Category Archives: Decks

How safe is your Macon Warner Robins deck? Here are the top 6 things to inspect to determine the safety of your Central GA deck

May 9, 2016 admin

In addition to being the beginning of the summer season, May is nation Deck Safety Month. This is a good time to consider whether your deck is safe of whether it may be time to make some updates to make it safer or get your deck up to code.

Here are the top 6 things to inspect to determine whether your Central GA deck is safe for your family and guests as y’all spend a lot of time outdoors this summer. You’ll remember not too long ago when we posted the blog about the deck you see below. When those homeowners called us to replace their deck, it was obvious that the deck was unsafe since it moved when they stepped foot on it.

If your deck has structural issues, it may not be as apparent so we want to provide some things to inspect on your own.

Does the deck move?
Do the stairs move?
Does the railing move?
Are the support beams cracked or degrading?
Are nails or screws used as fasteners
When looking at the connection to your home, are bolts or nailed used to attach to your home?

The first 3 questions seem obvious. If your deck clearly and easily moves when you step on it, then it obviously is time for a new deck. And, it’s time to do that quickly. Just because your deck doesn’t easily move or sway when you step on it doesn’t mean that it’s safe. Here are a couple things to try to ensure deck safety.

Pick a couple spots on your deck and jump on those spots. You should not feel movement left to right or even up and down. If there is give in the boards as you jump up and down, the joists may not be close enough to meet code or to support the weight of the deck board. You shouldn’t feel any swaying nor give in the boards.

Then head over to the railing. Grab on with both hands and try to move it left to right as well as forward and back. Does it move? If your railing is attached correctly, it will not move when you push or pull on it. If you have movement, it’s time to call in an expert to diagnose whether there are some minor updates to secure the railing or whether the railing needs major updates to become safe and secure.

Next, move to your stairs. Stand squarely on a stair half way down, grab both railings and try to move from side to side. Neither your railings nor your stairs should have any movement side to side. Then, if you feel comfortably balanced, jump a couple times on an individual step and see if there is spring or give on any of the stairs themselves.

Take a look at the deck boards and how they are attached to each other and to the joists. Are nails or screws used to attach the decking boards? If you see evidence of nails being used instead of screws, there may be some vulnerability.

Below deck!

After checking out what can be seen from the deck, step around and under your deck. Take a look at the support beams. Are any of them cracked or twisted? Do you notice any evidence of infestation from termites? Are the supports solid and immovable? If you try to move a support post, do you see any give in the area where the post connects to the footing?

Finally, if you can walk under your deck to the area where the deck is attached to the house, take a look at the attachment. What hardware is used? Heavy duty bolts must be used to attach the deck to your home. If you see nails or even screws, your deck may be unsafe.

A few years ago, we were interviewed about deck safety by a local radio station. Here is some great information about evaluating the safety of your deck.

We encourage you to give us a call to discuss any concerns you may have with your deck’s structure and safety. We have not only built hundreds of decks throughout the Central GA area but we have also repaired and re-decked many decks.

Re-decking is a popular option. This allows you to replace the decking boards. Many Central GA homeowners want to upgrade to low maintenance decking or railing. Most often we can upgrade the decking or railing utilizing the existing sub-structure. If there are some stability issues, we should be able to fix those issues at that time ensuring to bring your deck up to code.

If you are ready to learn more about how we can enhance your outdoor living at your home, contact Archadeck of Central GA today (478) 745 – 2000 or visit our website at centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Deck engineer and construction, Decks, Dock Builder

You really won’t believe the transformation of this Macon GA deck

April 20, 2016 admin

Voila!

Although this picture is worth a thousand words, it’s fitting to tell the story anyway because it isn’t exactly what it seems. Looking at the old deck, you would think we demolished the entire deck, heaved it in the dumpster and quickly started building the new deck. But, that’s not exactly how this story goes.

The original deck was at the home of a fellow contractor’s parents. The deck was in such bad shape that nobody would even walk on it which also presented problems in getting out to the back yard. The contractor wanted us to build a new deck for his parents.

At Archadeck, we treat our clients like they are our family members and one thing we feel strongly about is utilizing still functional parts of the decks substructure. Often the substructure is in good enough shape to utilize as the substructure on the new deck. In this case, the deck, stairs and posts could not be used. But, the joists were in suitable shape to be used. We utilized those joists and added some additional joists to get the deck up to code.

Making the old deck new again

We added new posts, a new beam, added new decking, a new railing, a new set of steps in a better position and a new landing for the steps. Utilizing the old joists saved the client over $1,000 which he appreciated immensely especially since the deck was for his parents.

If you have an older deck that you want to bring back to life, give us a call and have us take a look at it. There are a number of techniques we can utilize to either reface, or in this case rebuild, your existing deck. When we enhance or reface an existing deck, we are not just limited to the existing size and shape. We often make changes adding only the necessary additional substructure to increase the size or make other desired enhancements. Give us a ring at (478) 745 – 2000. You might also want to take a look at the decks photo gallery on our Archadeck of Central GA website.

Deck builder, Deck engineer and construction, Decks

Reinforcing art at the cabin in the woods

March 23, 2016 admin

Before we begin telling this story, we have to show you the finished project.

If the charming look of this countryside cabin isn’t enough, the story that goes behind it is even better. Before this was a cabin in Central GA, it was a barn in Ohio. The family reclaimed the barn wood to make this beautiful cabin. It is used as an art studio not only for the owners but also for other local area artists.

Now, here’s the before picture. We typically like to build up to the after picture but you’ll see why when you see the before picture below.

The entire art cottage is so charming that you may not have noticed the prominence of the front porch or the state of disrepair facing both the front porch and the steps. The owner was adamant about one thing. She did not want to lose any of the rustic character.

For the front porch flooring, while pressure-treated wood is a natural material, you can tell by its color and cut that it has been cleaned and treated and is therefore a few steps removed from the aged and storied quality of untreated or heartier wood. For the decking boards we sourced 2″ thick by 8″ wide cypress beams. We kept the under-structure for the front deck but replaced the rotted decking boards with the cypress boards. To make sure that the cypress beams did the job we were looking for, we took extra effort to use toenail screws from the sides of the boards so you couldn’t see them from the top.

On to the posts. The porch roof is held up by old tree trunks that were from the family’s property. The owner wanted to preserve them but they had some rotting at the bottom. We took them off, cut of the rotted areas and then increased the sizes of the header a little since the posts were then shorter. We stained the underside of the deck boards before construction to further protect the lumber. The owners are going to distress and seal the boards in the coming weeks.

As you can see, there is a bit of difference in the 2 sets of stairs. While the old set did the job, they were a little tough to navigation and were not up to code. Re replaced the stairs with a new set that were up to code.

Our goal is to build your outdoor space for how you want to live outside. We know that aesthetics are a huge part. Whether you are hoping to make your space rustic or authentic or shiny and new, we will work with you to determine the best materials and design to suit your own personal needs.

If you are ready to learn more about how we can enhance your outdoor living experience and stay within your budget, contact Archadeck of Central GA today (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Deck builder, Decks

New, but true to this Macon home’s historic heritage

November 3, 2015 admin

When we work with clients who are lucky enough to have one of the beautiful homes in downtown Macon’s historic district, we know there will be a few extra items on our “to-do” list. Building or restoring the Macon deck may be the same from a plank and nails perspective, but there are additional considerations. First, the design has to be in line with the area’s building restrictions. Second, when you are tieing in with bricks or wood that is hundreds of years old, you need to tread carefully to avoid damage and to ensure safety and structural integrity. We have extensive experience in both of these areas.

One of our customers had a brick staircase at the side of their home that was crumbling and in need of repair. As long as they were tackling that problem, they thought they would use the opportunity to add some space in the form of a small raised deck. The house is on a corner lot, so the plans required architectural control committee approval before we broke ground. You can see the railings, skirting and stairs from the street, so we needed to use wood to meet the required covenants. The floor isn’t visible from the street, so we were able to build with Fiberon Pro-Tect, a longer lasting, synthetic product that has a classic look.

Another interesting wrinkle in this project was that this is a home where the extended family gathers for holidays and special events. It isn’t in use on a daily basis. This meant that we needed to put in a little extra effort to maintain strong communication with the various family members. When clients aren’t on site to have short, regular discussions, it is important to use other tools like emails with photos to stay in agreement on all of the details of a project. It’s a service we are happy to provide to guarantee that the customers are getting what they want.

The new deck blends seamlessly with the area’s other historic properties. More importantly, the steps down from the kitchen are no longer a hazard. The synthetic decking’s classic gray color works well with the property and gives the owners the easy maintenance they need.

Archadeck of Central Georgia is proud to have been serving Macon and Warner Robins homeowners for more than a dozen years. If you choose to work with us, you will benefit from our extensive knowledge of local building trends and traditions, as well as our rock solid relationships with other local tradesmen. Check out our reviews and reputation in the community. We are happy to provide you with references for any kind of job you are considering. Call: (478) 745 – 2000. Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.

Deck builder, Decks

Take a look at our finished ipe and garapa deck in Forsyth GA

August 17, 2015 admin

A while back, we featured an ipe and garapa project we were building in Forsyth. It has been in place for three seasons now and it’s just as stunning and compelling as it was the day we finished installation.

Ipe is also known as Brazilian Walnut and is the darker of these two premium woods. Garapa is more tawny in color and is sometimes called Brazilian Ash. Both are incredibly dense woods with tight grain patterns. Both offer a natural combination of beauty and durability that is unsurpassed elsewhere in genuine decking material. Ipe was even used for the Coney Island boardwalk for more than 25 years of high traffic before it needed replacement. As a testament to Ipe’s strengh and ability to take a licking and keep on ticking, the boardwalk ipe was cleaned, restored, and re-used in everything from a museum entrance to a historical table.

All natural wood will gray out if not treated. In fact, this trademark gray has become the appeal of genuine wood. With the rich colors of ipe, the color is almost too beautiful to let it gray out. Maintaining your ipe deck doesn’t need to be done by a professional outsourced company. This client chose to handle the routine maintenance of his picture-framed open porch himself. During the first year, it is recommended that the ipe and garapa be treated at the time of construction and then again at 6 months and a year to maintain their luster and value.

One great product for treating exotic hardwoods like ipe, garapa, massaranduba, and mahogany is Australian Timber Oil by Cabot. It is available as an oil-based or water-based product. We recommend the oil-based. You can also use products from Messmer’s.

While you can see a difference between the decking at the porch’s original unveiling and today, I think most people would prefer the slightly deeper, richer color that the space has after a year in place. We think you will agree that the additional effort to do or contract for this upkeep is well worth it. You would be hard-pressed to find more attractive outdoor living flooring. In return for this TLC, these South American hardwoods will far outlive their North American pressure-treated cousins and will always be a source of homeowner pride.

If you are considering creating a great new outdoor living space for your Macon/Warner Robins area back yard, or if you want to give a fresh new look to your existing backyard space, give us a call for a free consultation. We are the composite deck builder which will identify the best structures and materials to create the perfect outdoor living space just for you. Call: (478) 745 – 2000. Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.

Decks

Distinctly southern quality and style for your Macon or Warner Robins area home

August 3, 2015 admin

In Macon we respect and honor tradition. We love enjoying a tall glass of sweet tea after a long day’s work. We are happy to open a door for a lady. We enjoy making a special covered dish and sharing it with a new neighborhood, on any old Sunday, or with a sick friend. We love the slower pace and gentle elegance that characterizes the South.

When it comes to outdoor living spaces and additions, our southern way of life also translates into some distinctly southern building styles. When you watch a movie like Steel Magnolias or Forrest Gump, there is always a gracious porch wrapped around the exterior of the fine old home. We closely identify with the quintessential white picket or the stately beauty of Chippendale railings.

What is the best material for your Macon porch or deck? Unpainted pressure treated wood is always a good option, but in this case, a newer material might be a better option.

Pressure-treated pine will demand regular, time-consuming painting and maintenance. Although relatively newer, If you install PVC or white vinyl railing, you will save yourself hassle and expense over the long run. Pressure treated pine will demand cleaning and painting up and down and all around each picket every few years. That’s either a huge, annoying project for you or a very expensive project for a professional painter. By the second or third time you’ve had to tackle that chore, you may likely have exceeded the expense of choosing composite or vinyl in the first place.

Another classic picket option that you’ll often see in the south is the black metal picket that mimics the look of wrought iron. These days true wrought iron is prohibitively expensive for most homeowners and has a tendency to rust and stain the floor. A wonderful substitute for this product is the black powder coated metal pickets, like the pickets available from our partner Fortress Iron.

Archadeck of Central Georgia is proud to have been serving Macon and Warner Robins homeowners for more than a dozen years. If you choose to work with us, you will benefit from our extensive knowledge of local building trends and traditions, as well as our rock-solid relationships with other local tradesmen. Check out our reviews and reputation in the community. We are happy to provide you with references for any kind of job you are considering. Call: (478) 745 – 2000. Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.

Deck builder, Decks

The cold January days will soon give way to deck weather. Start the building process now unless you want to forgo enjoying your new deck this spring

January 15, 2015 admin

If I asked you how long it takes to build a deck, you might guess it takes about 2 weeks. In adding a structure such as a deck to your home, there are a lot of other steps of the deck building process besides besides just actually building your deck. Take for example the first meeting. When you give us a call, we get back to you right away but it’s likely our meeting will be up to 7 days away depending on your schedule and ours. Right there we’ve added one week to the process.

Moving forward, the second meeting is the design proposal. That appointment can take another week based on creating the design and scheduling time on everyone’s busy calendar. If everything goes smoothly, that first stage can take 2 weeks on a simple deck. Most of our clients want decks with very custom configurations and/or an attached porch, patio, or outdoor fire feature. The design and approval time may increase for more complex projects.

So, after spending two weeks from the day you first called to the day we agreed to a design we enter the permitting, planning, and purchasing phase. Archadeck always pulls a permit for your project. Then we have to coordinates materials being delivered when the crews are ready to start. This can add a week.

When the design consultation, final design selection, permitting, planning, and purchasing are complete, you can be 3 weeks into your project on average. You will be ready to build but we will already have projects that are in process and projects in line waiting to be built. That backlog is longest in the height of spring but starts to get busy as early as mid February.

The actual build time varies based on the project. A simple deck can take a week of construction time. Porches can take 3-4 construction weeks and complex multi-structure projects can take longer. Then, don’t forget the inspector and his schedule. If there is an electrical inspection involved it could add a week. Sheesh!

To recap, here are average times for your project:

2 weeks from first call until final design selection

1 week for permitting, planning, and purchasing

1-4 weeks for the Archadeck backlog of projects

1-4 weeks of building time

2 days to 1 week for final inspections

Now if I ask you how long does it take to build a deck, you know that the construction may only take a week but the process is not that quick! The important thing is to start early. If you’ve been thinking about adding a new outdoor space and you’re ready to build, you want to get the planning process done as quickly as possible so you can get on the production list.

Give us a call for a free consultation so we can start the process of building your new dream outdoor living space.

Deck builder, Decks, TimberTech composite decks

A deck that could have belonged to southern rock royalty

June 9, 2014 admin

Families grow and change over time. The good news is that your outdoor living spaces can do the same. We recently had the opportunity to do a makeover on a multi-level deck which we originally built in 1992. We remembered working on this home because it was previously owned by the Allman Brothers. The framing was still in good shape, but the floor and railings had weathered over the last 22 years and the needs of the family had changed so we came over to consult on an upgrade/makeover.

The original deck had several levels that stylishly connected the home to the swimming pool. The kids were young the first go-around and getting them to and from the pool and having a good view of the water were the top design concerns at the time. This year the clients wanted to create a more relaxed, living room-type space looking out at the pool and surrounding woods. The house has log cabin construction that fits very naturally with the lot and we aimed to keep the refurbished deck consistent with that look. To that end, we will stain the wood areas to match the home.

We built the lowest level up to match the height of the largest existing section. This allows for plenty of space for eating and entertaining. There are now two eating areas with great flow between them for mingling or just moving about. Multiple deck levels are ideal for allowing either for multiple use or for breaking groups into different clusters: think teens at one table and adults at another.

The decks are surrounded by new, solid skirting with doors underneath, garnering the family ample, secure outdoor storage. Composite materials have come a long way in recent years. For this update the family selected TimberTech decking to build the floors and rail caps. The railings are stained wood with black pickets and provide the necessary safety without compromising the view to the water and trees.

Rumor has it the Cher once stayed at this home. We think she would love the new deck! When you are considering deck builders in Juliet, GA, we hope you will give Archadeck a call for a free consultation. We’d love to talk with you about new construction or a refresh project like this one.

Call: (478) 745 – 2000
Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net
Visit the composite and PVC deck picture and photo gallery on our website for more great design ideas and inspiration

Deck builder, Decks, Pergola builder/contractor

This East Macon deck and pergola addition is nothing short of an outdoor oasis from every angle!

November 12, 2013 admin

: Our recent deck and pergola addition in east Macon is built with a keen eye towards preserving the holistic nature of this home’s architecture.

This deck and pergola project takes us to the Nottingham community located on the East side of Macon. This area of Central GA lends itself to the very roots of Macon, and carries an air of nostalgia amid the mature landscapes and prominence of the homes located there. This particular home was built in the Frank Lloyd Wright style architecture which is based on designing structures in harmony with humanity and their environment. This is a philosophy Wright called organic architecture. This home is a prime example of combining the home with the outdoors as the surrounding property and the residence unite elegantly as one.

: This bi-level deck design allows the decks to flow harmoniously into one another and also provides space for separate living and dining areas.

