Have you even peered into your backyard and imagined an outdoor oasis – a place that is alive with beauty, function and quality that would enable you to escape from the stresses of each day? Have you wanted a space that you can use to enhance the precious time you spend with family, with enough versatility to be that perfect intimate space to host a candlelit outdoor dinner for date night with your better half? Archadeck of Central Georgia wants you to know the backyard of your dreams may be closer than your think. Our Dream Backyard Makeover contest can turn your backyard into the outdoor oasis you have envisioned.
We are proud to announce the opening of the Archadeck 2013 Dream Backyard Makeover contest. This is the first national contest in Archadeck’s history. Archadeck which is one of the nation’s largest builder networks specializing in custom-designed and custom-built outdoor living structures, has paired with two of our premium suppliers, TimberTech and Belgard to bring one lucky homeowner their dream backyard makeover worth up to $70,000.
Archadeck of Central Georgia is proud to be involved in this endeavor and we want to tell you about how the contest works…
The prizes for the contest are at three levels. The grand prize is a custom outdoor space with a value of up to $70,000! The 2nd prize is a deck renovation with a value up to $7,000, and the 3rd prize is a outdoor lighting package with a value of $3,000. Each of these will provide a lovely improvement to your backyard and further years of outdoor living enjoyment. Homeowners can enter the contest via Facebook by liking the Archadeck of Central Georgia Facebook page and clicking on the icon that reads “promotions”. Once inside the entry portion of the contest you will need to provide a photo of your existing outdoor space and supply a description in a maximum of 200 words to describe the ideal of your dream outdoor space.
The contest began on February 1st and submissions will be accepted through April 23 of this year, 2013. At that time, two finalists will be chosen for the months of February, March and April. From these six finalists Facebook users can then vote on their favorite to help us determine the winners. Voting will open on 4/23/13 and end on 4/30/13. In May the winners of all three levels will be announced.
Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA
You can learn more about this backyard dream come true that could happen to you by visiting our Archadeck of Central Georgia Facebook page today. To learn more about the beautiful, functional spaces we can design and build for you to set your dreams in motion, contact Archadeck of Central Georgia for a free consultation (478) 745 – 2000 or email us at centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.
Screened porches as well as hardscape designs such as patios and outdoor fireplaces remain at the top of many homeowner wish lists as we look to 2013.
Each of us starts off the New Year with aspirations and hopes of improving our lives in the upcoming year. These improvements can include freeing ourselves of bad habits and making changes to improve our health and appearance. Many homeowners begin making changes that will improve our lives and our lifestyle. Adding and upgrading areas in and around your home to get more enjoyment out of your home is at the top of many homeowners’ lists. With this in mind, Archadeck of Central Georgia has compiled a summary of what we see for hot building and design trends for 2013.
Building and design trends in outdoor living for 2013
This beautiful walkway was built usng Belgard hardscapes.
We are continuing to watch the screened porch market grow. This is especially true when the screened porch becomes a room that can be utilized for 9 months out of the year or even longer with the inclusion of an outdoor fireplace. This is an inexpensive way to add a big living space to your backyard and home.
Hardscapes will continue to be a growth area for us in 2013. Patios are becoming more and more popular in the Central GA market. We expect growth in the higher-end patio build and design market which includes outdoor fireplaces and outdoor kitchens. This is an ideal choice for a patio home with a flat yard or those homeowners who already have a concrete patio which is too small or does not provide adequate function.
Among the top choices for hardscapes is Belgard’s Chattahoochee blend. This beautiful blend contains purples and browns. We continue to get requests for this color, in particular because it contains enough brown to hide dirt effectively.
Multi-area outdoor spaces will continue to grow as well. Multi- area spaces and outdoor living combinations provide multiple uses for one space. People will continue to want to build more outdoor kitchens, and fire pits. These areas can be used on patios and decks to increase the length of usable time for the space.
Fire pits continue to grow in popularity within our market. Not only is the fire pit a relatively inexpensive way to add ambiance and rustic beauty to your outdoor setting, but people really love them.
Interest in composite and PVC (synthetic) decks will continue to grow in popularity in the New Year. Adding a synthetic deck make sense for less maintenance and maintaining your deck’s beauty and value over time.
Screened porches continue to be one of the most requested outdoor spaces for 2013.
AZEK PVC trim boards have started to become popular for people who also want a more finished look to their outdoor space. We can use these to wrap the deck, edge band, column posts and risers in white. Most houses have white windows and trim so the white PVC finishes match really nicely.
A great way to add pizzazz to a deck without adding really expensive custom elements is to use a two-tone color design. This can be achieved with an outline, or even parting boards. This kind of design trend adds little additional cost to the homeowner and adds loads of personality to your deck.
One thing we’ve seen is a great deal of repair work that has been put off with homeowner’s existing outdoor spaces because of the recent economy. The economy is improving and if you are thinking of selling your home, the needed repairs will have to be addressed in order to place your home on the market. Personally, I have seen a number of decks that need repair so we foresee a great deal of safety inspection and repair work in 2013.
Beyond minor repairs, we anticipate there will be some re-decking without changing the size and shape of existing decks as well as adding new railing to many decks to improve the salability of homes. Re-decking can be a valuable way to add beauty and longevity to your deck, this is the case whether you are staying in your home or plan to sell in the near future. Deciding to upgrade to a synthetic will add value over time, and will leave you more time to enjoy your outdoor space without the worry of constant maintenance.
