information to back up what we say. (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net

There are good decks and bad decks, ugly decks and pretty decks, strong decks and not-so-strong decks. In reality there are hundreds of different levels of quality and many factors that determine the quality level you will receive. When you meet a prospective contractor for the first time, you will notice what they’re wearing, their age, their demeanor and possibly even if they have the well worn hands of a seasoned contractor. You will listen to what they say and look at pictures of their work. All of these are important in selecting a contractor. But are they enough? No.

We’ve all heard the phrase “the proof is in the pudding” meaning we will find out if their work matches what they promise when the work is done and it’s too late to go back. At Archadeck, our proof is in every step that happens along the way. Before we ever start a project, we provide completely detailed specifications of how every element of your project will be built. What you’re seeing in the illustration to the right are excerpts from just one page of our Unified Structural System.

This entire page dictates how every element of one railing section will be built. We guarantee it. Every nail placement, the picket spacing, and all the technical details are documented and followed in our construction process. Our instructions include drawings of every element from the top, bottom, and sides to make sure your project is built to our technical standards and specifications.

And, our “secret sauce” is not a secret. We detail every component of your project whether it be a deck, screen porch, sunroom, pergola, patio or other project. We specify it in writing to you, in the permit and to our carpenters. See an example here. The call-out detail shown in the oval shows the detail to which we specify what we are building for you.

Finally, we have the ability to provide a 3-D rendering of what their project is going to look like. We know how difficult it is to envision what the project will look like no matter how detailed the description is. We want our customers to be happy at every single step along the way from our initial meeting to our final walk-through. Our best sales people are our past customers and we think that’s the way it should be.

Columbus screen porch architectural drawing design plan

If you’re thinking about a project, give us a call. Our consultation is completely free. We look forward to walking through ideas and suggestions with you To learn more about us, visit our Archadeck of Columbus website.

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

We look forward to talking to you. Give us a ring at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net.

Extreme Home Makeover Home Edition

One of the biggest highlights certainly needs to be being a part of the Extreme Home Makeover helping the Rhodes family. We worked for 18 straight hours and built a roof-top deck with pergola over the family’s garage. Read more about our experience here.

Working with TimberTech

Columbus-based TimberTech is our composite of choice and we have a great working relationship with TimberTech. Their products get better and better and their selection and family of collections continues to grow. One of my favorite projects was this radius deck in Columbus‘ Dublin area. You might think that architectural details such as radius decking cannot be accomplished with a composite. Watch this YouTube video about bending composite wood to build a radius round edge to a deck.

Building lots of patios

More and more of our customers are looking for not just a deck or porch but also a connected patio to go with it. While building your outdoor area, it’s a great time to build an area that can serve multiple uses such as serve as a seating area as well as an eating area. Often the deck is used as the grilling and eating area and the patio is used for seating and relaxing. Read this story about the various hardscape and pavers available.

Lots of fun with screen porches

The screen porches of the past were fairly basic and were seen mostly as an upgraded deck with a roof. Screen porches these days are an extension of the home both in general design and also in interior design. Our customers built their screen porches to match the interior and exterior of their homes. Some build french doors for entry or multiple entrances to open up the screen porch easily to the inside of their house. Read about some of the screen porch interior design choices.

A star-studded family

As an owner of an independently owned local franchise, there are lots of great opportunities to utilize the extreme talents of my family as my son Kyle recently illustrated. When you called in to the office, you probably had the pleasure of speaking with my wife and co-owner Carol. Take a look at Kyle’s illustration of his Mom at work. Before you ask, yes Carol does have a large desk.

Kyle also adeptly illustrated me at work.

Kyle is 6 and his older brother Jacob is 8. I asked Jacob to also illustrate Mom and Dad at work but he was to cool for that.

But, both of my boys did become YouTube stars in their video where they beat up TimberTech wood. I’m proud to say their YouTube video has over 1,000 views!

I’m really looking forward to 2012. With projects already on the books, we look forward to jumping in and building even more projects next year.

Sincerely,

Mike, Carol, Jacob and Kyle Reeder

Here is a photo of the Archadeck of Columbus Extreme Home Makeover crew after 19 straight hours, still all smiles.

