There are two ways to look at the prospect of buying a home. On the one hand, you have those people who would tell you that you should go after the place of your dreams. Buy the square footage and get the right furniture for it, and don’t forget a garden. However, a more down-to-Earth generation has emerged, mostly squeezed by rent prices, and agreeing to buy accommodation so it can reduce living expenses. These are no joke especially when you consider rent pricing – soaring and soaring, mercilessly gentrifying entire areas. Yet, the good news is that, if you are smart – and most importantly – if you start early, you have an actual chance to buy a home that may not be how you imagined it, but it could be an important step in upward mobility and scalability.
Wherever you stand on homeownership, whatever you want to do, reducing the rent – you must agree is a very smart thing to do. But how can you get to the point where you are actually done with the rent? Well, there are many ways people do it. Today, it’s very easy to find a job remotely – although not everyone can actually do it. Some people go into specific trades because they want to fetch a better paycheck, so you would end up with a lot of stockbrokers putting in 160 working hours a week to make that reality necessarily have the best-paying job to actually enjoy homeownership. In fact, your priority should be saving from rent money. Here are several tips how to do this:
All of these tips of advice may seem a little too restrictive. The truth is there are a lot of wasteful habits we pick. We choose apartments that are too big, spacious, and, ultimately, expensive to live in. We don’t want to share rooms with others, and generally don’t feel like cooking, because life’s too hard. However, that’s all a mindset. You can start saving on your rent, by finding cheaper accommodating from a good landlord. While luxury won’t be a key focus, the fact that you can save from your living expenses is already a huge plus to your bottom line.
Just think about buying property as you think about making any other type of investment. Even if you were to play at online Canadian casinos, you probably wouldn’t start by investing your entire bankroll. No, you will be very careful not to spend too much of course, and the same logic applies to choose an apartment. Why go after a house or apartment that is too big to meet your current needs when you buy for the first time.
So, if you are actually going to plan on scaling your real estate portfolio, we urge you to start small. You can work with any apartment and interior and shape a household in the way you like. Cheap and swift designing solutions are always great. Besides, while you wouldn’t want to be part of the problem – i.e. big rents – you can certainly move into another apartment when you have economized enough and just rent out your current apartment. It’s the best way to achieve upward mobility.
This advice is almost too far-fetched, but it has a significant impact on your purchasing power. The truth is many people wonder if buying a home is a good idea – mostly because if you buy a home, you are tied to it. This is true, but it shouldn’t be the right mindset. You can have your apartment or house and relocate, rent and re-sale. You shouldn’t let renting slow you down, although many high-tech jobs have specialists who don’t really care about properties, as they make enough to be able to avoid pretty much anything.
However, you can also be able to fetch a pretty dollar for your service as your expertise in a given field continues to improve daily and consistently. You will soon realize that investing yourself and constantly growing in your chosen career field would allow you to actually not worry too much about money and housing. True, doing what you love is not always the best advice. The prices are exorbitant; there is no doubt about that. However, thanks to smart budgeting and continually increasing your income potential, you can stay ahead.
Sunrooms are a great way to increase the living space within your home, and bring some of nature’s outdoors inside. Sunrooms have walls completely made of glass or very large windows, so your home will receive an abundance of natural light. Perfect for relaxing in the warmth of the sun’s rays. Perfect for those clear nights spent counting the stars. A custom sunroom provided by American Deck and Sunroom can be an excellent addition to your home.
Pros:
Cons:
Our commitment is to your complete satisfaction with your new custom sunroom, and with any other addition that we design and construct for you. American Deck & Sunroom crews are professional, tidy, and dedicated. We treat each job as though our reputation hangs in the balance; because it does. Our crews are neat, clean and professional at all times. Once a project begins, they are dedicated to only that project until its completion.
Some quick facts about sunrooms:
• We can utilize an existing concrete patio or introduce a new one.
• A sunroom can be part of a deck, either existing decking or as part of a custom design we create for you.
• Many customers also request our landscape layout expertise as part of their sunroom design project.
• Solar screens are an innovation that will keep your addition comfortable in both sunlight and hot weather.
• There are retractable, built-in screens that roll up and down like a window shade.
• Windows and skylights can open to allow the breeze in.
• Sunrooms allow for indoor gardens that thrive even in snowy seasons.
• Utilizing the warmth and natural light from the sun means less money on electric bills.
