Tag Archives: Forsyth GA deck builder

Archadeck of Central Georgia urges homeowners to use cooler months to have your deck inspected

Central GA deck safety
Inconsistencies such as rail and post connections can create a safety hazard on your deck.

The cooler months provide the perfect opportunity to run a check on the safety and stability of your outdoor spaces. Since the late fall and winter are times when most of us are staying warm indoors, now is the perfect time to have a licensed professional perform a deck safety inspection. Making certain your deck is safe and in proper working order will mean you will be ready for the outdoor living season that will be here sooner than you think.

Within the last six years there were 179 nationwide reported deck failures that resulted in 33 deaths and 1,122 people being injured. These accidents are unfortunate because when it comes to deck safety, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is the reason we offer a free deck safety inspection. This program not only enables us to catch a problem before it worsens and puts the safety of your family at risk, it also provides peace of mind.

The North American Deck and Railing Association, (NADRA) urges homeowners to have their deck inspected by a licensed professional to ensure deck safety.  “According to NADRA  A professional inspection will examine every inch of your deck, provide information on your deck’s capacity limits, identify any dangerous problem areas and give you a map of what to keep your eye on in the future. If your deck is older, this might include a regular deck inspection schedule.” Some of the crucial areas a deck safety inspection should check for are ledger connections, posts and footings, post-to-beam connections, joists and joist connections, stairs, deck boards, handrail assemblies and guards and other miscellaneous aspects of your deck’s construction. It is also important to inspect structural supports and connections, such as post sizes, fastener types and specific design aspects as well as any visible indications of corrosion or weakness. Any inconsistencies in these areas can cause an unsafe deck that could lead to an accident or in a worst case scenario, a deck collapse.

Archadeck of Central GA is dedicated to deck safety. Even if your deck doesn’t look great that doesn’t mean you’re going to fall through the floor. If your deck is aged, or looking a little worse for wear, it is a good idea to have it checked. In many cases you may actually find that even if your deck is cosmetically lacking it can still be structurally sound. When we inspect it, we will inform you of what needs to be done in order to keep any problems from worsening and we can also make a list of anything that we find that needs to be fixed.

Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA
Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA

Contact Archadeck of Central Georgia today to schedule your free deck safety inspection and get the peace of mind in knowing your deck is safe and ready for the outdoor living season ahead. Call today (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

If you do not currently have a deck and are thinking of adding one in advance of the outdoor living season, you can view some of our beautiful deck designs by visiting our composite and vinyl deck gallery, wooden deck gallery and Ipe deck gallery located on our website. All of our outdoor structures are built beyond quality and structural standards.

Archadeck of Central GA explores the differences in maintaining a pressure-treated deck with that of Ipe and composites

We cleaned and sealed this deck and railing in River North. Notice the solid white sealer on the railing.

Maintaining your outdoor living structure can be a big headache but it doesn’t have to be. The allure of an outdoor living space is relaxation. But in order to keep your outdoor space running smoothly and looking beautiful it will require some degree of maintenance. Some materials require more intensive maintenance than others. But keeping in time with your maintenance schedule is the difference between keeping your beloved outdoor structure looking like new and allowing it to look tired because of lack of maintenance. In fact, there are many low maintenance products available which maintain their like-new look without all the work.

All maintenance requirements are not created equal

Are you trying to decide between a pressure-treated, Ipe, or composite deck? Each material is characteristically beautiful in its own right, but the level of maintenance required on all three materials is quite different. Standard and premium grade pressure-treated decks require pressure or chemical washing followed by an application of a sealer which will protect the lumber from absorbing water. This is usually required on an annual basis or possibly more depending on the amount of exposure to the sun. Pressure-treated boards have the capacity to soak up a great deal of water. Humidity and moisture mixed together will cause the rapid expansion and contraction of the wood which will cause your deck to weather faster which is why it is so important to seal your pressure-treated deck. Vertical elements of your pressure-treated deck don’t require the level of maintenance that the floor, steps and rail cap will, this is because the water does not sit on the wood but runs off.

Georgia on my mind with this Central GA composite deck
These Central GA homeowners have Georgia on their mind when using this stunning composite deck.

With pressure-treated decks maintenance is the key to keeping the deck beautiful and structurally sound. If you miss a year or two it can ultimately cause irreversible damage. On the other hand, if you love the look of natural wood there is another option called Ipe. Ipe is a dense and exotic looking hardwood that requires less maintenance than other wood options for your deck.

Ipe pool deck in Warner Robins GA
Ipe is perfect for use around water features because of it;s density and resistant to water that would cause other wood mediums to degrade rapidly.

Ipe is a Brazilian hardwood that is literally harder than nails. Its density makes it desirable in outdoor structure settings. Ipe is so dense that it needs to be pre-drilled before the pieces can be connected. We recommend sealing an Ipe deck with a good sealer to retain the material’s dark, rich tone. If Ipe is left to weather it will age to a beautiful grey patina over time. The maintenance required for Ipe is not as tedious as that of pressure-treated wood. You can let Ipe go for a few seasons and then seal it and it will then look like new again.  Good quality sealers can be found by checking with Consumer Reports, but we also highly recommend Cabot stains and sealers, and Olympic also makes a good quality sealer as well.