A while back we wrote about a volunteer experience were fortunate enough to participate in to build a deck at Recreation Unlimited. This year we had another chance to help out a family in need. When we received the request and found out about the Rhodes Family, it was a no brainer. We’ve been in the Columbus market for over a decade now and it means a lot to give back to the community that has been very good to us

Going into the renovation site, we really didn’t know what to expect. We brought our two best carpenters Seth Mitchell and Josh Kempf. Dennis Schaeffer from our corporate office flew in to work with us. With me that made 4 people on our Archadeck part of the Extreme Home Makeover team. We were scheduled to arrive at 6AM on Sunday. When we originally arrived we were asked to help with some interior framing. The framing guys had been working over 18 hours straight and were completely exhausted. We worked on interior framing for about 3 hours. It was amazing that there must have been 50 or 60 people in the house. There were hammers hamming, airguns shooting, nails dropping. There were people with drinks and food, producers, camera people, and about as much as you could possibly fit in that space. I guess it was apropos that we work effectively in such tight conditions as the Rhodes family had done at the house for so many years.

Then it was on to the deck. Mr Rhodes’ existing deck consisted of a couple pieces of plywood on a couple of 2×4′s that sat on the ground. He had his grill sitting an top of the area. He loved his existing deck so it was important for the family and the producers to make a really great new deck. Because of space constraints, the deck was to be built on the garage roof. This meant that we had to protect the deck below with a rubberized roof. We laid the joists down and started decking just in time for it to rain.

It rained. And it rained. And it rained.

The over-garage deck had walls on 3 sides and a cedar pergola on the 4th wall. The entry and exit to the deck is exterior stairs. We built a landing and stairs all the way down to grade.

We finished about 12:30 AM on Monday completely exhausted but also feeling really good. There’s something about giving back that can’t be described. But working with such a large team with so many cast members for such a good reason made 18 straight hours about as easy as it could be.

The show aired as a 2-part series last Friday night. To see part 1, click here. To watch part 2, click here.

Here are some great pictures from the Extreme Home Makeover website:

The truck bed deck seats on the deck

Nice bursts of Ohio State red and a Buckeye flag on the new deck

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Mike Reeder

Owner of Archadeck of Columbus

Columbus screen porch architectural drawing design plan

When we buy a new home, we might notice that the living room seems very large or the dining room seems a little snug. But, we can envision having success with the interior decorating of those rooms. We either find a way to fit our furniture by adding or dropping a piece or two. Or, we buy new furniture to fit the bill. It’s nice that we have a lot more flexibility when it comes to building a custom outdoor structure such as a screen porch. How do we know how big that room should be? Is there a perfect size or an easy formula? Well, every structure we build is completely custom to fit our customer’s needs whether it be size, traffic flow, air flow, privacy, living style and a number of other factors. After we come up with a proposed design plan, we review it together and make modifications before we begin to make sure your new room is exactly what you want.

Some good questions to ask yourself in determining the right size for your new screened porch

Question: How big are your interior rooms?

One of the best ways to start is to go in your house and measure your living room and dining room. You may not be certain yet whether you want to have an eating space or a sitting area on your new porch. Many of our customers want both. If you want both, do you have a combination room in your house that includes both a seating area and an eating area? Know that these measurements serve as a guide only and we’ll help you assess other factors.

Columbus screen porch with interior designed for eating and seating

Question: If your new porch includes an eating area, do you intend to have informal meals or meals where you and your guests linger?

This might seem like a really odd question. But here again, go into your dining room. Measure the amount of space your table and chairs take up when the chairs are pushed in. Now pull the chairs out to where they would be if people were eating. Measure again. It’s a big difference isn’t it? With your guests sitting and eating, that easily adds about 2 feet around the perimeter of your table. Now, sit in one of the chairs. Imagine you’ve had a huge meal and need more room to sit back, cross your legs, and enjoy lingering conversation.  When your guests have their chairs pulled out relaxing after a meal, that can add an additional foot on every side. Now add about 2 feet between the wall and other furniture for a nice traffic flow. Here’s a scenario. If you have a 40″ round table with 3.5 – 7.5 feet for sitting next to the table, to be relatively snug, you need 100 square feet or a 10 x 10 right there.

Columbus large screen porch interior design with traffic flow area

Question: What are your plans for your seating area?

