A Fort Wayne deck builder re-decks for a roomier and more modern deck

Posted on May 23, 2011 by

A couple of weeks ago, we wrote about a deck addition in Fort Wayne we would be working on and mentioned we would post some pictures when they were ready. Here are a couple pictures we’ve just taken.

Fort Wayne deck builder pressure treated deck

Notice the bump-out area for the grill.

Notice the bump-out area for the grill. It’s often difficult to decide where to put the grill on the deck and often they take up quite a bit of space that you’d rather be using for tables and chairs. A bump-out is a great solution that you can ask for when you use a custom deck builder.

Fort Wayne deck builder deck pressure treated

Much attention is paid to ease of access to the back yard and traffic patterns

Notice the double stairs on this deck. After many years of building decks, we know the importance of thinking about traffic patterns to your yard and on your deck. With this large deck, the double stairs made the most sense.

mans best friend enjoying deck by Fort Wayne deck builder

It looks like the new deck has the family's dog's seal of approval

What a great place for an afternoon nap and from where to guard the family’s back yard.

Fort Wayne deck builder attention to details

Attention to details...

As we mentioned in our earlier blog post, we often think of things the homeowner might not think of. Notice how we’ve brought the water and electrical out to the far end of this deck. That way no long hoses or long extension cords are needed to bring water and electrical out to the grassy area of the back yard.

Electrical outlets in deck by Fort Wayne deck builder Archadeck

More attention to details

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From “Ho-Hum” to “WOW” with a Hardscape Enhancement

Posted on May 1, 2011 by

Belgard Hardscape walkway by Archadeck

Enhance the curb appeal of your home with a front yard makeover. Your first thought may be to freshen the landscaping or to paint the front door, but consider the path to the destination.

Cracked, heaving broken concrete walkways are unsightly and potentially hazardous not to mention boring.

Patio and fireplace hardscape

Patio and fireplace using Belgard hardscapes

Let your home put it’s best foot forward with a new paver walkway and porch steps. Create visual interest with a gentle curve. Highlight a flower bed with a low wall or border. Feature a front yard terrace and then tie it all together by edging the driveway with ribbons of pavers.

Belgard Hardscape walkway by Archadeck

Hardscape elements can transform the first impression your home makes from ho-hum to wow! Give us a call to learn how to turn up the wow factor at your residence

Posted in Archadeck of Fort Wayne Northeastern Indiana, Belgard hardscapes, Belgard pavers | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Upcoming Deck Addition Will Have Comfort and Quality Built In To Every Inch

Posted on April 25, 2011 by
Baron Biedenweg - Archadeck of Fort Wayne and NE Indiana

Baron Biedenweg - Archadeck of Fort Wayne and NE Indiana

This week I am previewing an upcoming job. I will be tearing out an existing deck and replacing it with a new multi-level pressure treated deck with built-in benches. We are excited about this new deck, as are the homeowners. We will soon be starting the new deck for the customers to enjoy this Spring with the mild weather afoot. Photos of the completed job will be posted. In the meantime, I want to tell you a little about it.

Bench addition to pressure-treated 30-yr-old wooden deck

Bench addition to pressure-treated 30-yr-old wooden deck. Archadeck can add to your old deck or replace an old deck as well as building a new deck.

The existing deck is about 15 years old. The homeowners feel the deck is too small. They want room for grilling and entertaining and room for additional outdoor furnishings. We anticipate making the deck about five feet wider and providing a bump-out area for the grill to fit comfortably. The second level of the deck  will step down to make room for a table. Beautiful built-in benches for additional seating area and to serve as a railing for the biggest drop in elevation will be added.Traffic flow into the back yard will be improved by adding steps down from both decks. We are also going to extend water and electrical connections for these homeowners for easier access.

New Fort Wayne deck design plan rendering

Design rendering composed for project

We will be constructing the new deck from pressure treated wood. If well maintained this type of decking can last 25-30 years. Pressure treated decks should be treated about every two years depending on site exposure conditions. A simple test to see if it is time to treat it is to spray water on the deck itself and note whether the water beads on the surface or absorbs, if the water is absorbed then it is time to treat your deck. Always use a good UV-inhibiting stain on your pressure treated deck. You can do this yourself or hire a professional. A professional always sands the area and apply two coats on the initial treatment.

This replacement job is just a taste of what we have upcoming this season. If you are looking to re-deck or build a new deck we would enjoy meeting with you to discuss your options. At Archadeck of Fort Wayne we put customer service and quality at the forefront.

(260) 969 – 8663
neindiana@archadeck.net

Fort Wayne Pressure-treated wood decks photo gallery

Posted in Archadeck of Fort Wayne Northeastern Indiana, Decks, re-decking, Wood decking | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hardscapes: the past, the present and Belgard

Posted on March 27, 2011 by

I just returned from a 3 day advanced learning opportunity hosted by Belgard and the International Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI).