The key to successfully sealing any wood deck is to do so when it is dry. Make sure the deck remains dry after application up to 48 hours if possible. You will want to check the forecast before starting your maintenance. A good rule of thumb to check to see if it is time to seal your wood deck is to sprinkle a little water on it, if the water beads up then it is not necessary to apply sealer. When the sprinkle test reveals that the water blends in with the deck within 15-20 seconds of application then it is time to treat your wood deck.

We replaced and sealed the flooring only on this deck. The railing is original with the original sealer

One of the lowest maintenance options is composite decking. Today’s composites come in a wide array of finishes, textures and tones that rival the look of real wood. Composite decks do not require sealing or annual maintenance to keep them looking new but they do need to be cleaned periodically to remove dirt and debris. Most brands only need soap and water cleanup to keep them looking new. Common sense practices come into play when talking about maintaining composites. Materials that stain such as ketchup, grease spillage from the grill and even wet leaves should be cleaned up immediately to avoid damage to the deck’s surface. Compare your reaction time when dealing with composites to that of any surface in the home. If you would rush to clean it up on an indoor hardwood floor, then you should take the same care for any outdoor flooring material. The end result will be a composite deck that stands the test of time and looks new for many years to come.

Forsyth GA Ipe deck
Ipe delivers beauty and strength ; the beauty and the beast of decking material.

If you are on the fence about what material to choose for your new deck, take the amount of time you are willing to spend on maintaining that deck to keep it performing and looking like new into consideration. Contact Archadeck of Central Georgia to learn more about the material options that would best suit your needs, your wants and most of all your outdoor living lifestyle.

Call for a free consultation: (478) 745 – 2000
Email:centralgeorgia@archadeck.netStephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA

To see more inspiring images of decks built with various medias, visit our wood deck gallery, our Ipe deck gallery and our composite deck gallery located on our website.

Pictures of decks in Macon, Warner Robins, and the Central GA area

At Archadeck of Central GA, we build decks, porches, patios, pergolas, custom fire features and so much more. Take a look at a variety of porches we’ve built in the area.

Archadeck of Central Georgia looks at the many faces of synthetic decking

Warner Robins GA composite deck
This composite deck in Warner Robins, GA exemplifies the beauty of composites.

Among the many options available when choosing the materials for your new deck or re-deck, synthetic decking is often one of the top choices. Within synthetic decking, there are quite a range of choices and all are not the same. Synthetic decking comes in many colors, finishes, dimensional designs and brands. Synthetic decking includes composite decking, solid PVC and capstock  decking, each one of which has certain similarities as well as differences. We have outlined each of  of the three below.

Composite decking

Your traditional wood/plastic composite material, such as TimberTech, Trex ,  and Fiberon composites, have a combination of  wood fiber and resin. This pairing of wood and plastic sets the stage for durability that wood  has never been able to provide. TimberTech’s Reliaboard for example, resists splintering and rotting and never requires staining or painting. These 1st generation composites are very economical as well. The downside is that since there is the presence of wood, stains can occur. Wine, oil and grease can stain the deck because of the wood, the board is porous. High traffic areas are also a concern and are prone to mark over time . Making sure your deck builder uses a high-quality composite decking material, such as the ones mentioned above is critical. These products are covered by warranties that exceed those of any wooden deck on the market, so rest assured composite itself is a solid choice for decking.

Fiberon deck in Macon GA
This Fiberon deck in Macon, GA includes a custom pergola in the design.

Solid PVC decking

Solid PVC decking such as AZEK is impervious to just about anything you can dish out. From red wine, to grease from your grill and even the kid’s fruit punch. This cellular PVC product offers superior stain resistance, scratch resistance, fade resistance,  and split resistance. It is also insect, and mold/mildew resistant. There is never a worry from your patio furniture or your pet scratching your deck with solid PVC. The only downfall is that since it is solid PVC (plastic) it may not look as authentic as natural wood. We use a large amount of AZEK decking and our customers love it. AZEK even offers a line of railing to compliment their large color selection.

Capstock decking

Capstock is what we also refer to as a wrapped or covered product. This takes the benefits of composite as the core and wraps it with a PVC covering. This product can be seen in the Fiberon Horizon line. Capstock uses the best of both worlds through superior stain, fade, scratch,  and insect resistance and still giving you the beauty of real wood. The veining and colorations  used in the Trex Transcends line are so realistic and beautiful it will leave you having to lean in a little closer to see whether or not the product is real wood with hues that even mimic the look of exotic Ipe, and other tropical hardwoods.

Composite deck Chippendale pattern Milledgeville GA
We installed this Milledgeville, GA composite deck using a unique Chippendale pattern.

No matter which of these synthetics you choose to build your dream deck,  each one is packed with versatility and beauty. Choosing a synthetic doesn’t need to be incredibly expensive. Archadeck of Central Georgia is a trusted and respected leader in the community. We have the experience to consult effectively with our customers on material selections. We are well-versed and really know the business of synthetics top to bottom. We can help you select and choose the right material to suit your needs, your lifestyle and your budget.

Contact us today to learn more about synthetic and other outdoor living material options. Call for a free consultation: (478) 745 – 2000 centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

See more beautiful images of synthetic decks by visiting our composite and PVC deck gallery located on our website.