Your plans for your screened porch may include just a seating or eating area or a combined area like many of our customers choose. Here are some thoughts about what size the seating area should be. Once significant factor is whether you will have a coffee table because the table not only takes up space but also requires room for traffic flow area around it. It’s good to decide how much seating area you are looking for. For example, do you envision just a love seat against an exterior wall? Or do you envision two adjoining exterior walls with perhaps a love seat against one and a sofa against the other? Or, are you looking to also add some additional seating across from the sofa? Any good outdoor contractor will be able to work with you to define the size of the space you will need to accommodate your living goals for your new room.

Question: Without all this calculating and planning, what’s a common size?

Generally speaking a 12 x 16 all the way up to 16 x 16 are common sizes. You should ask your contractor for photos showing different room sizes to also help you with your decision.

Question: Should you buy furniture first?

Not necessarily. Unless you already have furniture you want to use, you do not need to buy furniture first.

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Do you have questions about interior design for your screen porch? Email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net or use the comments below to ask your question. We will be happy to call you with an answer, email you, or even create a video response for you.

Many of my customers decide they want a new structure whether it be a deck or porch or sunroom. They go to the back of their house and decide exactly where they want it to be. Then I show up and often feel like the bad guy because I have to present a list of reasons why that won’t work. I don’t want to be a downer but my job as a professional builder is not to jimmy rig something to fit where it doesn’t fit but to tell the client why that will or won’t work. When deciding where to place an outdoor addition, we need to consider existing windows and roof lines so the new structure will work aesthetically and functionally.

Windows as challenges in attaching new roofed structures.

When attaching a new structure, we cannot attach the roof where windows sit. Often the placement of the second story windows makes this a huge challenge especially as it relates to attaching a roof. Depending on the style of roof (Gable, Hip or Shed) we have to accommodate this by either keeping roof line below the window(s) or building the new roof to cover them.  Another aspect homeowners should consider is how much light will be obstructed with a new roof.

Consider the sun

Another big consideration is the direction of the back of your home. Will your new structure get lots of sun or very little? How will that sun affect the light that enters the back of your house? You may love the way the light pours through the windows on the back of your house – at the very spot where you want your new sunroom or porch to go. The porch will then enjoy that streaming sunlight but your light inside the home will be affected. But I want you to be happy year after year in your new porch or sunroom. I don’t want you to feel like you made a mistake because of how it changes the amount of light in your favorite room. I don’t want to build it in such a way that the sunlight is so overwhelming on one side of your porch that you only want to use it at certain times of day. I treat you like I would my brother or family member. I want to use my experience to guide you in making the best decision.

This one was REALLY a challenge

Take a look at the picture below showing the back of this home. The family wanted to convert their deck into a screen porch. Looking at the back of the home, it’s pretty much of a no brainer right? The obvious choice would be to put the screen porch where the deck was. And, also obvious was to use a gable roof. We always want to make the roof style fit with the home. In this case, you can see 3 gable roofs on the back of the home so using a gable style would fit right in. In addition, using a gable was perfect because it would extend over the existing half dome window and not cause any problems with other windows.

The customer wanted to convert this deck into a screened porch

As it turns out, there was quite an architectural challenge in designing this screen porch. The first challenge was that the gable roofs on either side were a different heights and pitches so we needed to design something to work well with both adjacent gables.

One of the larger challenges that an inexperienced contractor might not think of was water drainage. If you look at the adjacent gable roofs and imagine the screen porch abutting up to them, the water coming off those other roofs is going to flow right down into the screen porch.

In this scenario, water would drain right down from the adjacent roof into the screened porch

Take a look at how this design would work if no accommodation was made for the water flow and appropriate drainage. In order to fix that problem, we engineered cricket roofs to divert running water away from the screened porch.

Cricket roof diverts drainage water away from screen porch

As noted above, working with architectural elements on the home can be a challenge and is a major factor in the design. This home not only had a large elevated half-round window that they wanted to keep but they also had a vent on the back of the house that we needed to work around.

As you can see in the final design below, we were able to accomplish all of the architectural challenges while still creating a stunning structure that would look like it was built with the original home.

You can see how the gable roof fits in beautifully with the architecture of the home. You can also see how the screened porch is finished to match the look of the room to a tee.