• Sunrooms are an inexpensive way to add value to your home.
Sunrooms offer versatile, beautiful spaces where families can come together to combine the comfort of the indoors with the environmental appeal of the outdoors. Professionally built sunrooms are easy to maintain and clean, giving the homeowner the fresh air benefits without the leaves, dirt, and bugs getting inside.
Sunrooms are a great way to increase the living space within your home, and as mentioned, bring some of nature’s outdoors inside. Sunrooms have walls completely made of glass or very large windows, so your home will receive an abundance of natural light. Perfect for relaxing in the warmth of the sun’s rays. Perfect for those clear nights spent counting the stars. A custom sunroom provided by American Deck and Sunroom can be an excellent addition to your home.
No matter your architectural needs, American Deck & Sunroom can provide you with a custom design that will increase the worth of your home, will blend seamlessly with your existing architecture, and will last a lifetime.
Some people begin with screens and later ask us to convert the space to a sunroom. This is another situation in which our professional crafting benefits you. Our designs are pre-crafted to be retro-fit with glass window systems that can turn the space into a three- or- four-season room. If you change your mind, the room never looks as if something is missing.
When you choose American Deck & Sunroom to create a custom project, you are choosing an experienced contractor for your outdoor living project. The hallmarks of our service include detailed crafting, guaranteed cost quotes, first rate building materials, and a rarity among construction projects: the crew that begins erecting one of our projects stays with it to the end. This is a measure of quality control that is a determining factor in our delivery of superior workmanship.
Summer is on its way and everyone is looking for ways to beat the heat, while still being able to enjoy the outdoors. One way to cool off is to find some shade, and if you can’t find shade, you can create it with a custom Pergola from American Deck & Sunroom. Pergolas will make your open air life complete. Also known as shaded arbors, pergolas add shade and protection to a patio or deck. Pergolas are less expensive than a full roof cover, but they can still be customized to match your home’s design and color scheme. Even on a cool night, pergolas provide a relaxed setting for a together or just to kick back with your family and enjoy watching the fireflies blink in and out of the night sky.
Made up of posts and beams, it’s a structure with no walls and no solid roof. Instead of a roof, beams are held up by the posts, and the beams can then be draped in hanging or climbing plants, such as wisteria. While cheaper than a full roof cover for a patio, pergolas offer great customization and design opportunities. Each customized pergola can be designed to match your home or to accent it. The shade offered by pergolas can come from the beams themselves, draped fabric, or by flowers, climbing plants, and vines that are laid atop the beams.
Although you can build your own pergola, we don’t advise it. Pergola kits are available, but since a pergola is made up of heavy wood and beams are usually placed to rest above your head, it is important to make sure the job is done by an experienced builder, like those employed by American Deck & Sunroom. In addition to kits, you can also purchase pergolas that are already assembled. However, the problem with kits and preassembled pergolas is that they don’t match your home, deck, or yard as much as a customized one.
Our experienced builders can help you by designing the perfect, fully customized pergola for you. When it comes to pergolas, the three most important design staples are size, scale, and style. You don’t want a pergola that dwarfs your home or one that is dwarfed by your home. The pergola should be proportional to your home and garden and allow enough space for the seating area, walkway, or other space beneath it.
Unlike size and scale, style has more leeway. For instance, traditional designs go well with gardens of period homes, like Victorian or Colonial style homes, but that doesn’t mean a more modern, sculptural piece wouldn’t look great juxtaposed with the historic design aesthetic of your home. Aside from the design of the structure, materials are very important. There are a variety of material options to fit anyone’s design sensibilities, including: oak, driftwood, metal, wrought iron, fiber glass, rounded wooden poles, stone pillars and beams, brick pillars, and custom-shaped wooden beams. No matter your preference of materials or style, we can build a pergola that is a perfect fit for both you and your home.
There are many considerations to take in when figuring out where to build it. One such consideration is your landscape. Pergolas can not only sit atop your landscape or patio, but they can incorporate your landscape by building the pergola beams around a tree, placing the pergola alongside flower bushes, or building the custom pergola over a preexisting seating area, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, pool, or hot tub. Pergolas can be either free standing, affixed to your deck, or attached to your house to form a semi-covered patio. Trellises can also be placed on three sides of a garden pergola to close off the seating area and provide a defined space. In addition to being stopping points on your landscape or deck, pergolas can be great transition pieces to the front of a house or a backyard walkway. Anywhere and anyway you want a custom pergola, we can make it work and make it look beautifully intertwined with your property.
At American Deck & Sunroom, we don’t build houses. We don’t just build pergolas. What we do is design and build beautiful outdoor spaces…extensions of your home that flow with your existing property and architecture. And because we specialize, we go beyond the, “If you can dream it, we can build it,” catchphrase often quoted. After nearly 20 years in business and nearly 13,000 designs and counting, we have the experience to design outdoor spaces you’ve never even dreamed possible.
If you are looking to have a new deck or sunroom, maybe even both, added to your home, it’s important to work with a professional who understands the importance of safety regulations and building code contingent upon where you live. If you try to just add a deck or a sunroom on your own without consulting your local requirements, it can end in a heartache of fines and construction fits and starts.
Building sites everywhere have different safety regulations. These regulations are specifically tied to building codes. These codes are rules applicable specifically to what level of safety must be adhered to during construction. Building codes were designed to protect the general public as well as construction workers and those who will be occupying the buildings in terms of public health and safety.
Safety regulations in the form of building code are a part of the law which is enforced by proper authorities. They are applicable to engineers and architects in most cases, or those who are adding extensions to their homes. They can be used by safety inspectors, contractors, subcontractors, real estate developers, environmental scientists, as well as building material manufacturers, tenants, facility managers, and insurance companies. There are certain important safety regulations which apply only to dwellings and others which apply to construction objects such as walkways and parking lots.
Developing, approving, and enforcing safety regulations for building sites is done differently by location. The codes are enforced by agencies other than the ones who developed them. Throughout the United States, important safety regulations vary by city. Most cities have enveloped model codes because of complexity and costs associated with building regulations.
Important safety regulations include things such as parking and traffic impact rules. They also include fire codes which are responsible for ensuring safe evacuations in the case of a fire.
There are safety regulations for
earthquake resistance,
tornado resistance,
flood resistance,
hurricane resistance, and
tsunami resistance in areas prone to natural disasters
There are also important safety regulations for building use requirements such as housing large numbers of people or storing substances which are flammable.
There are important safety regulations for energy consumption, building renovation, as well as components. You will also find important safety regulations which pertain to the installation methods allowed, the maximum and minimum amount of rooms, the size of exits, the location of exits, and who is qualified to work on the structure. If the structures are high, there will be anti-collision safety regulations for aircraft.
No matter where you are, safety regulations are typically divided into zoning ordinances. This means that your building falls into certain zones and as such must adhere to specific building ordinances depending on the category into which it falls. No matter what, you should always verify the important safety regulations for building sites where you plan to construct prior to beginning the construction process.
When you have freed yourself from searching for building codes and finding what requirements are necessary for your new sunroom or deck, you can better commit yourself to relaxation in the form of playing your favorite online casino games. Playing at real money casinos online brings so much more comfort than you would get at a traditional Casino. Online casinos give you freedom and flexibility to play when you want, how you want. You can come home after a long day at the office and sit in your pajamas eating whatever food you had delivered or whatever food you made and play the same games you would in a traditional casino without having to worry about rules pertaining to dress, limits on having food at the table, or having to pay extra for drinks that are not water down. you also have the ability to play multiple times throughout the day without ever having to spend time traveling to a casino. If you have a long commute in the morning, you can choose to log into your account from your mobile phone and play your favorite game and then when you have a break later in the afternoon, try your hand at Texas Hold’em. Coming home at the end of the day you can play live casino tables too. One of the biggest benefits to playing online is the access you get to free versions. Before you start playing you can find out whether you like a game or not without seeing a single dollar go down the drain. Free versions give you a lot of fun and access to different games at no cost.
Summer is here and everyone is looking for ways to beat the heat, while still being able to enjoy the outdoors. One way to cool off is to find some shade, and if you can’t find shade, you can create it with a custom Pergola from American Deck & Sunroom. Pergolas will make your open air life complete. Also known as shaded arbors, pergolas add shade and protection to a patio or deck. Pergolas are less expensive than a full roof cover, but they can still be customized to match your home’s design and color scheme. Even on a cool night, pergolas provide a relaxed setting for a together or just to kick back with your family and enjoy watching the fireflies blink in and out of the night sky.
