Tag: Columbus Redecking in synthetic

Top-shelf outdoor living makeover in Gahanna, OH, draws oohs and aahs

Gahanna OH RedeckingWith a house of this size, its beautiful landscaping and manicured back yard that goes on forever, the word that comes to mind is estate. The home’s original outdoor living structure was an attention-grabber in its day, and we can be certain the family has spent many enjoyable hours on this deck. However, styles have changed; the natural cedar deck and stairs showed extensive wear and the deck was in serious need of some shade!

Deck prior to redecking
Deck prior to redecking:

Enter Archadeck of Columbus to put things right again. Our mission was to restore the deck, staircase and landing to their former glory — only better — and add a grand pergola for shade. What do we mean by better?

First, better for these homeowners means their deck has now been rebuilt with TimberTech Legacy composite decking. This is an excellent choice for the low-maintenance outdoor living lifestyle. The new deck will not need to be sanded, stained or re-sealed; nor will it show the signs of wear you see over the years with natural wood. The TimberTech color the homeowners selected for their deck is called tigerwood.

Gahanna OH TimberTech RedeckingWe’ll let you in on a little secret. We did not have to rebuild this deck from scratch. The original support structure was in very good condition, still structurally sound and capable of supporting the new deck. That’s especially important because composite decking is heavier than wood. So what Archadeck of Columbus actually did here is called redecking. We removed the deck’s original surface and railing system and replaced the cedar boards with composite boards from TimberTech.

Next, better means an updated railing system. The original railings were quite sturdy but, compared to today’s railings, they looked clunky — especially the way they were bolted to the outside edge of the deck. Compare that to the new vinyl railing system. It’s just as protective but elegant and much less obtrusive. The light tan railings provide a subtle contrast to the tigerwood color of the decking boards.

Gahanna OH Pergola Builder

Because the deck extends all the way across the back of the house, literally from one end to the other, you’re going to see a lot of railing. All the more reason to select an elegant railing system. A single design change here creates a huge visual impact.

Gahanna OH TimberTech Redecking

Following the railing down the sweeping staircase, you may notice that the new stairs include risers, the vertical boards that connect each step to the one above it. The addition of risers is a design technique that seems simple but creates a polished look.

Finally, better means the family now has a shaded area for dining on the deck. We designed and installed a tan vinyl pergola to match the deck’s new railing system. The pergola is large enough to shade the biggest section of the deck, which contains the dining table.

Gahanna OH Pergola Builder

Altogether the redecking project enhances the entire back side of the house. As you can see, the deck, pergola, stairs and landing make up a portion of the home’s entire outdoor living space. There’s also a grill and another seating area under the deck, a patio featuring a fire pit, a handsome retaining wall and a large swimming pool. Archadeck of Columbus is proud of the way the new deck helps transform this home from stunning to amazing.

Archadeck of Columbus team
The Archadeck of Columbus team.

Your Archadeck of Columbus design consultant is ready to help you explore options for updating and transforming your outdoor living space — or creating a new one from scratch. Contact us today at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net.

Archadeck of Columbus ponders the considerations of re-decking your existing wood deck in synthetic

Archadeck of Columbus discusses the benefits of choosing to re-deck your existing wood deck with synthetic decking.

After -Redecking in TimberTech Earthwood by Archadeck of Columbus
We removed the decking and railings on this deck in Powell, OH and resurfaced the existing structure using TimberTech composite decking- stunning!

Being in the business of outdoor structures, Archadeck of Columbus has seen our fair share of maintenance nightmares with pressure treated wood. If you are considering the addition or a new deck, or it has come time to re-deck your existing deck, there are some things you need to know before you make the final material decision. With a growing trend towards longevity and low-maintenance, synthetic decks deliver on both. Out of the approximately 80 synthetic deck projects we do in a year, about 30 of those are re-decks, and the majority of these are re-decking from pressure treated to synthetic.

This is the before image of the same deck pictured above. The original deck was built using cedar.
This is the before image of the same deck pictured above. The original deck was built using cedar.

Keep in mind that all outdoor structures are built with pressure treated pine framing. This is used so the structure does not rot over time, and also so no termites will eat it. There are other natural woods that can be used for framing purposes, such as cedar, but they cost significantly more and deliver the same results as using pressure-treated. Most of the time, when we are inspecting an existing deck as part of the planning process for a re-decking project, the framing members are usually still in great shape. This allows us to re-deck the surface, re-skin and put the new synthetic down. 95% of the cases where we have an existing wood structure, we are able to use the structure for the re-decking. There are times when Archadeck of Columbus may need to add additional framing, replace insufficient framing, or repair the framing before we can proceed. In these cases, it is most often because the framing was not completed correctly when the deck was originally built and it involves getting the deck up to our quality standards before we will proceed.

Before- this old Cedar Deck which was beginning to show some structural deterioration. Note the stairs in particular. They are not level as evidenced by the railings.
Before- this old Cedar Deck which was beginning to show some structural deterioration. Note the stairs in particular. They are not level as evidenced by the railings.

How many of you have seen a wood deck that looks really bad? If you have, then you probably remember the wood on the deck floor may have started to crack and deteriorate. Maybe the nails used to install the deck were popping and protruding from the flooring boards even though the railings were in half decent shape in comparison to the floor. The reason for this is a natural phenomenon that horizontal surfaces tend to get beat up, and suffer from less wear and tear over time than vertical surfaces. On the majority of our re-decks we install new railing, but it is often possible to retain your existing railing and install only a new rail cap, but this is only in certain circumstances.

The design was changed and allowed for better traffic flow, especially with the addition of the paver patio. Timbertech Earthwood Decking was installed with a Cedar Railing including black aluminum pickets.
The design was changed allowing for better traffic flow. TimberTech Earthwood Decking was installed with a Cedar Railing including black aluminum pickets. The trim and railings were stained to match the trim on the home. This beautiful! Project was custom designed and built in Dublin, OH.

The growing trend towards synthetics has become more evident over the past 5 years. In our market where we are building decks, 70-80% of the time the demand is for synthetic versus wood, and the primary being synthetic; rewind five years back, and this data was in reverse with the wood being in higher demand. With re-decking, as with any of our outdoor living structure projects, we are always happy to comply with the homeowners budgetary needs and aesthetics. Most often Archadeck of Columbus recommends re-decking in a synthetic decking such as TimberTech because of the low maintenance and longevity benefits. Being a predominately wood builder, we try to communicate the maintenance needs, care and protection required of choosing to re-deck with wood to the homeowners so they may make the best decision to suit their lifestyle and needs.  If you are considering re-surfacing your tired wood deck with a synthetic, the most popular one is our region is TimberTech. By choosing a synthetic product such as TimberTech, they not only offer an array of up and coming selections such as their XLM , Terrain and Earthwood Evolutions line, you are also eliminating the chore of painting and staining your deck in the future.

Last but certainly not least, one of the most important considerations is replacing the cost associated with re-decking your existing wood deck with synthetic. Synthetics are typically double the cost of the traditional pressure treated pine deck. Before you make the decision to re-deck in synthetic you should take into account the time you plan to live in your home. If you stay in your home 4 or 5 years or longer, you will get your money out of it and you will also create an investment that you and your family can enjoy into the future!

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

If you are considering a new deck, or re-deck in the future, contact Archadeck of Columbus to learn more about the many options we offer. We can help you choose the right decking material that best suits your lifestyle and budget. Call us for a free consultation today (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

You can see more examples of wood to synthetic redecking, and backyard makeovers by visiting our composite and PVC deck photo gallery and our before and after photo gallery located on our website.