Our work at this Delaware home is in progress so we look forward to sharing pictures once we’ve finished. One thing that isn’t apparent in this picture is matching the materials. Often one of the first questions people ask me is “Can you make it look like it was made to go with our home?” The answer almost all of the time is yes. We hunt down roof shingles, paint colors, siding, gutters and other materials to match your new structure to your home.

The deck of this home used Trex composite decking. We were able to extend the stairs by using the same decking material for a perfect match.

On this particular home, we are working with a stucco exterior. Stucco is a challenge because it is thin mortar and is brittle. When attaching the structure to the home, very special care and attention is paid to working with the stucco on the home’s exterior.

As we mentioned before, adding a roofed structure to your home will affect the light into your home. In many of our screened porches and sunrooms we add Velux skylights. These not only bring more light into your new room but allow for more natural light into the adjoining room in your home.

As you can see, it’s really important to work with an experienced outdoor builder. You might not want to work with a general contractor unless they have extensive experience in building outdoor roof structures. It’s a fair question to ask specifically how many screen porches or how many sunrooms they have built. When you are meeting with the builder, make sure they ask you a lot of these types of questions. Any contractor that takes a quick look at it and says “yup I can do it” is almost certainly not one you should work with. Also make sure that your builder is going to give you a design drawing. One person’s interpretation of specs can be a lot different than another’s. You want to make sure that you and your builder are on the very same page.

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

We build throughout the greater Columbus area and would love to talk to you about a screen porch or another outdoor addition you are planning for your home. Give us a call at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at. westcolumbus@archadeck.net. Please also feel free to take a look at our website. You can see hundreds of great pictures of all sorts of outdoor projects.

The interior of this screen porch displays design perfection in every detail

Have you ever been flipping through your favorite home and garden magazine and seen an image that makes you wish you could have something just like it? If you are a proactive homeowner that is always looking for ways to improve upon your home or landscape then the answer is most certainly yes. These Powell, OH homeowners recently turned their dream of having a screen porch into a reality.

It all began when we initially sat down and met to get an idea of what they were looking to build. They told us that what they wanted most was a unique structure and they even gave us some pictures they had clipped out to use as a starting point for their project which showed a very finished structure that had wrapped beams and lots of architectural reveals on the inside and outside. The pictures provided valuable insight into developing the concept of the screen porch’s design. (see picture of clipping below). With the homeowner’s requests in mind we were ready to begin the design process.

This screen porch in Powell, OH by Archadeck of Columbus is picture perfect in every way.

The finished porch boasts an abundant 16′ x 16′ sq. feet of blissful outdoor living space which includes 9′  high walls which are higher than standard screen porch walls.  High ceilings are becoming more and more popular and we like to build the walls of our outdoor structures to match  the the walls inside the house on the adjoining room. Your outdoor room is truly an extension of your home.

In terms of trimming out this screen porch, we used “build-up” columns in the screen porches interior. In essence this means we actually build them up to make them appear larger and more finished. By having thicker columns in the middle, we were able to put sconce lights in the interior and these more robust columns add to the elegance of the entire room. When working with certain interior design aspects of an outdoor structure, bigger is usually better, it gives your finished room a richer feel.

Powell, OH screen porch Cedar tongue and groove ceiling detailing

We used Paulownia trim on the posts which comes ready to paint upon installation. On the floor the homeowners chose a pressure-treated pine floor laid on a diagonal pattern.  Using pine adds a rustic, natural ambiance to a room like only real wood can, and choosing the diagonal patterning conveys a sense of creativity by steering away from the traditional pattern commonly seen in screen porches. These Powell, OH homeowners played on the rich lines and wood within the flooring and took it a step further by choosing an unfinished cedar tongue and groove ceiling. Also included were some little creature comforts and extras. These included a wall mount system for the homeowners TV, ceiling fans, and ample electrical outlets on those hearty posts.

This image shows the majesty of the porches exterior

Of course, the quality and sense of exclusivity was carried on to the exterior as well. We put architectural reveals on the outside with the use of  additional trim that creates the appearance of a  more layered look which shows shadow lines. We also installed  siding on  the exterior of the porch and painted it to make it look natural to the  house.  We used aluminum screen inserts and also placed white reveals around the screens to add character.

If you are looking for a builder that can deliver you a “picture-perfect” outdoor structure, contact Archadeck of Columbus to get started today call us at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

To see more stunning Columbus area screen porches visit our screened porches photo gallery by visiting our website.

