Round is beautiful on your Columbus OH deck

Humans are, generally speaking, not made of sharp angles. Our heads are rounded and our bodies tend toward the curvy. Our planet and the heavenly bodies are also circular so it’s not a surprise that we are drawn to rounded edges, curves, arches and domes in our architecture. Deck shape and edges are no exception.

Archadeck can and does build round-edge (also known as radius) decks all the time and they are very visually appealing. The way they extend into a landscape is very compelling.  They are also more technically demanding jobs to construct and, especially when it comes to using synthetic materials, can require special tools to do the job right. When I first started in this business, someone once told me, “If you bend, you spend,” and that’s still the case.

What makes round decks cost 10-20% more than decks of similar size built at right angles?  Two things. First, building a rounded deck takes quite a bit longer to do and to do well, especially if you want to do a picture frame around the edging. This means higher labor costs. On a recent job using composite TimberTech, it took us about a ½ hour per board to heat and bend them to the correct angle. The sharper the radius we are trying to achieve, the longer it takes to heat and bend the boards or to cut them correctly.

When we lay out decks on right angles, we are able to minimize how many boards we need to cut.  Rounded decks require more board cuts which take more time and create more waste in materials. If you’ve ever made a lattice-top pie, you know exactly what I’m talking about.  This is also true when it comes to putting up the railings.  More often than not, rather than bend the railings, we install them at angles using short runs.  This requires that we use more rail posts.  Look around my our web site to see some examples of what is possible.

I’ll leave you with one last thing to consider when it comes to rounded decks: linear decks give you more functional space for things like furniture placement and traffic flow. There is a lot to love about a round Columbus deck, and if this is what you have your heart set on, the extra time in building and slightly less usable space won’t matter.

If you’re thinking about adding an outdoor living space to your Columbus backyard, give us a call to see how we can make creating your dream backyard an enjoyable experience, start to finish. The consultation is completely free. Call (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.

Author: archadeckofcolumbus

I began my association with Archadeck in 2001 when I was working for a subcontractor that Archadeck of Columbus was employing for patio installations. I had been working in the Landscape/Hardscape industry for quite a few years at the time and immediately noticed a difference in how Archadeck operated in comparison with other deck companies that we worked with. Over the years of working with Archadeck on numerous projects, large and small, I came to realize the importance of what they were selling; beautiful designs, top-notch craftsmanship and a world class customer experience. This is what drove me to start working for Archadeck in January of 2011 and eventually buying the company in 2016. My wife, Amber, and my son, Logan, could not be happier to be a part of such a wonderful organization. We look forward to the future as we build the outdoor living environments our customers dream of with the “world class” service they deserve! View all posts by archadeckofcolumbus