Category Archives: Decks

Decks, Free deck safety inspection

Is your Central GA deck an accident waiting to happen?

Pressure treated deck Central GA
There is no place like a home with a quality built deck.

Decks are a staple of outdoor living. It’s important to ensure your deck is structurally sound in order to take advantage of all the ways it can benefit your home and lifestyle. In a six-year period there were an estimated 179 deck failures which resulted in 1,122 injuries and 33 deaths. These grim statistics may come as a surprise to many Central GA homeowners, but deck safety is no accident. In observance of May being Deck Safety Awareness month, Archadeck of Central Georgia wants to ensure you or a member of your family doesn’t become a casualty as a result of an unsafe deck.

buckhead deck collapse
This local deck collapse made headlines.

When you look at the big picture of deck safety, there are no deck… accidents. An accident is something that occurs unexpectedly. Deck failures are a result of shoddy workmanship or creating a deck that will not hold the capacity which it will be subjected.  Archadeck of Central Georgia feels that deck failures are very preventable occurrences and not accidents at all. A good example of placing your safety on the line is hiring a cut rate builder to construct your deck. If you choose this route to save a few bucks, you are taking a chance that really isn’t worth the savings you gained. If a deck is built by a seasoned, reputable builder, it is built correctly meeting or exceeding building codes. Unfortunately, in the world of outdoor structures there are no police force for bad builders.

As part of Archadeck’s “Be Safer” deck safety program, Archadeck of Central GA was featured on NBC 41 WMGT to talk about the importance of making sure your Central GA deck is safe in time for the debut of the outdoor living season.

As a recap of this informative interview, here is a handy checklist of things homeowners can do to prevent having a deck safety issue:

Be safer with a deck inspection by Archadeck of Central GA
Be safer with a deck inspection by Archadeck of Central GA

1) Get your deck inspected by a professional. Archadeck of Central GA offers a free deck safety inspection for those who contact us. We also urge homeowners to be an active participant in the safety of their deck. Gain a sense of the basic components of your deck’s construction.

2) If you are adding-on or re-doing, make sure you use a qualified builder. If you choose Archadeck, remember that the builder will always have Archadeck clearly visible on their shirt. If you choose another builder make sure they have a contractor’s license. You can verify this by visiting the Georgia Professional Licensing website at https://secure.sos.state.ga.us/myverification/. It is also important to make sure your builder pulls all the necessary permits to build your deck. Check their references thoroughly! If a builder does not provide this up-front, ask for them. In many cases a cut rate builder will not offer references to avoid the homeowner learning the truth. That may be proof they have something to hide.

There is no better deck for safety than one built by Archadeck. We don’t believe in cutting any corners, especially where our clients are concerned. Let Archadeck of Central Georgia build your dream deck with maximum safety in mind. That’s what we do. Contact us today to schedule your deck safety inspection, and to schedule a free consultation (478) 745 – 2000 • email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

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

Please visit our website to view our wide selection of quality deck designs, including our wooden deck photo gallery, and our composite and PVC deck photo gallery.

Decks

Archadeck of Central Georgia emphasizes the power of choosing the right railing for your Macon, Warner-Robins deck

Wooden deck railing on multi level deck in Macon GA
Wooden deck railing on multi level deck in Macon, GA.

There is a large variety of deck railing options available to homeowners nowadays. Choosing the right railing for your deck can make it stand out from the crowd of average decks.  A unique style, material, pattern or color is a great way to add character and give your space an extra heaping of style.  With so many choices it can be difficult to choose the railing that will work best in your deck setting. There are no design rules you have to abide by when choosing your railing, but you can use other variables of your deck’s design to help make deciding a little easier. You can choose to match your railing to the floor of your deck, match the window trim color present on your home, or even match your deck’s railing to the color of the home itself. All of these options are aesthetically correct and making the right choice all comes down to your personal tastes and your budget.

Ipe deck in Fortsyth GA with wooden rail and metal pickets with basket motif and Ipe cap
Ipe deck in Fortsyth, GA with wooden rail and metal pickets with basket motif and Ipe rail cap.

In terms of choosing the railing material for your deck space, there are a lot of different options from a picket standpoint. With wood, for instance, you can choose a classic Chippendale pattern to spice things up a bit, which consists of pickets designed in a distinct pattern where one picket is square and the other is elongated. Archadeck of Central Georgia typically mixes a Chippendale pattern along with some straight railing so it is not overwhelming to the eye. There is also a baroque style railing that is lovely. There are many arched style railings as well as straights with basket and without.  Most of the metal railing pickets come in either black or white, which can add drama to your deck space through the contrast of your decking color and the trim on your home. Glass pickets are another option and are highly desired in locales that include scenic views such as lakehouse decks, and decks that overlook other outdoor living spaces such as pools. Glass railings can be used to deliver an unobstructed view, and to add contemporary modern style to your deck space.

Chippendale patterned wood railings mixed with straights on composite deck in Macon GA
Chippendale patterned wood railings mixed with straights on composite deck in Macon, GA.

If you are looking to carry the versatility of low maintenance into your deck railing, there are actually more composite railing choices than there are composite decking materials. All the reputable composite manufacturers offer composite railing options to match their flooring, as well as in traditional black and white colors. Even if you have a composite deck, it’s not necessary to also have a composite rail. Even wood railing will not hold water like that of a flat surface, so mixing mediums within your deck space when it comes to railing and decking material is alright. Composite railing with metal balusters is very popular right now, and is also a viable railing option.

Glass Railing on Lake Oconee lake deck by Archadeck of Central GA
Glass Railing on Lake Oconee lake deck by Archadeck of Central GA.

When you consider the railing color options the sky is the limit!  Wooden railings can have a sealer and stain applied in a rainbow of colors. There is also the option of using a solid white stain; we recommend the ones made by Cabot. If this is applied correctly stain and sealer can last up to seven years before your need to reapply. We can also leave your wooden pickets natural, this is a popular choice when homeowner’s have wooden decks. This option enables the matching of floor to railing. We generally seal the rail cap in this situation.

Archadeck of Central Georgia keeps a close eye on design trends in gauging what is hot and what’s not in deck design.  Black metal pickets in two different sizes used in unison with wooden railing are a trend we are seeing a lot of right now. This also helps keep costs down without sacrificing style. Chippendale pattern deck railing is always a best seller. Glass pickets are really hot around lakes and pools and are actually not as expensive as you may think. Composites are the dark horse of what customers are requesting in this region simply because they are more costly than other railing options.

If you are in the market for a new deck, or are interesting in learning more about redecking we can help. Choosing the right railing for your deck can make or break the aesthetics of your outdoor living space, contact Archadeck of Central Georgia today to learn more.
Call us for a free consultation (478) 745 – 2000
centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

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

You can view many more railing options to serve as inspiration for your deck space by visiting our composite and vinyl deck photo gallery, our wooden deck photo gallery and our Ipe deck photo gallery located on our website.