Columbus screen porch translating customer design ideas

Imagine this beauty ready and waiting for you to enjoy with the first blooms of spring, after overwintering has seasoned it perfection

Many of our Columbus homeowners ask me when is the best time to build a new deck? Many of you may think that the best time to build a deck is the spring, but the truth is, the best time to consider building a new deck may be in the winter. The best way to explain the reasoning behind a winter deck construction is what i would refer to as the “give and take” of the project. Give and take refers to the use of pressure treated wood during the winter months. The give refers to the woods expansion, and the take refers to the woods contraction that is caused by the effects of varying outdoor temperatures on the wood itself.

Double low to grade deck in Columbus OH with fire pit

The first thing you have to remember when considering building any type of deck or other outdoor structure, whether the decking boards you choose are composite, PVC, vinyl, IPE or hardwoods the foundation of your structure will be constructed using pressure treated  pine or another pressure treated wood. Wood curing is important to understand in relation to the wood’s natural tendency to “give and take”,  and curing which occurs over the winter months offers many important benefits.

Pressure treated wood  has a 50% moisture content when you initially build. This fresh lumber is sometimes referred to among builders as “green”.  The winter has less humidity and thus the pressure treated  wood will stabilize itself and dry more consistently and evenly when you build in the winter. On the other end of the spectrum a summer deck construction exposes the pressure treated wood to higher humidity conditions. In addition, when drying in the hot sun, pressure treated wood will undergo expansion and contraction which can cause cracking, warping and other damage to the wood itself. Due to the orientation of the sun during the winter months, the sun doesn’t beat down on your deck, and the pressure treated wood that holds the key to your project’s structural integrity will not undergo these negative effects.

TimberTech composite deck and screen porch by Archadeck of Columbus

Another benefit of building in winter is you will also experience less wait time and backlogs which are typical in spring and summer projects. Our typical waiting list is 8 weeks in the height of the season, during the winter you are likely going to cut that wait time in half. A winter project also causes less lifestyle interruption because homeowners typically spend less time outdoors and less time participating in outdoor activities during the colder months of the year. You will also experience less deterioration of the ground, and less turf damage during the winter months because of the dormancy period that Columbus landscapes experience through the cooler months.

Columbus deck built with treated pine

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Keep in mind that Archadeck of Columbus can also build your outdoor structure combination in stages. Winter is the perfect time to start the first stage of your desired outdoor living project. If you are considering a deck and patio combination for example, you can take advantage of our staged building option and build the deck this winter and then we can add the patio later into the spring. With Archadeck of Columbus’ staged building the choice is yours. Contact us today to learn more, call us at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net

This composite deck by Archadeck of Columbus is a virtual fantasy of relaxation and elegance.

If you were to imagine the backyard of your dreams, what would it look like and what functions would it address for you and your family? Imagine being able to soak in the hot tub on your custom hot tub deck on a cool autumn evening while listening to the crackling of a fire burning in your own outdoor fireplace. This outdoor structure takes advantage of mingling two of nature’s most mesmerizing elements – fire and water.

Archadeck of Columbus has created a masterpiece of design with this multi-level deck complete with an outdoor fireplace for the ultimate in backyard enjoyment.

This outdoor living area flows effortlessly in a carefully planned series of functional vignettes that make the structure a joy to use for these Washington Courthouse, OH homeowners, and indeed a feast for the eyes as well.

When we began to plan and design the structure we were given a blank canvas to work our magic on because the home was brand new. The landscaper had completed the landscape design and brought us into enhance the home and landscape for the homeowners with an outdoor structure design that would bring out the best of every attribute of the  stunning home and the landscape. The homeowners were looking for a design that would be great for entertaining on a grand scale with plenty of room for a crowd as well as the capability to play on the structures ability to create intimacy in a way that would be comfortable for a smaller crowd. Another crucial design element the homeowners wanted is a planting area incorporated into the deck.

Here is an awe-inspiring view of the entire structure from the backyard of the Washington Courthouse, OH home.

Archadeck of Columbus went to work on the design and came up with a deck with a surround of stunning stone retaining walls, custom stone planters, a hot tub deck with a custom pergola and privacy wall, grilling area, and plenty of room in between for dining and conversation. At one end of the deck there is an outdoor fireplace flanked as well by custom stone retaining walls and plenty of room for seating upon an elevated section which surrounds the outdoor fireplace.

