Deck....Be not Proud. Part 2

Well folks, we're back with part 2. I hope you enjoyed the first installment about the wonderful world of decking. It has already been established that both pressure treated wood and composite materials are good options for decking, BUT we aren't done yet. Today we will look at Cedar Decking, and Cellular PVC decking.

Cedar Decking
For quote some time cedar decks were going down in popularity, and not a lot of people were asking for them. However, this season has bucked that trend. We have been getting steady calls for cedar decking, and our wood supplier is barely able to meet their demand for cedar. This tells me that customers are looking to get a little bit more quality for their dollar. In terms of price, a cedar deck will be more than a basic pressure treated deck, and slightly less than a composite decking system.

Above are Photos of an Expansive Cedar Deck we just completed

Cedar is an appealing choice for a consumer for 2 reasons. Firstly, It has a really classic rustic look, that will set your backyard haven apart from all the same plain old decks in your neighborhood. Your neighbors will truly be jealous of the distinctive look you can only get with cedar. Secondly, in comparison to pressure treated wood, cedar is much easier to maintain. Generally cedar takes a stain better than PT pine, and the stain will last longer. Please note that you do have to purchase a special stain that is designed to be put on cedar. Also, and I cant stress this enough, please make sure that your contractor knows the proper way to order cedar, and that he is purchasing it from a reputable lumber supply source. Make sure you are given cedar that does not have a "wane". A wane is a defect in the wood that diminishes both structural integrity, and the overall aesthetics. The wane is caused when the cedar is cut from the edge of the log. This is not a proper option for decking. 

If you have been listening to my advice and hired a qualified and insured contractor, then he will most assuredly know to take this step.

Cellular PVC Decking

Cellular PVC decking is essentially the Taj Mahal of decks. With brands like Azek, Veka Deck, Royal Decking, and Dekorators, the consumer has the pick of the litter when finding a brand to go with. I really cant talk enough about the fine quality of cellular PVC decking. This product carries the best warranties, that last for the longest periods. This material is also completely warrantied against mold growth. Yes, you read that right, a cellular PVC deck will not grow mold. The reason for this is that there are no organic materials in the deck boards for mold to cultivate. There are a few drawbacks to this product, however. The first one being that you really wont be able to get a natural look out of this product. It will always look manufactured.

Some Examples of Cellular PVC decking.

The other fact to consider is cost. On average a cell PVC deck will cost anywhere from 25-50% more than a typical composite deck. Of course you are getting the added warranties, but that stark price difference is certainly worth noting. In my case the only time I build a cellular PVC deck for someone is if they ask for it specifically, and have been made aware of all other options. 

Well fans, I have covered for common types of decking. I hope you got some valuable info from these last 2 posts. I encourage you to post comments with any questions, and they will be answered very quickly. 

Next week will be part 3......RAILINGS. 

Until next time.......

shameless plug : Schuster Construction Custom Decks

Deck, Be not proud. Part 1

Happy Wednesday readers, and welcome to our next post. A 3 part series on..... DECKS. Sure we may be a little late in the season, but I'm sure some of you are looking to save some money by putting in a new deck during a down time in deck building.
The thing about decks is that the options are almost endless. There are so many different types of wood to use; cedar, pressure treated pine, dimensional pine, tropical woods, redwood, etc. If you are looking for a low maintenance deck you will choose between brands like Trex, Timbertech, Dekorators, and Moisture Shield.  For those of you who want to go a step further with a cellular PVC maintenance free decking surface you can choose between AZEK, Aeratis, Veck-a-Deck, Royal, and countless other brands. And rails.....well there are even more rail choices then decking choices.
Because of this I'm going to narrow it down to 4 practical choices for someone who wants to build a solid long lasting deck.
1. Traditional Pressure Treated Deck.
2. Composite Deck with Vinyl Composite Rails.
3. Red Cedar Deck.
4. Cellular PVC Deck with Vinyl Composite Rails.
I will also highlight some new rail options that have been all the rage in decking this summer.

This is an example of a traditional Pressure Treated Pine Deck we recently built

We start with the old standard. Pressure treated Pine deck, with custom milled wooden rails. This particular option is the most traditional, and economical option for those looking to build a new deck. As of late there has been a large outcry against pressure treated lumber because it is treated with an arsenic solution. This particular concern is very over blown. The only time the arsenic could really be a problem is if your burned the deck, then rolled around in, while also inhaling the ashes. Something tells me you aren't planning on doing that.

That being said, If you are looking to save some up front money in building your deck then pressure treated wood is the way to go. However, there will be a yearly cost to maintain the deck with staining. Multiple years of this do add up. There is also a benefit in going with wooden rails in this application. By using Pine rails you can basically design any rail pattern you want. You are not restricted by available railing styles like you would find in Vinyl Rails.
This particular deck has a mission style rail with an incorporated lattice work top. That lattice is made from plastic, and is a very minimal upgrade, which gives a unique look. The flooring itself is laid in a diagonal pattern to give it a little character.  You, of course can choose any pattern you wish for the floor, but know this, there will be an up-charge for labor if you choose an intricate floor design.

This is an example of an intricate Moisture Shield Composite Deck

A rising trend in the decking market has been composite decking. The lure of composite decking is the low maintenance aspect of the product. You never have to paint or stain a composite surface, and cleaning is a simple as hosing it down once a week or so. There are several composite brands on the market. Most people have heard of Trex. Trex is the oldest and most widely known maker of composite decking materiel. You may also be familiar with Timbertech. For my money, I always suggest installing Moisture shield decking. Moisture Shield is kind of new in the decking market but is quickly making a name for itself. Starting off, Moisture shield has a nice array of colors to choose from.

Moisture Shield Colors.

The colors are very attractive, I must say. But I'm sure you're asking "Adam, why is moisture shield a better product?" Well fine reader I can answer that swiftly for you. Moisture Shield decking has a 25 year warranty against manufacturer defects (which is, of course, industry standard) What makes Moisture Shield special is its manufacturing process. In which the wood fibers which make up the composite material are heating to a flashing point which kill any organic organisms living inside of it. This prevents the decking from growing mold from within. With other products (yes, even Trex) mold will often form black spots on the decking surface. These spots are easily cleaned away, but they will always return because the spores live WITHIN the organic material in the deck. Another added feature is that Moisture Shield decking protects against ground moisture. Which means any moisture that could seep into boards from underneath, will not penetrate the surface. This feature is unique to Moisture Shield. 

Application options are also endless. You have the same freedom that you would have with pressure treated wood, but with none of the maintenance. This convenience does come with a cost though. Composite decks can cost upwards of  two times the amount of pressure treated decks. It is also important to make sure that your contractor is using proper installation techniques. Many manufacturers have standards that must be met with installation to ensure that the warranty goes into effect. If your contractor installs it wrong then you have no warranty. So remember to ASK QUESTIONS.

Well folks that's it for now. Be sure to tune in to part 2.

Shameless Plug(YES! we build custom decks)Schuster Construction LLC

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James Hardie Siding.....is it worth the expense?

Ive been dealing a lot with siding lately. It seems to me that an extraordinary amount of people have recently decided that the exteriors of their homes just don't look good anymore. Because of this I have been thrust into the ever confusing world of.......SIDING, and what product is best for my customers. There is no shortage of options. You have your vinyl siding, stucco siding, cedar shake siding, vinyl shake, clapboard, AND fiber cement (James Hardie). This begs me to ask the question: Which one is the best? In my opinion a nice cure all for the everymans siding woes would be some nice vinyl siding. However, if you want to take it to the next level, and ,make the best bet for your wallet, I have to rest my vote on James Hardie fiber cement siding.
Now I know what your thinking: "Gee Adam, that's a bold statement, why do you feel this way?"  Well, Ill tell you why.
First of all James Hardie was just voted for the 7th year in a row, the #1 return on investment for your home based on 2011 fiscal numbers. James Hardie # 1

Another factor that is extremely important to a homeowner is the durability of the product. Is it going to last? You dont want to spend your hard earned money installing something on your home only to have to replace it again only 10 years later.
 Hardie board is second to none in terms of durability and the scope of its warranty. Its 30 year warranty is an industry leader. It is impervious to both rot AND termites. And in terms of aesthetics it gives you that very elegant and classic natural wood look that is all the trend these days. But, as they say the proof is in the pudding......so please view the warranty and features for yourself: Hardie Features.

All of this info about return on investment, and product features is all well and good....BUT, how does it look?

Honestly, it looks great you have a great color pallet to choose from. Once you have chosen your color you can really turn your home into a beautiful work of art. The examples above show how easily you can get that classic look for the exterior of your home.

So you have chosen your product. How do you go about choosing the contractor to do this job for you? Well, first you find one that actually installs Hardie Board. Because this is a very difficult product to work with, not every company out there has the capabilities to install it.

First thing. Go ahead and check with the BBB, they can give you a good gauge as to whether a contractor is even worth calling.
Once you have narrowed it down to a list of contractors with nothing lower than an A+ rating you then begin calling to receive your "estimates"

Personally, I hate the word estimate, I think a customer should expect to get the correct price out of a contractor, not a "ballpark guess"

When meeting with contractors make sure the act in a professional manner, and ask you pertinent questions. Be clear about what you want, and dont let someone push you into something else before you have made an informed decision.

The professional contractor will do more listening then talking. He will bend over backwards to make sure that he delivers the product that you expect. Be sure to read customer testimonials to gauge how they treat customers during the post sale process.
Most importantly, make sure that the contractor is someone you feel comfortable working with. If you have a bad feeling about them, then it is probably the right feeling.


Well, I hope this helped. Untill next time.......


shameless plug: Schuster Construction LLC