Our goal was to emphasize this union with a new deck and pergola addition for this home. The homeowner’s existing deck was showing signs of age and exposure to the weather. We began the project by tearing down the old deck so as to have a blank canvas to build a new outdoor living masterpiece. We built the new deck from pressure treated pine and later the homeowners applied a solid sealer. The homeowner also wanted the new deck design to emphasize varied angles and shapes as they did not want a typical square-shaped deck. The design we decided upon includes two decks built at two different levels. This bi-level design allows the decks to flow harmoniously into one another and also provides ample space for separate living and dining areas. The living area of the deck provides convenient access to the interior of the home to make entertaining on the new deck a breeze.

: The day we photographed the space, the pergola had just been painted with red to make the pergola stand out among the lush landscape.

Within the living area of the deck, we also built a stunning wooden pergola. The pergola design is influenced by the same cues set forth by the home’s architecture and the free-flowing nature of the deck. The day we photographed the space, the pergola had just been painted with red to make the pergola stand out among the lush landscape and in keeping with the red hue used on the French doors that provide access between the deck and house.

: Notice how the bi-level design allows ample space for both dining and relaxing.

These Nottingham homeowners are elated with their new outdoor living space and are looking forward to many years of organically inspired outdoor living enjoyment on their new deck. In fact, they were so happy with the outcome of the design that upon completion they referred their daughter to us for an outdoor living project she had in mind. We recently finished her project and will feature it here soon.

Archadeck of Central GA wants to remind you to think outside the box when it comes to inspiration for your new outdoor living space. Building on your style and individual taste is often the key to the success and enjoyment of your new area. There are no strict rules of design when it comes to an outdoor living space addition. If you have a specific style or placement location in mind for your anticipated deck or pergola, don’t be afraid to go with it. We are happy to give ideas and suggestions from what we’ve seen that works with our other clients.

: Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA

To learn more about our unique custom outdoor living space designs, contact Archadeck of Central GA today, the consultation is free, but the rewards are priceless – (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Please visit our wood decks photo gallery and our pergola and trellis photo gallery located on our website for more unique examples of deck and pergola combination designs.

Deck builder, Decks

The charm of this front of house deck picks up right where the dirt road ends!

August 19, 2013 admin

: Take a peek at this Macon, GA entrance deck which we are currently working on.

Today we revisit these former clients in Macon, GA. Archadeck of Central GA completed a backyard deck addition for these homeowners when they lived at a previous home. Since moving, the homeowners are ready to build a front-of-house entrance deck addition. Since the homeowners enjoy entertaining a lot, they had found themselves using the front yard often. Since their traditional ranch style home is located on a charming country gravel road, and exudes a country charm, the front yard seems a natural spot to linger while friends, family and neighbors would drop by to visit. With this in mind, Archadeck of Central GA set out to build a front-of-house deck that mimics the same “slow down and stay awhile” approach to outdoor living so prevalent in this area of Macon.

: This is the front of the house before we started the deck addition.

Adding to the charm of the new deck, the home already has a little covered area that is just wide enough to serve as a hallway to the front door of the home. They also have a door that comes out at the opposite end of the home. With the home’s unique features and existing traffic flow in mind, we designed the deck to run from the covered walkway area to the other side of the home where the door is located. The classic ranch style dimensions of this home make the perfect candidate for a front of house deck, as the design of a ranch home lends itself to longer dimensions than other house styles.

Since the house is built with a slab foundation, the existing walkway is still present under the deck. The new deck addition is built with pressure treated pine and features steps on the front that are built all the way across so they can be used as bench seating. We installed the decking on an angle to add visual interest. The deck also steps down to gain access to the door located at the opposite end of the entrance.

: Notice how the new deck addition changes the whole look of this residence into a welcoming outdoor oasis.

This deck is still an in-progress project, but the homeowners were so excited with the deck they have already began moving their outdoor furnishings onto the completed portion of the new space. They are ecstatic about being able to use the new deck in the coming weeks as they have company coming into town to visit.

Archadeck of Central GA wants to remind you to think outside the box when it comes to inspiration for your new outdoor living space. Promoting your individual taste and ideals is often the key to the success and enjoyment of your new space. There are no stringent rules of design when it comes to an outdoor living space addition. If you have a specific style or placement location in mind for your anticipated deck or porch, don’t be afraid to go with it. Remember that your individual living space needs and taste is what makes your new space original.

: Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA

To learn more about our unique custom outdoor living space designs, contact Archadeck of Central GA today, the consultation is free, but the results are priceless – (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Macon Warner Robins Decks, Patios, Porches, Pergolas, Gazebos and more