In order to achieve complete harmony in relation to the home the color selections played a huge role and tied everything together. We matched the brick used on the outdoor fireplace to the brick on the home. We also chose a color for the large composite deck that would blend beautifully with the stonework and columns and pillars that were used to create this magnificent outdoor structure. We even matched the lanterns that are used throughout the structure atop the caps on the retaining walls to continue the neutral, rustic feel that is present throughout the design of the entire structure.

This image shows the beautiful colors and the realistic wood grain of the composite decking used on this fabulous deck.

We chose to use composite decking material on the deck. Composites are ultra low maintenance and don’t require staining or sealing. Composites are also scratch and stain resistant, and many are impervious to insects, mold and mildew as well. They are also long-lasting and cannot be damaged by the moisture which is present when you use the hot tub. With this particular deck, using composites gave us the freedom to install the decking boards on a beautifully interesting angle which only adds to the appeal of the deck.

Notice how the design and placement of the hot tub deck, pergola and privacy wall offers shade and intimacy for the homeowners when the hot tub is in use.

The pergola which is placed above the hot tub to add character and offer some shade in deflecting the suns rays is made from vinyl by Mt. Hope Fence, Ltd. The privacy wall which matches the pergola,  is also constructed of vinyl as well. Vinyl is a durable material which offers many of the same attributes of composite decking in that it is durable, maintenance free and won’t succumb to rot, insect damage and decay like wood can. The choice to use vinyl alongside the composites means this deck and the details used within the deck will give these Washington Courthouse, OH homeowners many years of carefree enjoyment without the worry of painting or staining in the future.

Careful attention was paid to every detail from the columns to the paver border used on this entrance into the home from the deck.

The stone surround and retaining walls were constructed using Celtic retaining walls by Belgard. The retaining walls gives strong concrete elements and uses the aspects of old stone to create an elegant old world appeal.  By using this high quality innovative retaining wall system by Belgard, Archadeck of Columbus was able to facilitate the creation of curves within the retaining walls surrounding the deck that would not have been possible by using  natural stone or other materials.

Archadeck of Columbus paid close attention to every detail within the composite deck and accompanying structures. From the color choices made to paint the columns and pillars that help frame the beauty of the deck’s entrances into the home, to the use of custom paver borders used to outline and enhance the grill area. No stone was left unturned in terms of the use of cohesive design within this structure. The pairing of stone, composites, vinyl, and detailing truly creates a match made in heaven for this home in Washington Courthouse, OH.

The perfect place for a backyard barbecue.

We were able to create a masterpiece of beauty, design, functionality and enjoyment with this outdoor structure. The homeowners continue to enjoy their new deck and all it’s amenities more and more each day. This is truly the outdoor oasis of their dreams, and they get to live the reality each day, and for many years to come as well.

If you have a dream of creating an outdoor oasis within your backyard, contact Archadeck of Columbus to turn that dream into a reality. Call us at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net to learn more.

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Visit our Composite and vinyl decks photo gallery located on our website for more picture perfect composite decks.

To turn up the heat on design inspirations you can also visit our outdoor fireplace and fire pit gallery, also located on our website.

This spa deck in Columbus, OH by Archadeck of Columbus has everything a deck could possibly offer.

More and more homeowners are choosing to invest in making their backyard into a place of refuge rather than splurging on exotic vacations and trips abroad in pursuit of the ultimate place to relax and rewind.  Hot tubs and spas are a popular choice among homeowners seeking to create a tranquil setting to escape to while staying in the comfort of their own back yards. What could be more perfect on a brisk autumn evening than soaking in the hot tub with a glass of Merlot? The steam wafting in the cool air around you and the sounds of the season captured by the sound of crisp leaves blowing in the breeze. This scene is set  and played out with your very own hot tub integrated as the focal point to your custom spa deck.

With the dawn of the personal hot tub or spa comes the custom spa deck to compliment the structure and add valuable outdoor living space as well. A customized  spa deck is perfect for entertaining, dining, grilling and cooking and any other activity you and your family enjoy doing outdoors. Keep in mind the need for easy accessibility from your home because you want to plan on using your spa during the fall and winter months for the utmost in warmth, ambiance and relaxation. Here is a stunning panorama of  spa and hot tub decks that will give you some ideas and inspiration in your own backyard.

