One of my high school teachers always encouraged her students to ask the questions we had because, “If you have a question, someone else probably has the same question too.” With that in mind, I’d like to share some common questions I get which may help with some insight into what’s trending now and will likely to continue to trend at least early in 2015.
Q: What materials will people use the most in decks for 2015?
Synthetics like TimberTech make up about 80% of our deck business and we don’t foresee that changing much.
Q: Will we see anything new in composites?
Yes. TimberTech generally adds to their line at the beginning of each year. I understand they will add new colors to their line including a gray board.
Q: What new colors are becoming popular?
Dark brown is rising in popularity and we will build a lot of decks with contrasting colors, like those done in a picture frame design. Clients are also getting more creative with some of their trim choices on the sides.
Q: How about railings? Anything new there?
Nothing new really, but we anticipate high demand for aluminum because its thin profile allows for a superior view of your yard.
Q: What alternatives are there to the traditional rectangular deck?
Most houses are very linear so rectangular decks are always going to be popular. Having said that, we can use angles to soften the shape of the back of the house and add some visual interest to the design. It’s really the best of both worlds and less expensive than going with round or curvy.
Q: What’s hot in deck accessories?
Built-in lighting, especially with LED bulbs, is a trend that’s here to stay. It makes sense: why go to the trouble of building a deck and then make it hard to use after the sun sets? We can put accent lighting on stairs, which is a terrific safety feature, or mount it on posts or railings. If you can see your deck, you are going to use it more. And the newest generation of bulbs is energy efficient and designed to last. We can even link your lights to a timer or remote control for easy use.
Q: How about patios? What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in them over the last 4 years?
Larger stones are being requested more often. I’m ordering a lot of 8×12 and 12×12 stones. When I first started installing Columbus patios there were more 3×8 or 4×8 blocks. We also are building patios with different natural stones.
Q: Why are people using different sizes?
Sometimes they want to have more than one pattern in the layout, like using a soldier course inlay, a sailor course or designing the patio like a deck picture frame. We’ve collaborated on some really beautiful, creative projects using multiple sizes of pavers and stone.
Q: What are your customers adding to the patio base?
We are including lots of vertical components. Seating walls are terrific for a variety of purposes. Planters and pillars add visual interest and provide great opportunities for seasonal decorating. And, of course, we install fire pits and fireplaces.
Q: What stone colors are going to be popular next year?
Browns, buffs and grays. I think people like to use the colors of stones that they see in the environment around them. Reds generally are not as popular in this area.
Q: What feature do you consider a “must have” for a Columbus patio?
Lights. They provide safety and make any outdoor space more beautiful and useable. You can never go wrong with outdoor lighting.
Q: Any last words of outdoor living wisdom?
It may sound a little simplistic, but I always remind customers that the patio doesn’t end at the edge of the stones. You have to give some thought to what you will see all around it. Make sure to have a landscaping plan, even if it’s not fancy. If gardening is not one of your passions, we can help with Columbus landscape design and recommendations for low maintenance plants suitable to our climate.
If you’re considering building a porch, deck, patio or other outdoor living structure in the Columbus area, give us a call for a free consultation. We look forward to your call!
(740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net
Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus 