Archadeck of Columbus – Page 15 – Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus

A Nightmarish Construction Turns into a Happily Ever After when Archadeck of Columbus Takes the Wheel

Archadeck of Columbus tells a nightmarish tale of construction pitfalls to warn other homeowners of the dangers of not hiring a professional contractor.

All too often, we hear horror stories from homeowners that have become our customers as a result of hiring some “handyman” to build their outdoor structure, only to find out too late that they did not have a clue as to what they were doing. Then that homeowner ends up calling us following the disaster to make amends and build the structure properly. I guess you could say we sometimes serve as “the calm after the storm”. This is a tattered tale of one such event, listen closely to see it you can figure out the moral of the story…

Once upon a time a homeowner hired a contractor to do a TimberTech installation at his residence. Before the job even got off the ground the homeowner realized there were a lot of things awry with the job.First of all, the contractor he hired did not obtain a proper permit. By law a building permit for any structure, or addition is to be posted in clear view at the job site. It is also crucial to make sure the contractor has proper liability insurance, you can indemnify them by adding their name on it.

The contractor did other bad deeds as well, such as putting rubber membrane underneath the decking boards, so it was between the decking boards and the joists. The contractor then screwed the decking down through the membrane. The screws and nails they used for the job were not supposed to be used for exterior applications, so in a short time, the nails they used for the framing would have deteriorated when used in combination to the treated pine joists. Also, the hidden fasteners used were not the proper TimberTech fastener system.

This particular contractor, did such a horrendous job, A video showing the deflection of the boards when you pushed on the boards was made. We made the video to warn other homeowners of the potential hazards and pitfalls of not hiring a professional contractor. There is no way to do enough research to understand what the contractor is doing wrong or the requirements for each job. This is the beauty of hiring a professional, we have knowledge of the products, the requirements and we build quality into every inch of our structures. We call it ” the Archadeck difference”.

With almost all synthetic decking, such as TimberTech, it requires that you run your joists at a minimum of 16″ on center when you run the decking perpendicular. If you run the decking on a diagonal it needs to be a minimum of 12″ on center. We always make sure the joists are 12″ on center. It is crucial with any synthetic decking that the contractor follows the installation instructions by the board manufacturer.

This story did end on a happy note, the very distressed homeowner called TimberTech. TimberTech gave the homeowners our name and told him to call Archadeck of Columbus because of our prior knowledge, experience and expertise of working with the TimberTech products. Archadeck of Columbus is completely re-doing the job, the way it should have been done to begin with.

We asked the homeowner how they found the bad contractor. They indicated that their neighbors had a deck built by the other contractor. So, we went next door to see if the contractor did the same thing at the neighbor’s house. Take a look.

I guess by now, you figured out the moral of the story. Always hire a professional such as Archadeck of Columbus, to ensure a happily ever after every time. Contact us today to get started (740) 879 – 3730 westcolumbus@archadeck.net

Decisions in Hardscapes- the Who’s Who and the What’s best

Archadeck of Columbus, OH explores the trends in pavers. Pavers are used on a wide scale to construct floors, patios, retaining wall, pillars and outdoor fire pits and fireplaces.

Dublin_outdoor_patio_landscaping — Rendering and design plan for outdoor patio done in pavers

Everyday we are asked about hardscapes and pavers. Hardscapes have become very popular recently. With the choices and styles sometimes it can be quite a chore just to make a selection for your upcoming project. One of the things we love to do as design consultants, is to aid in making your selections. I do want to take an opportunity to share some of my thoughts and experience on pavers and hardscapes with you, in essence a “who’s who” and “what’s best”.

belgard3 — Soothing water feature in Belgard

Most pavers come in different sizes, and when considering pavers you usually will have at least two different sizes in each style and color so that you can create lots of different looks. Pavers come in various colors as well, this makes it easy to either contrast or blend your colors. Each paver is not a single, solitary color. Each will have variation and different tones throughout the paver itself. This is due largely in part to the fact that pavers are concrete molds and they will tend to vary in color due to the aggregates. Most

patio and fireplace w star hardscapes — Patio and outdoor fireplace done in hardscapes

pavers come in either a smooth surface or a more rustic surface, which is referred to as “tumbled”. Stonehenge and Brussels are a good representation of the “tumbled” pavers. Various styling trends such as the lane pattern’s and Curvilinear are popular. Curvilinear is a little more expensive because there is more cutting involved. Styles such as these a larger and more like tiles or slabs that mimic the look of natural stone. Belgard also has a line of natural “stone”- like pavers as well.

Of course when considering building with pavers, foundation, as is the case with any construction, is very important. The advantage of using a concrete paver over a concrete pad or stamped concrete. With a paver you don’t run the risk of a cracking foundation because when using pavers you have a joint that acts as an expansion joint, and if potentially something goes wrong it is an easy fix.

Dublin_OH_patio_design — Paver patio designed by Archadeck of Columbus

In the Midwest the most popular pavers are Oberfields and Unilock. Both are good concrete pavers, however over time Oberfields will lose some its color. An inexpensive color will start to show more of the aggregate within the paver much more quickly than a higher quality paver will. The aggregate color which usually comes forth is a concrete-type grayish tint and this is the reason we generally don’t recommend using Oberfields.

retaining wall hardscape — Hardscape retaining wall

Another important aspect when considering pavers is water drainage and elevation.You always want to keep the water away from your house. We add a slight slope with installation of each paver to ensure that the water is flowing away from your home. When elevation is an issue, for example if you have a slope in your backyard, there will be a necessity to create a retaining wall(s). In this case we usually suggest a fall of 6″ or more. Another choice for keeping water away from the house is Belgard and Unilock’s permeable pavers. They are the new “green” thing in pavers. They are slightly wider and water goes through them, however they do require a different type of installation.

patio with outdoor kitchen hardscape — Hardscape patio with outdoor kitchen

A great facility to view pavers here in Columbus, OH is Mr. Mulch. They are a retailer with about 25,000 feet of display area which includes Techno-bloc and Unilock pavers. Another place is Wellnitz. My grandfather was Harry Wellnitz and he actually started the company, they now specialize in landscaping and carry Belgard products as well. Belgard is a high-end product that is not only used for paver floors but also seating walls, pillars and the ever popular fire pits and outdoor fireplaces.

large_Dublin_OH_patio_design — Another view of this great rendering for a hardscape patio by Archadeck of Columbus

Last but certainly not least are Techno-bloc pavers. Believe it or not this is the only paver that will withstand salt being applied to it. This paver will come in handy to use if you live in area that requires a great deal of de-icing each year.

I hope these helpful hints and suggestions help you to better identify the current trends and choices in pavers. If you still have some questions you need answered our design staff is always here to help you with all your hardscape needs. Give Archadeck of Columbus a call to plan your next paver project.(740) 879 – 3730

The Design Series: Considerations When Finishing Out Your Screened Porch

Part two of our Design Series on screened porches focuses on considerations when finishing out your screened porch. How to use natural light to optimize enjoyment and the importance of envisioning traffic flow.

001 — Where the sun hits your structure during the day for warmth and natural light is an important consideration

Now that you have defined how much space you need for your screened porch it is time to decide how to finish out your space. There are many considerations that come into play when deciding how to finish out your screened porch, one of which is probably one of the most important… where and how will the room receive it’s light?

When planning on building a screened porch or other outdoor structure it is crucial to detect which direction it will be receiving the sun. If your structure is in direct sunlight it will stay too warm, and if it is completely in the shade it may not get warm enough. You want to place your structure for maximum utilization of free light with consideration to how much heat you want from the sun.

Considering you will lose a certain amount of sunlight when you install a roof on your structure you have to look for ways to overcome that loss. Positioning the porch where you can take advantage of the light coming in from other windows in relation to your house is an option. A gabled roof will also let more light pass through. Remember the west side of the home usually has the most light, and heat, this will also have to be a consideration when considering placement of your screened porch. When placement of your screened porch is not open to many options there are other ways to obtain that much-needed light, such as skylights. Skylights add beauty and function to your screened porch. There are also many outdoor lighting and ceiling fan designs on the market now that cater to the screened porch. These lights and fans are safe to use outdoors in a screened porch setting and come in enough styles to suit any taste.

115 — A screened porch with good traffic flow

Another key factor of finishing your screened porch is the traffic flow. We typically put the door near the house, but in some cases this may not work. Door positioning is important in relation to your furniture and you have to take into consideration how that furniture will be used and will it be in the path of traffic when in use? You always want a smooth traffic flow around your furnishings whether they are in use or not currently in use. Take into consideration the door swing as well, you wouldn’t want the door to swing open against a piece of furniture. You want a clear, open traffic flow, so you and your guests can move about in harmony throughout your structure for maximum enjoyment.

At Archadeck of Columbus we can meet with you to plan your perfect screened porch. We have experience in turning your dreams into a reality. We can help you decide the placement of your screened porch and plan all the little important details. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are here to help you every step of the way.(740) 879 – 3730

The Design Series – Considerations in Constructing a Screened Porch- How Big Should your Screened Porch Be?

Part one of our “Design Series” about considerations when constructing a screened porch. How big should your screened porch be? Archadeck of Columbus gives you helpful hints on ways to determine the best size screened porch to fit your needs and lifestyle.

How big should my screened in porch be? This is a question many of our clients ask us when considering the addition of a screened in porch. We like to meet with our clients in the planning stages so we can devise a plan on the size their particular structure needs to be to fit all their needs.

105 — Large screened porch with fireplace

The first factor we need to discuss when considering how large to build the screened porch is what will it predominately be used for? Will it be used for dining or gathering, or both? What else will it be used for?

A good rule of thumb if you are planning to use the screened in porch as an outdoor dining area is to chart how large it needs to be by going into your dining room and measure it. An addition is sometimes hard to visualize when it’s not furnished, and going into your actual dining room space with furniture will set a realistic goal to judge how much room you will actually need.

109 — Screened porches add outdoor living space

Another question we ask our clients is the size of the furniture which will be used inside the screened porch. If you will be using it as an outdoor dining area, have you decided upon a table yet? If so, how big is it? If not how big do you want your table to be? You always want to leave a clearance area of about four feet outside the table so you have ample room to walk around the table when it is not in use, and plenty of room to pull out the chairs to a comfortable distance when in use. If you are sitting back after eating, we recommend additional space. These are the sorts of things you may not think about. But, you really have to envision yourself living in the space you are thinking about all the way down to the size of the table and how you and your guests will congregate around the table and the other furniture.

There are some more things to think about. Will you be adding perimeter furniture such as couches, chairs, tables or decorative furniture pieces? If the answer is yes, then you will want to plan for those additional pieces to fit comfortably and not overcrowd your usable living space. Some of our clients use their screened porch as an outdoor living room. If you are thinking about using your outdoor room as an outdoor living room, go into your living room and measure the room and furniture in the same manner.

020 — Beautiful view of screened porch and patio at dusk

We are always asked the question is there a “standard” or “common” size for a screened porch? They vary quite a bit, but 12×14 and 14×16 are quite common sizes. The dimensions of the screened porch come into play more with a covered area because when you put a roof over it, it becomes defined. The screened porch must be able to accommodate your furniture comfortably and leave enough space in between to be able to flow through the room easily. This is why planning is so important.

Archadeck of Columbus can meet with you and create a design rendering taking all of your individual needs into consideration. We treat each screened porch we design as unique and individual. A design rendering will help you visualize your dream, and then we can start from there, bringing the dream to life. Give us a call to get the ball rolling (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

A Deck/Patio Combo in Columbus turns out to be just what the Doctor Ordered

Archadeck of Columbus pairs together a deck and patio combination that suits these Columbus, Ohio homeowners to a “T”.

Columbus paver patio deck and landscaping

Here at Archadeck of Columbus, we recently completed a deck for this homeowner in Gahanna which is located in Columbus, Ohio. This customer decided to install a deck and patio combination because they liked the idea of having two different living areas and having adjoining seating areas to enjoy throughout the season.

Patios can be installed in the Columbus area from about March 15^th until the first freeze which is usually around mid-December. The ideal is to wait to begin a patio until March or early April to make sure the ground is not frozen, or in some cases muddy from melting snow or ice.

We constructed the deck using TimberTech XLM in beautiful “river rock” gray and used a cedar rail for a wonderful contrast. We completed the deck prior to the stairs because we wanted to make sure the stairs are all the same height.

Columbus_paver_patio_builder — Design rendering in detail

The upcoming patio will be oval on one corner and the other corner will be a straight rectangle to accommodate a small retaining wall. Due to the excavation that is necessary for the patio’s installation there will be excess soil that needs to be removed. In most cases we can use excavated soil as topsoil to create planting beds or an upgrade at a later date around the perimeter of a structure such as this patio. In the case of this customer, they wanted to add planting beds that they could go ahead and plant in now. This worked out perfectly for this customer. We will also be adding a spading edge to the planting beds and mulch.

umbriano_winter_marvel — Umbriano "Winter marvel"

Archadeck Columbus paver patio architectural Rendering

The patio itself will be finished using Uni-lock Umbriano pavers. These are concrete pavers but are made to look contemporary, the end effect resembles slabs with a larger pattern. This type of paver has been quite popular in the Columbus area. The color these homeowners chose is “winter marvel” for the field area and the soldier course ( perimeter/border) is “midnight sky”. We anticipate this combination will be breathtaking when completed.

The choice to include a patio with the deck area is clearly a design that can be integrated into any landscape whether it is single or multi-level. Having multiple living areas is a growing trend. The two structures harmonize together beautifully.

If you are considering a deck, a patio or both, give Archadeck of Columbus a call and we can meet with you to discuss placement, design and materials. We can give your backyard that same harmony. Give us a ring for a free consultation (740) 879 – 3730
or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net.

Archadeck of Columbus and TimberTech Evolutions help pay it forward and get a lot back in return

Archadeck of Columbus donates to re-deck for Recreation Unlimited. A very rewarding experience for all who participated.

It is always a special opportunity when we are asked to give back to the community by helping a charitable organization. We really enjoy paying it forward by assisting our time and materials to help an organization like the one we recently helped on for Recreation Unlimited. Recreation Unlimited is a charity started by Dick Ruff in 1958 to provide recreational activities for people like himself with disabilities. Following the death of Dick Ruff in 1974 many community leaders such as Jimmy Crumm, local sportscaster and well-known face in the community with the local NBC station for many years, took the reins to make sure Dick’s dream would live on. Recreation Unlimited is located near Delaware and provides activities for developmentally and physically disabled individuals and those with health concerns.

Columbus Deck Builder TimberTech — Busy at work on the re-decking for Recreation Unlimited

Paul Huttlin is the director of the Recreation Unlimited facility. The facility had a 25-year-old deck adjacent to Lake Crumm. The deck itself overhangs the lake for fishing at the facility. There is a shelter adjacent to the deck and an open gazebo. The deck encompassed roughly 1,200 square feet. Archadeck of Columbus’ volunteers were in charge of the re-decking. Two crews donated their time and labor to complete this job. Seth Micheal and Josh Kempf both did a phenomenal job on this deck. We also couldn’t have did it without the help of our wonderful guys at TimberTech, Craig Hyatt and Tony Groh. It took us about two days to finish the job and it was a very rewarding experience.

Deck Builder Columbus TimberTech — A few of our wonderful volunteers

We chose to use the incredible TimberTech product called Evolutions. Evolutions is a beautiful composite deck that represents a new age in decking. The Evolutions material has a 25 year no stain and no fade warranty. TimberTech is the first ever to offer this full 25 year warranty on a decking product and we were really excited about using it on this structure. The Evolutions is not as expensive as pure PVC decking boards. It also has a PVC cap that extends around the perimeter of the board. Evolutions comes in many earthwood colors. We chose to use the Pacific Rosewood for this deck and Pacific Walnut and Radiance for the rail. The material has black veining/streaking through it to make it look more exotic, with breathtaking results. We also used hidden fasteners on the new deck to continue that endless vision of beauty without seeing the “stuff that holds it together”.

Anytime we donate our time or materials to help an organization such as this we always come back getting a lot more out of it than we could ever put in it. Having the opportunity to work on a job with this much significance to the community just makes you feel good. It is on a different level than doing jobs on a day-to-day. We encourage everyone to donate their time and whatever they have to a worthy cause such as this and help “pay it forward” in your community it is always an experience you will remember for the rest of your lives.

Columbus TimberTech deck — The completed Evolutions deck: A beautiful deck for a beautiful cause

From Recreation Unlimited…

The Recreation Unlimited deck by the lake is a major focal point for camp activities. The campers fish from the dock, do outdoor arts and crafts by the lake and use the deck for a picnic spot during the summer months. The original deck was very worn and needed repair or replacement. The Timbertech donation of materials was perfect for the type of application needed, a quality surface and maintenance free. If it wasn’t for Mike Reeder and Archadeck, the project would never have been completed. Mike and his crew’s expertise helped a bunch of weekend volunteers construct a beautiful deck in two days in a fantastic location. What a treat for our campers with disabilities and health concerns to use now and many years into the future. Thank you Archadeck and Timbertech.

Best regards!
Paul L. Huttlin
Executive Director and CEO
Recreation Unlimited Foundation
Recreation Unlimited Farm and Fun
7700 Piper Road
Ashley, OH 43003

An old deck becomes new again with Archadeck of Columbus

Perhaps your deck frame is just fine and it just looks bad on top. Depending on the stability of your deck frame, you may have that option to reduce costs. Watch this video to see how an old deck becomes new with replacing the deck boards on top.

Last week, we wrote about transforming an old beaten-down deck into a brand new deck using low-maintenance composite materials. Watch this video to see more of the transformation.