With existing screened porches we are seeing the popularity of converting their screens to EZE Breeze windows. This is the case with many porch owners because it extends the amount of time you can enjoy your space. It also offers versatile function that can enable your porch to function as a three-season, or even a four-season room with minimal effort.
Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA
Whether you are considering a new outdoor structure addition this year, or are looking to upgrade an existing outdoor space to deliver more enjoyment and appeal, Archadeck of Central Georgia can transform your outdoor space into everything you always hoped it could be. Contact us today to learn more. Call today for a free consultation (478) 745 – 2000 centralgeorgia@archadeck.net Visit our deck gallery, our patio and hardscape gallery and our screened porch gallery located on our website to see more examples of trending outdoor structure designs for 2013. learn more. Call today for a free consultation (478) 745 – 2000 centralgeorgia@archadeck.net
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
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.
It is important to let a professional take the reins and see to it that your outdoor dreams are brought to life in a timely manner with quality workmanship and materials.
When it comes to adding an outdoor living space to your home, there are certain things that should not be undertaken or decided upon without the help of an expert. These things are quality, structural expertise, cost, and safety. These are the aspects that may be lost when deciding to be your own general contractor for your structural outdoor project. I like to compare the pitfalls that homeowners experience when choosing to be their own general contractor to representing yourself in a trial with no prior experience of how the judicial system operates. A novice taking on their own defense would not be familiar with the judge, the district attorneys, or even how to present a case. All good intentions aside in order to represent yourself you need the guidance of an experienced professional with knowledge of the courtroom. The same can be said about an experienced contractor. A seasoned builder or contractor knows the business and how it operates, how to get the best values on the highest quality materials and how to avoid being pushed onto the back burner of the schedule.
5 reasons to not be your own general contractor
Archadeck of Central GA only uses sub-contractors that are experts in the quality and workmanship of their given trade.
1) Risk – if you are acting as your own contractor there will be substantial risks involved. These can range from the design, the construction and the people you hire to work for you. Being a homeowner and taking on these risks means there is no recourse for holding subcontractors accountable if something goes wrong. Since you are not licensed as a contractor you are accepting all the risk. In addition to the liability and danger involved if an accident such as a fire happens, your homeowner’s insurance does not cover the risk associated with deciding to take on the role of a general contractor. Reputable sub-contractors you seek to complete the work will require an up-to-date certificate of insurance showing you are covered in the event of an accident.
2) Expertise– the sub-contractors hired will have to be supervised and instructed. Questions like “how deep are the footings supposed to be”, and “how many nails should go in the joist” commonly arise. Knowledge of code requirements is also crucial when managing a building project. In order to play the role of a general contractor you must have knowledge and be well-versed in conveying the proper structural requirements to the subs when needed. Without the skill, experience and expertise; you will be left in the dark. This means when the inspections are completed and something doesn’t meet code, or is done incorrectly, you as the general contractor will have to fix it.
Our customers our priority one and we uphold the highest expectations of each contractor, safety and the highest quality materials.
3) Costs– licensed contractors have relationships with their suppliers. They deal with them on a regular basis and are repeat customers. This relationship between the contractor, the supplier and the sub-contractors helps facilitate honesty between the groups. Suppliers want good relationships with their contractors and sub-contractors because they want repeat business. This rapport means that they are more apt to be treated fairly on price and delivery versus doing business with a one-time customer. You are not likely to get the same discounts or prompt delivery as that of one their regular contractors.
4) Timing – suppliers will make sure the deliveries for the contractors they deal with as repeat customers on a regular basis are top priority. Deliveries for one time clients are generally placed last. The same can be said about the scheduling importance of your sub-contractors. Since yours is a one time job they will likely not have the same incentive to get the work completed in a timely manner as the jobs of their repeat contractors. They will prioritize their better relationships over your job of someone they are not familiar with and will likely never work for again. Building is a realm where contractors, subs and suppliers take care of their “own” before any others, much like a family would.
5) Quality – this is especially a concern where sub-contractors are concerned. Many quality subs already have specific contractors which they will only work for. It is difficult to find a good sub that will work for you as a one-time deal. The inability to hire quality sub-contractors will set the stage for inferior or sub-standard work, because all the quality workers are already scheduled on jobs for licensed contractors. This is a major pitfall for homeowners acting as their own general contractor because it can lead to problems in the future as a result of shoddy workmanship.
The best way to avoid these dilemmas is to hire a licensed general contractor to oversee your outdoor structure project. Archadeck of Central Georgia specializes in taking the pressure off of the homeowner and ensuring a safe and trained work environment with skilled sub-contractors, turn-key pricing and quality workmanship in a timely manner. If you are looking for an answer to “all of the above”, we can provide it for a lot less than you may expect. Contact Archadeck of Central Georgia to learn more and to discuss how we can bring your outdoor living dreams to life. Call for a free consultation (478) 745 – 2000 centralgeorgia@archadeck.net
See more of our award-winning outdoor living projects by visiting our deck gallery and our outdoor living gallery located on our website. Quality you can see and feel in every project we build!
Macon Warner Robins Decks, Patios, Porches, Pergolas, Gazebos and more
Have you even peered into your backyard and imagined an outdoor oasis – a place that is alive with beauty, function and quality that would enable you to escape from the stresses of each day? Have you wanted a space that you can use to enhance the precious time you spend with family, with enough versatility to be that perfect intimate space to host a candlelit outdoor dinner for date night with your better half? Archadeck of Central Georgia wants you to know the backyard of your dreams may be closer than your think. Our Dream Backyard Makeover contest can turn your backyard into the outdoor oasis you have envisioned.