This deck extension by Archadeck of Columbus even has a retractable awning for the ultimate in comfort.

Here are some considerations when designing and building your spa or hot tube deck. A spa or hot tub deck is not just a deck with a hot tub placed in it or on it. There are certain areas within the structural criteria of a hot tub deck that must be met in order to accommodate the added weight for safety and to preserve the structural integrity of the deck as a whole. Many homeowners don’t take into consideration the full magnitude of the weight a hot tub or spa , once filled with water will add to the deck. This is why it is crucial to make sure your deck has the appropriate structural supports to accommodate the added weight of a hot tub or spa. When considering adding a hot tub or spa to your existing deck it is important to implement this support system as well. Utilizing the expertise and experience of a  professional licensed deck  builder to design and construct your deck is the best route to take when thinking of adding a hot tub or spa to the structure. In many cases a spa can add an additional weight of up to 2,000 pounds when filled with water and your deck will need to be sturdy enough to carry this weight without any stress. This sturdiness can be achieved by constructing a spa support deck, with either a concrete pad of wood platform.

Another consideration is having accessibility to the mechanics of the hot tub or spa. If the hot tub is located on top of the deck, access is simple, but with a partially or fully recessed hot tub you may need a trap door or have an access area built around it on 3 sides so as to have access to the control panel. Trap doors such as these are quite easy and can be designed to be hidden from view.

The curvilinear design of this hot tub deck wraps you in beauty and comfort.

Aside from the structural diversity that is required when building your spa deck, there are many design options available when deciding how to finish out your spa deck. Above all, location of the hot tub itself is an important decision. Archadeck of  Columbus likes to think outside the box in terms of locations for your spa or hot tub. Many times homeowners make the mistake of placing the hot tub in the center of the deck. This can be a major design flaw which will affect the flow and use of your deck. The first rule of thumb is to never place the hot tub in front of a window. This will become a regrettable decision because it will restrict your view and soon become an eyesore. From experience we have found that most popular with homeowners is partially recessing the hot tub within the deck.  Hot tubs are most typically 3 feet high and many times homeowners decide to mount the hot tub flush with the deck so you actually “step into” the hot tub. We also see a great many top mountings as well. The only dangers we see if when the hot tub is partially recessed it can present a challenge when exiting and entering the hot tub, and a tripping hazard in some cases as well.  For example, consider placing the hot tub within a curvilinear corner, or incorporate the spa to be surrounded by bench seating that will make the perfect place to sit down and take off your shoes to dip your fit in the warm bubbling water. If entering and exiting the hot tub seems as though it may present a problem, steps can easily be incorporated into the design to make gaining entry to the hot tub easy and safe. Keep space in mind as well when considering how your hot tub or spa will integrate into your decks design. If you choose a hot tub with a cover that has an arm, for instance, you will need ample space to back it up comfortably.

When your hot tub is in use privacy as well as shading can be important. Many homeowners choose to build privacy walls adjacent to the hot tub, this offers shade from the sun and also keeps prying eyes away. Pergolas look great when paired with hot tubs and spa features as well and can also provide ample shade and privacy.

Selecting the right material for your hot tub or spa deck is also important, after all you don’t want to get splinters in those bare feet. There are many quality composite and PVC decking materials, as well as natural woods on the market that are designed specifically for areas around water. There are many brands that offer slip-resistance and that also keep heat build-up to a minimum so they are easy on your bare feet. TimberTech , AZEK and many others have lines specified for use on pool and spa decks, and some are even formulated for use on docks such as TimberTech’s Docksider decking.

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Now is the perfect time to consider taking the plunge into a spa or hot tub deck of your own. The chill of Autumn creates a stunning backdrop for the soothing waters of a spa or hot tub.  Archadeck of Columbus can design and build a hot tub or spa deck that will compliment your home and your lifestyle. We can even incorporate other outdoor living structures such as an outdoor fireplace or firepit into your decks design that will enable you to enjoy two of natures most mesmerizing and powerful  elements in unison. To learn more about the magic you can create in your own backyard with a hot tub or spa deck contact us today (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

To experience more serene inspiration visit out pool and spa deck gallery located on our website.