Made up of posts and beams, a pergola is a structure with no walls and no solid roof. Instead of a roof, beams are held up by the posts of the pergola, and the beams can then be draped in hanging or climbing plants, such as wisteria. While cheaper than a full roof cover for a patio, pergolas offer great customization and design opportunities. Each customized pergola can be designed to match your home or to accent it. The shade offered by pergolas can come from the beams themselves, draped fabric, or by flowers, climbing plants, and vines that are laid atop the beams.
Although you can build your own pergola, we don’t advise it. Pergola kits are available, but since a pergola is made up of heavy wood and beams are usually placed to rest above your head, it is important to make sure the job is done by an experienced builder, like those employed by American Deck& Sunroom. In addition to pergola kits, you can also purchase pergolas that are already assembled. However, the problem with kits and preassembled pergolas is that they don’t match your home, deck, or yard as much as a customized pergola.
Our experienced builders can help you by designing the perfect, fully customized pergola for you. When it comes to pergolas, the three most important design staples are size, scale, and style. You don’t want a pergola that dwarfs your home or one that is dwarfed by your home. The pergola should be proportional to your home and garden and allow enough space for the seating area, walkway, or other space beneath it.
Unlike size and scale, style has more leeway. For instance, traditional designs go well with gardens of period homes, like Victorian or Colonial style homes, but that doesn’t mean a more modern, sculptural piece wouldn’t look great juxtaposed with the historic design aesthetic of your home. Aside from the design of the structure, materials are very important. There are a variety of material options to fit anyone’s design sensibilities, including: oak, driftwood, metal, wrought iron, fiber glass, rounded wooden poles, stone pillars and beams, brick pillars, and custom-shaped wooden beams. No matter your preference of materials or style, we can build a pergola that is a perfect fit for both you and your home.
There are many considerations to take in when figuring out where to build your pergola. One such consideration is your landscape. Pergolas can not only sit atop your landscape or patio, but they can incorporate your landscape by building the pergola beams around a tree, placing the pergola alongside flower bushes, or building the custom pergola over a preexisting seating area, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, pool, or hot tub. Pergolas can be either free standing, affixed to your deck, or attached to your house to form a semi-covered patio. Trellises can also be placed on three sides of a garden pergola to close off the seating area and provide a defined space. In addition to being stopping points on your landscape or deck, pergolas can be great transition pieces to the front of a house or a backyard walkway. Anywhere and anyway you want a custom pergola, we can make it work and make it look beautifully intertwined with your property.
At American Deck & Sunroom, we don’t build houses. We don’t just build pergolas. What we do is design and build beautiful outdoor spaces…extensions of your home that flow with your existing property and architecture. And because we specialize, we go beyond the, “If you can dream it, we can build it,” catchphrase often quoted. After nearly 20 years in business and nearly 13,000 designs and counting, we have the experience to design outdoor spaces you’ve never even dreamed possible.
Paver patios serve a variety of purposes, besides adding beauty to already existing architecture. They also banish dull, grey concrete and open up a limitless world of designs for an elegant outdoor living space. American Deck & Sunroom can recreate any mood or era, from a Madrid plaza to London cobblestones – or the Southwest of the United States. The beauty of using paver stones is that design versatility is simply a matter of a change in the pattern in which the stones are laid.
Whether it’s a warm, toasty day full of sunshine… or a cool, calm night with loved ones, there’s no better place to be than on a patio.
Concrete stones are laid over graded earth with sand on top. This gives your patio floor extra strength, and is why the stones don’t crack from natural heating and cooling. The subsurface of sand allows for the minute expansion of the concrete pavers when they heat up, and allows them to return to form as they cool. This is quite unlike poured or stamped concrete, which will form cracks because it is too solid and hard, and cannot flex in our hot weather.
Paver patios are easier to clean, and though they can be more expensive initially, they save money in the long run.
Paver patios can be easily repaired, if something extremely heavy were to be dropped squarely on one, for example. We recommend that homeowners keep a few matching stones in case something happens. It is very simple to take up a broken stone and replace it. Some people like to take up a stone that has weathered in a less visible spot, and use it as the replacement, with the new stone going in the place few people see. This ease of repair is quite unlike slab concrete, which, when patched, shows that gash forever.
Paver patios will have slight variations in colors, like wood flooring or tile typically do. To avoid a patchwork appearance, some people blend varying types of colors together to create a more natural look.
Although patio pavers are low-maintenance, pleasing to the eye and require very little upkeep, they are not completely maintenance-free. Regular cleaning of your pavers before stains have had a chance to set deeply will keep them looking new and attractive. The maintenance of pavers is a relatively simple task. Little or no maintenance is often needed depending on the type of pavers that have been used. In essence, different types will require different levels of maintenance. This is because certain pavers are more susceptible or resistant color fading, and for some pavers, removing grime and dirt is easy.
Patios can be made with a variety of materials. Concrete pavers are outstandingly versatile, manufactured in colors, shapes, and sizes with a durability few other materials can match. We can’t wait to show you the many different shapes in which these versatile stones are manufactured, including:
Many homeowners choose to have their paver patios extend to walkways, paths and the driveway at their home. This gives a home a neat, fully-landscaped appeal. Stone pavers have been used for decades for roadways, and some of the early Danish concrete paver roadways are still in service! Professionally installed paving stone driveways won’t crack, sag, or separate. You never have to seal pavers, unlike poured concrete driveways.
At American Deck & Sunroom, we don’t build houses. We don’t dig pools. What we do is design and build beautiful outdoor spaces… extensions of your home that flow with your existing property and architecture. And because we specialize, we go beyond the, “If you can dream it, we can build it,” catchphrase often quoted. After nearly 20 years in business and nearly 13,000 designs and counting, we have the experience to design outdoor spaces you’ve never even dreamed possible.
We have officially made it through another winter! As of March 20th, spring has emerged from its selfish hibernation in a fashionably late manner, as per usual. It is now time to sweep the threat of snow days under the rug and begin to throw the extra layers of clothing into the back of the closet. Various spring breaks are starting pop up across the country and the overall excitement in the air is the highest that it’s been since the preparation of St. Nick’s cookies. Good times are definitely on the horizon but there is always room for improvement.
Before you know it, the last day of school will have come and passed and the kids will be starting the full time job of having fun in the sun. One of the most popular venues for this summer job is obviously the pool. The best way to cool down from an intense game of hide-and-seek in the cul-de-sac or from a peaceful session of sunbathing is to dive into a pool. It’s a place where people of all ages can have a good time. So, why not bring that slice of paradise into the comfort and convenience of your own back yard?
While making multiple trips to the neighborhood pool might not be a horrible alternative, the use of a personalized pool is the best option for children. First off, it would be almost impossible to find a kid that would not be ecstatic about the idea of having their own pool at home. A pool would make your house the summer hot spot for all of the other neighborhood kids and provide a place for hundreds of memory-making opportunities. Not to mention the fact that you, as a parent, would not have to put the safety of your child into the hands of someone else. Even though neighborhood associations go to great lengths the ensure the safety of everyone who attends their pool, the ability to see your child with your own eyes without having to pick him/her out of a crowd is reassuring to say the least.
While adults will still be required to balance a work schedule during this exciting time of the year, having a pool in the backyard allow this summer to rival the glory days of their own adolescent summers. The thought to simply slipping on a swimsuit and walking out the backdoor to reach the perfect relaxation destination after a hard day’s work seems euphoric. No prior planning will ever be required to be able to take a dip in the pool to cap off a hot summer day. A personalized pool will not only provide memorable opportunities for the kids and their friends, but it will promote lifelong memories for the whole family. But forewarning, doing one belly flop for the kids’ amusement will only lead to more belly flops.
Whether you already have a pool in your backyard or you’re planning to add one in preparation for the summer, American Deck and Sunroom can provide you with numerous custom pool deck options. A unique, professionally-craft deck surrounding the pool will top off a perfect summer hot spot for every one of all ages. We will take care of the entire process, as well. From planning, to constructing, to elevating, you will not have to worry about anything. Every customer has ideas and requests that are unique and we pride ourselves on implementing all of them in order to help make your home look the best that it possibly could.
As a deck builder with deep engineering roots, we believe that the planning and construction of your new outdoor living space requires the precision that only expert blueprinting, surveying and building science will bring. To put it simply: the plan works when the planning is good. Our customers aren’t just buying top quality wood— they are buying a place for their children to enjoy and grow, or to make memories that will last a lifetime. They may pay for a builder’s expertise, but they have in mind good friends sharing a bottle of wine and a quiet evening under the stars around a slowly burning fire.
American Deck & Sunroom effortlessly creates and constructs first-class custom decks, complex and beautiful paver patios, and decks for both above and in-ground pools that will absolutely enhance your home. With proper maintenance, our custom architectural solutions will last a lifetime. Interested in learning more? Visit our services page for an extended list of what we offer, or check out examples of our work by clicking here.
After nearly 20 years of experience and almost 13,000 drawings later, our best credentials remain our list of satisfied customers. Though our projects are concentrated in Lexington & Louisville Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, we have projects completed from Arkansas to Rhode Island and from Dallas to Green Bay. Our custom decks, designs, and our commitment to excellence are second to none.
We only have two rules: our designs will look like they belong with the architecture of the house, and we build anything but square decks. Our goal is to go beyond what you’ve dreamed to create a unique space unlike any other. What are you waiting for? Give us a call today!
Whether you have already decided to add a new deck to your home or you are still searching for more arguments to build one, you have reached the right place. We are going to introduce you to a few of the most fun and interesting deck activities for you and your family. Cooking outside is not the only reason why many people consider building a deck. Grab your favorite coffee mug, fill it up with the magical liquid, and find out more!
If you enjoy having lots of friends and neighbors over on the weekends or during the holidays or you have a huge family and you would love to be out in the outdoors whenever they decide to drop by, a deck is just what you need. Delicious barbecues and salads, cool homemade cocktails and desserts, nice background music, and fresh air – what else could you wish for?
Decks are excellent locations for throwing a party as the right seating will help you squeeze in more guests than you might imagine. Plus, you can add cool lights and decorations, throw in comfortable pillows and warm blankets, and make the deck looks very cozy and pleasant to sit in at night.
If you feel like switching up your regular home workout routine in the summer or during crisp fall mornings or evenings, you could move outside to the deck. Do your stretching, yoga, or pilates there, meditate while taking in the clean air, and listening to the chirping of the birds and you will experience an amazing workout every time.
If you have been looking for a quiet place that you could call your own safety haven around the house but you couldn’t find any available room, the deck could be just what you need. You could get lost reading your favorite books while sipping hot cocoa or some tasty wine in the evening, solve puzzles or crosswords or play your favorite casino games online. You can click here if you are looking for the best casinos to play at. Lots of people enjoy playing bingo, slots, poker, or roulette online and the cool graphics and appealing prizes are reasons enough to keep you stranded in front of a smartphone, tablet, or laptop for hours in a row, and having a comfortable deck to host you will definitely make your experience even more pleasant.
It can be difficult to completely unwind after a hectic day or week at work and a cozy deck will allow you to unplug and loosen up without having to go to a spa or go out.
You can use the deck to do some of the grooming work that your furry friend needs to go through periodically. Get rid of the nasty fur spread all over the house while helping your beloved dog feel more relaxed and less stressed while keeping your home cleaner. Cleaning the deck will take less time and effort as you will have no carpeting or sofa upholstery to worry about vacuuming.
Why not make your new deck a pleasant napping spot? Lots of people find it more enjoyable and comfortable to sleep in the outdoors while taking in the crisp air and getting more oxygen. Make sure you place lots of colorful and comfy throw pillows, cushions, and blankets there for extra convenience and you will soon get addicted to your deck naps.
Sleeping outdoors will not only make your immune system work better and be more powerful, but it will also improve your circadian rhythm which is responsible for your sleep schedule. You will get to fall asleep faster as your sleep schedule will better match the cycles of the natural light and you should also have an easier time waking up early in the morning. Sleeping at least one weekend outdoors will make you feel a lot fresher and less drowsy, so try to spend the night on your deck during the summer. The warm morning light will gradually teach your body how to wake up with the help of the sun instead of your annoying alarm.
Relaxation is something that is sought after by everyone in the world within all walks of life. In today’s society, people have become all too accustomed to a fast-paced style of living that doesn’t leave much time to kick their feet up at the end of the day. Between getting the kids to school, going to work, shuttling children to extra-curricular activities, and completing spontaneous errands on a daily basis, the ability to unwind at the end of the day seems like something that can only be found in a fairy tale.
Finding the time to relax might be a struggle, but whenever the opportunity for some peace and serenity presents itself, sitting in front of the warmth of a fireplace is the best way to find your Zen. Whether this takes place in your living room or in your backyard, the crackling of the burning wood is enough to turn all of the day’s stress into ash. While the mention of this ancient stress-reliever might persuade you to force more free time into your schedule or even entice you to seek ownership of your own fireplace, it is important to remember that this area of your house requires regular care and maintenance. A fireplace is an important ingredient when searching for a moment of pure bliss, but without proper care, the risk of negative consequences like house fires and carbon monoxide multiply. Listed below are some tips on how to maintain proper care of your fireplace or fire pit so that there will be nothing to worry about you ever come across the opportunity to relax.
The first tip seems incredibly obvious but this precaution should not be taken lightly and is worth mentioning. In an attempt to stop house fires before they start, all flammable objects should be moved away from the fireplace. This includes rugs, drapes, and furniture, but spare firewood and tables are commonly neglected and should also be moved to a safe distance. Placing a guard in front of the fireplace should also stop any stray sparks that happen to shoot towards your living room.
Whenever there is an open fire involved with any activity, there is always a chance for mishaps. So make sure that there are working smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms installed in the house so that any accidents can be quickly recognized and corrected. The ash should also be removed from the fireplace whenever it reaches the grate so that vertical airflow is not hindered. Frequent testing of the fireplace with small amounts of seasoned wood should also be completed to verify that smoke is not entering the room, there are no unwanted objects (like bird nests or damp wood), and there is minimal soot build-up. Even when all of these precautions are taken, you should still have your fireplace and chimney inspected by a professional at least once per year.
Seasoned fire wood should be burned as opposed to green wood. Seasoned wood is dried for 6-12 months which allows it to burn much easier than other types of wood because it does not contain as much moisture. Placing full logs into the fireplace is also not a good idea. Splitting seasoned wood before using it will generate a surface that catches fire more efficiently and it will not create as much waste as green wood or a log would. The use of hardwoods, like oak or maple, would also be to your benefit because they produce more heat than softwoods, like cedar or pine.
There is no reason to put forth the extra effort that is required to maintain proper care of your wood-burning fireplace if it will never be used. Life can be hectic and, at times, it might seem like it may never slow down. However, spending quality time with your family is crucial and there are few better places to do that than in front of a warm fire. So, why not make a little extra time in your busy schedule and provide some extra effort to bond with your family and make sure that it is done right? If you still need some assistance, let American Deck and Sunroom build you a top-notch, custom fireplace. Everyone should have the opportunity to relax with their family in front of a fire so we are here to help!
As a deck builder with deep engineering roots, we believe that the planning and construction of your new outdoor living space requires the precision that only expert blueprinting, surveying and building science will bring. To put it simply: the plan works when the planning is good. Our customers aren’t just buying top quality wood— they are buying a place for their children to enjoy and grow, or to make memories that will last a lifetime. They may pay for a builder’s expertise, but they have in mind good friends sharing a bottle of wine and a quiet evening under the stars around a slowly burning fire.
American Deck & Sunroom effortlessly creates and constructs first-class custom decks, complex and beautiful paver patios, and decks for both above and in ground pools that will absolutely enhance your home. With proper maintenance, our custom architectural solutions will last a lifetime. Interested in learning more? Visit our services page for an extended list of what we offer, or check out examples of our work by clicking here.
After nearly 20 years of experience and almost 13,000 drawings later, our best credentials remain our list of satisfied customers. Though our projects are concentrated in Lexington & Louisville Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, we have projects completed from Arkansas to Rhode Island and from Dallas to Green Bay. Our custom decks, designs, and our commitment to excellence are second to none.
We only have two rules: our designs will look like they belong with the architecture of the house, and we build anything but square decks. Our goal is to go beyond what you’ve dreamed to create a unique space unlike any other. What are you waiting for? Give us a call today!
We’ve come a long way in terms of deck-building, and yet there are still many misconceptions when it comes to the process, purpose, and timing for staining and maintaining the wood for a deck. Below, we debunk some common beliefs and practices that could actually cause more harm than good to the wood of your newly-completed custom deck!
This helpful list serves as a quick go-to guide for those who are new to deck maintenance and care, or for those who simply need a refresher.
1. Staining a deck preserves the lumber. Not true. Pressure treated lumber is already preserved, in most cases for life. The stain merely gives the lumber protection from UV rays that would ultimately turn the wood gray and oxidize it. Many stains also include chemicals that prevent and or resist mold and mildew from forming on the wood in shady, damp locations. That resistance lasts for 2 to 3 years until the next coat of stain reinforces the prevention.