Belgard hardscape patio

This was the first time I had heard the Belgard story in detail. They are a very large company who have developed some beautiful new products, as well as accessories. They are committed to quality in both the development and manufacture of products, as well as the proper installation of those products. Archadeck has a national relationship with Belgard, making it much easier for me to plan and execute good jobs in northeastern Indiana.

Here are a couple of interesting facts about pavers:

  • The initial concept of fitting paving units atop a sand base is ancient. Traces of this method date back as far as 5000 B.C. by the Cretans.
  • The Romans developed an Interstate type highway system in Europe using pavers and similar construction techniques that are still being employed today. The Apian Way is still being used.
  • Europe uses many times more pavers than does North America.
  • Germany led the way in the 1960’s engineering new machinery for the productions of pavers. This technology spread across Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Africa. By the 1970’s pavers were introduced to Canada, which quickly led to the use of pavers spreading throughout the United States.
  • Today, Germany produces over one billion square feet of pavers annually.
  • Globally over four billion square feet of pavers are sold.

Patio and fireplace done in Belgard hardscapes

In the training, Belgard reinforced that doing the small things correctly is the key to a long lasting job. We also spent considerable time on advanced techniques for special situations. I picked up several tips and learned several new techniques. It is always worthwhile to attend these types of learning events, even if it was scheduled for the busy time of our year. This event also counts toward my goal of achieving the rigorous ICPI certification

Ft. Wayne Archadeck Baron BiedenwegCall us to talk about your hardscape patio project or to develop a plan to incorporate hardscape into your deck project (a growing trend) as a way of expanding your enjoyment of your outdoor living space. (260) 969 – 8663. neindiana@archadeck.net

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We’re kicking off the 2011 season!

Posted on March 10, 2011 by

In preparation for the 2011 selling/construction season I, along with other Archadeck owners from around North America, gathered in Palm Coast, Florida, in February for our annual workshop.  Archadeck strives to keep us up to date on the latest trends, materials and focuses in the outdoor living space industry.  Of particular interest to me was the increasing use of interlocking  pavers used in conjunction with traditional deck and porch construction, as well as refinements in our design and 3D rendering software which will allow us to better represent the project plans to our customers.

Ft. Wayne Decks

Our booth at the Fort Wayne Home and Garden Show at the Memorial Coliseum in early March.

March kicked off with the Fort Wayne Home and Garden Show at the Memorial coliseum.  This event always gets our juices flowing as everyone’s thoughts turn to spring and to enjoying the great outdoors once again.  It was a well-attended show and we were very busy all four days, talking with people from all over northeast Indiana.  The aisles were extremely crowded most of the time and if we didn’t get a chance to talk with you individually, I hope that you picked up some literature and that you will contact us when you are ready to make your improvements.

It was especially nice and rewarding to see so many of our previous clients and to hear that they are enjoying their new outdoor living spaces.  Thanks for stopping….. It was great seeing you again!

The next couple of weeks will be devoted to contacting and scheduling initial consultations with everyone who expressed interest at the show in a deck, porch, gazebo, pergola, hardscape, or other outdoor living improvement.  In addition, I am also going to squeeze in a few days for seminars to improve my skills relative to hardscape and paver patios.  My ultimate objective is to attain certification by the Interlocking Concrete Paver Institute (ICPI).

Trying to figure out a trend over the past 3 years has been difficult, but Sunday’s paper featured an article by the Director of the Community Research Institute at IPFW and he said that a recent survey shows the regional economy  moving “out of the recession and into recovery”.    We at Archadeck of NE Indiana are seeing positive indications also and are preparing  to serve our customers well in 2011.

Think spring!

Ft. Wayne Archadeck Baron BiedenwegCall us today for a free estimate • (260) 969 – 8663
• email: neindiana@archadeck.net

Posted in Archadeck of Fort Wayne Northeastern Indiana, Decks, Home shows, Selecting a contractor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lake James Deck Transformation

Posted on February 22, 2011 by
Lake house deck in Ft. Wayne

Lake house deck in Ft. Wayne

In September of last year, we were called to see if we could help with the decks on a summer home on Lake James. The home had an upper deck off the bedroom overlooking the lake that was too large.  It rarely used for more than morning coffee. Conversely, the lower main deck was too small.  Not enough space to entertain, grill and eat out as the owners would like.

Additionally, the decks were covered with pressure treated wood decking that had not been given much maintenance, if any, and the boards were in bad shape.

The owners wanted to change the situation before the next summer season and wanted to get it completed in the fall so that they would not endure construction during the precious summer months.