2. Stain is meant to seal the deck from water penetration. Not true. Water does not harm pressure treated lumber. In fact, pressure treated lumber prefers to be moistened by water a lot more than it likes being dried out by intense summer sunlight. Sunlight with no relief is the single biggest enemy of pressure treated lumber. If you see advertising that highlights the ability for water to bead up on the deck after being stained, it’s simply a marketing tool to sell the stain. It’s accomplished by adding silicone or paraffin to the stain. The ability to bead water on the deck, in most cases, only lasts for a few weeks.
3. You need to wait a year before you apply the first coat of stain. Not true. If you wait for a whole year before staining the deck, the wood will be dead, dried, cracked and already have turned gray. In other words, the battle will have been lost before your first brush stroke. Pressure treated lumber is full of moisture. A good deck builder will install new decking with no spacing between the boards. When the wood dries, it will automatically shrink leaving gaps between the boards which are necessary for drainage to prevent mold and mildew from forming on the decking. When these gaps appear, it’s evidence that enough moisture has left the wood to allow stain to penetrate the material sufficiently enough to protect the new wood from the harmful effects of the sun.
4. It’s necessary to also stain the underside of a deck. Not true. Remember the stain’s main purpose is to protect the wood from the harmful effects of direct sunlight. The underside of decks, by its very nature, never sees direct sunlight, so stain under a deck is not necessary. If you don’t believe me, go on a really old gray cracked deck and turn a board over. The underside will look nearly new. No sun. Having said that, no sun can cause mold and mildew to build up on the underside of decks. Staining the underside of the deck will prevent that from occurring on decks where the underside will be seen as a part of the outdoor living space.
5. You need to stain your deck every year. Not true. The less direct sunlight to which a deck is exposed will require less frequent applications. Decks on the north side of a house, under the canopy of a wooded yard with mature trees, or under the cover of a pergola or roof structure will increase the number of years a deck can go before additional staining is required. Extremely sunny locations with no hope of shade from morning until night would require a deck to be stained every year. Under a roof, a deck may not need to be stained again for up to 10 years or more.
6. Clear is an acceptable and attractive color to choose. Not true. Clear stains offer little to no protection from UV rays. Always choose a color.
7. Power washing is the best way to clean a deck. Not true. Never power wash a deck. Oxygenated bleaches are available in a liquid or powdered form that are mixed with water and sprayed on a deck with an inexpensive pump sprayer. Do this on a cool overcast day, even right after a rain when the deck is still wet. Let the mixture stay on the deck for 15 minutes, being sure to not let the deck dry the entire time. Then simply broom it in and rinse off thoroughly with a garden hose. It’s a biodegradable product that will do no harm to plants or pets. It will not gouge out or “fuzz up” the wood like power washers are known to do. If the deck is really dirty and old from years of neglect, the deck can be power sanded if the quality of the wood is good and the deck is screwed down and not nailed. Then rinse, allow time to dry, and stain. The deck will look like new. Never use Clorox bleach to clean a deck. It’s not that good at removing mold & mildew from deep in the wood, and it will corrode all of the fasteners used to hold the deck together. It’s very corrosive and not environmentally safe. Cleaning a deck once in the Spring and once in the Fall is all that is normally required.
8. Spraying or rolling the stain on a deck is a better and quicker way to apply stain to a deck. Not true. Both spraying and rolling a deck with stain doesn’t not work the stain into the wood sufficiently. Working the stain in with a brush after applying with a sprayer or roller is a good plan. The other down side to spraying is two-fold. First, some stains are very expensive. Spraying wastes a lot of stain that simply gets carried away in the wind. This also leads to the second problem: unless it’s a perfectly still day, the spray gets everywhere. Even if you take the time and spend the money to tape off critical areas to keep them safe from overspray, it doesn’t always protect the neighbors’ cars and belongings from overspray that lightly and secretly drifts with stealth breezes throughout the neighborhood. It happens all the time.
9. There are products today that make decks maintenance-free. Not true. Composite boards, paver patios and even concrete patios all will need to be cleaned and repaired occasionally. They are all outside products exposed to the elements 24/7/365. What did you expect?
New composite boards are expensive but do minimize the amount of maintenance it takes to keep a deck looking good. At the very least, there are aluminum spindles and composite caps for railings that take a lot of work out of upkeep for the hardest part of the deck requiring stain: the railing. You can always hire a professional to stain your deck for you. But I’d first see how they pass the test. Dexappeal is a company we know in central Kentucky that passes the test.
Interested in more information about our decks? Contact us today!