Architectural plan.We put together a proposal that would reduce the size of the upper deck from 10′ x 16′ to 6′ x 10′, just the right size for two chairs and a small table, to enjoy the sunrise over the lake with a cup of java.  The lower deck would expand from 10′ x 28′ to 15′ x 30′ and the side walkway would be widened from 4′ to 6′.  The new deck would offer a more comfortable walk from the road to the lake, and a 50% larger deck would allow for a table, chairs, grill and a comfortable entertaining area.  Plenty of room for friends and family.

Lake house deck in Ft. Wayne.

Lake house deck in Ft. Wayne

Also, taking into consideration that a family member was in a wheelchair, we designed a small deck that would provide an easy transition from the road to the side deck level.  The owners did not want any rail to obstruct their view of the lake.  In order to meet the code requirement that the deck be no more than 30″ from the ground,  we made the new deck 6″ lower than the threshold of the patio door to accommodate the grade conditions.  Also, with consideration for the view from the upper deck, we used 3/4″ round Deckorator balusters for the railing.

We talked about using a composite for the decking material, however budget would not support it so premium grade pressure treated decking was specified.  With periodic maintenance, the decking will remain attractive, safe and stable for years to come.

Poorly flashed decks can cause this kind of decay.As we removed the old decks, we encountered some rot to the house band due to improper flashing at the deck attachment points.  We repaired those areas and then double flashed our deck attachments, per our standards.  Additionally, when setting the posts for the new deck, we encountered questionable soil and after consultation with the owners, we put the supports for the upper deck and some for the lower deck on pilings, to assure stability over the long term.

Lake house deck in Ft. Wayne.

Lake house deck in Ft. Wayne

After identifying and repairing the years of damage from their old deck, things went smoothly, the weather cooperated and we completed the new deck before Thanksgiving.  The homeowners were very pleased and cannot wait for spring to enjoy their new deck. That cup of coffee will taste mighty good when they are sitting out looking at the lake from their new deck.

Give us a call for a free consultation at (260) 969 – 8663 or neindiana@archadeck.net. Check us out on the web at http://fort-wayne.archadeck.com/

Posted in Archadeck of Fort Wayne Northeastern Indiana, Dekorator balusters, Lakehouse decks IN | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Can your existing deck be re-decked?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by
Fort Wayne deck before

Fort Wayne deck before

We met this couple at last year’s Fort Wayne Home & Garden show.  They explained that when they purchased their home new in 1992, they had a deck added to it right away.  The design and layout had served them well over the years, however the decking surface condition was becoming a problem (cracking, warping, cupping, loose nails, etc) and the maintenance of the deck was becoming more demanding.

They asked us to provide them with a consultation to help provide them with some alternatives.

When we got there, we found an older pressure treated wood deck that still had some functional life left in it, but the surface of the deck was badly weathered and some of the decking boards were feeling pretty soft.

TimberTech Deck Ft Wayne with Railing

TimberTech Deck Ft Wayne with Railing

The owners did not want to change the size or shape of the deck.  They planned to live in the house several more years.  They wanted to spend less time maintaining their deck.  They like to entertain family and small groups of friends.  The deck faced the east and was shaded by a few trees.  Even though the deck was only 18-22” off the ground, they wanted railing around the deck.  They had a nice grill and did not want to incorporate an outdoor kitchen.  All of these considerations went into the development of a recommendation for them.

Fort Wayne TimberTech Deck

Fort Wayne TimberTech Deck

We presented them with two proposals.  One was to duplicate the deck exactly as it was.  The other was to provide the same deck except with railings at the stairs.  They chose the one with stair railings.

We then examined some low maintenance, non-wood decking alternatives that were available to see what might work best for them.   As we have great confidence in the AZEK and TimberTech brands, both with great warranties and performance characteristics, we examined the offerings of those two brands.  My recommendation to them was the TimberTech XLM series, as in their environment for the way they wanted to use their outdoor living space; it would be one of the best choices.  It would be very stain and scratch resistant, it should require no more than hosing it off a couple of time a year, the snow could be shoveled off of it with a plastic shovel, the TimberTech Radiance Rail system would provide them the look and feel they wanted to achieve and there were several colors and textures available that would complement their residence.

Fort Wayne Decks Stairs TimberTech

Fort Wayne Decks Stairs TimberTech

In the end, they chose the TimberTech XLM decking and trim in the Sandridge color, and the TimberTech Radiance rail system in Sandridge.

When the project was completed, which took about a week from demolition to completion, they were very happy not only with their selection of materials but also with our construction process and attention to details.  When we check back with them a couple of months after project completion, they said they were using their new deck daily and were still extremely happy.  I am certain that they will continue to enjoy it for many years to come.

Posted in Decks, re-decking | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment