Tag Archives: Archadeck Central GA

Archadeck of Central GA, Deck builder, Redecking and Deck Resurfacing

A Redeck in Milledgeville, GA, That Never Goes Out Of Style!

If you visit our website you are likely impressed by the amount of brand new large-scale spaces we build.   Many homeowners thinking of renovating an existing space rule out the potential to bring their vision to life when they don’t have a large scale project in mind.

Milledgeville GA Redecking Project.

Here at Archadeck of Central GA, we realize that redecking projects have every opportunity to add as much enjoyment and benefit as new (from scratch) builds do.  Thus, is the case with our recent redecking project in Milledgeville, GA.

We can redeck using wood, hardwoods or composite materials. Many of our clients choose composites for their redecking projects because they have grown tired of routine deck maintenance. Synthetic materials can transform your Macon or Warner Robins deck from a chore that needs tackling to a place to relax.

When we inspected the existing wooden deck to see if it was a candidate for redecking, the first thing that was evident was the deck’s age — it was really old, wiggly and close to becoming a safety hazard.  Archadeck of Central GA deemed the deck structurally sound enough based the condition of the joists.

Before:

First, we needed to re-bolt the deck to the home. We also notice when the deck was originally installed with 4 x 4 posts, which was incorrect and not up-to-current code. We installed new beams and a new edge band.

Once the structural improvements were set in place we redecked with low-maintenance Timbertech composite decking in Antique Palm® for the decking floor, on the custom inset benches, and on the rail cap.  We accented the rich hue of the decking with Fortress steel powder-coated railings.

Milledgeville GA Redecking Experts

The nifty benches were constructed without backs in order to retain the view. The benches are also moveable so the homeowners can change the look of the deck any time they wish.

If you are ready to breathe new life into your tired backyard deck and add years of outdoor living enjoyment, contact Archadeck of Central Georgia. You can reach us by phone at (478) 745 – 2000 or via email at centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lr
Stephen Denton, owner Archadeck of Central GA.

 

Archadeck of Central GA, Converting deck to porch, Deck builder, Porch builder/contractor, Professional outdoor structure builder, Screened porches

Archadeck of Central GA agrees with these Wesleyan Woods homeowners: Sometimes smaller is better

Macon Deck and Porch In Wesleyan WoodsIf your heart is telling you that you’d prefer a smaller outdoor living space, then by George, it’s time to stop, listen and downsize.  Every now and then we work with homeowners who want to go smaller rather than bigger when it comes to their outdoor living space. As the premier Macon and Warner Robins deck and porch designers/builders, Archadeck of Central Georgia will fully support you in this decision.

At Archadeck of Central GA, we don’t just build, we design and build outdoor living spaces. To design, we first listen to you, the homeowner, as you describe the space you have in mind. We won’t try to talk you into something bigger or fancier than you want.

 

In the case of these homeowners in Macon’s Wesleyan Woods neighborhood, they had a large deck that was part of the house when they purchased it, and this deck was too big for them. We have found, as deck designers, that when a deck stretches out too far from the house, the homeowners tend to push their furniture farther and farther out to get closer to the yard. From a design standpoint, that’s not a great use of space.

Before we began the project:
Before we began the project:

What’s more, these clients truly wanted a screened porch, not a deck, so this project falls into the category of deck-to-screened-porch conversions. They did, however, request a small (10×12) side deck off the new screened porch as a place for their grill.

A deck-to-screened-porch conversion is similar to a redecking in that once we remove the deck floor, we have to evaluate the existing posts, beams and joists to determine whether we can still use them. In this case, some of the original joists were still in good shape but there were not enough, so we had to add more. However, the posts and beams of the original joists were still in good shape, so we were able to use those. We also replaced the stairs, but we designed them to end on the same path where the original deck stairs ended.

Wesleyan Woods Deck and Porch Builders

The Wesleyan Woods homeowners selected pressure-treated wood as the building material for their screened porch and side deck. We installed white screened panels for the screened porch because the clients plan to use a solid white stain for the porch, inside and out. In keeping with the porch and side deck, the pickets and railings are built with wood. We also built special Chippendale panels for the side deck; that was one aspect of the original deck the homeowners wanted to recreate.

Wesleyan Woods Screened Porch BuilderWesleyan Woods Screened Porch Builder

As with all porches Archadeck of Central GA builds, we installed screening under the porch floor between the joists and the floor boards. This is important as a barrier to keep insects and other debris from coming up through the porch floor. Many of our clients are surprised to learn we do this.

Wesleyan Woods Screened Porches

One last detail — we worked with the homeowners’ electrician for all of the electrical work needed on the new porch. We are always willing to work with the clients’ electrician if they prefer that.

Is your deck too big or too small? Would you rather have a porch? Contact Archadeck of Central Georgia to learn more about our custom outdoor living designs. You can reach us by phone at (478) 745 – 2000 or via email at centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lr
Stephen Denton, owner Archadeck of Central GA.
Archadeck of Central GA, Composite deck builder, Professional outdoor structure builder

This Macon, GA, Wheelchair Ramp Proves Functional CAN be Beautiful!

If necessity is the Mother of invention then why does it seem most wheelchair accessibility ramps are an eyesore?

ramp-deck-Macon GARealizing the purpose of a wheelchair ramp is to provide a safe, functional transition from one space to another for wheelchair users, doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing the aesthetics of your home. At Archadeck of Central Georgia, we know the importance in maintaining the curb appeal of your home and retaining your home’s value.  One of our most recent wheelchair ramp projects in Macon, GA, serves as the perfect example of addressing necessity while maintaining beauty.

ramp-Fiberon-fortress iron-Macon GA

This homeowner is a valued return customer of ours as we have completed two different outdoor living projects for her in the past. As her circumstances have changed over time, she needed a wheelchair ramp added to the front of her home. The temporary ramp she was using had become an eyesore and we were contacted to come up with a more permanent and complimentary solution.

wheelchair ramp-Macon GA

Archadeck of Central GA came up with an elegant permanent wheelchair ramp using the same shape as the temporary ramp. We used Fiberon low maintenance decking in Rosewood for the floor and black Fortress powder-coated railing. We also installed composite cladding to hide the framing. The cladding matches the red brick facade of the existing home for a seamless appearance.

If you are in search of a wheelchair ramp that looks and functions the part for the front, side or back entry of your home, contact us. Our timeless outdoor living designs increase the beauty and function of your home. We can customize your design based on your specific needs.

Call for a free consultation: (478) 745 – 2000 Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lr
Stephen Denton, owner Archadeck of Central GA.

 

 

 

 

Deck builder, Hot tub deck

Entry and exit are a lot more important than you think with your new Central GA deck

Spa deck-Perry GA 750Take a look at this new deck in Perry GA. At first glance, you may notice the unique railing configuration that allows an open Zen-like feel as the family traverses from the back door, onto the deck and into the backyard. This may be an option for your new deck depending on the height of the deck and the building code in your local jurisdiction.  In most jurisdictions, if the deck is under 36″, a railing is not required. This family chose railings on the side for privacy but otherwise opted to go railing-free.

Hot tub-deck-Perry GA-design drawing 750This deck has an additional and very important owner — the family dog! Through the back door, the dog frequents the back yard during the day. Our construction crew wanted to minimize the inconvenience for the dog so they put the deck flooring on right away to minimize disruption for their “other” family member.

Deck-spa-hot tub-Perry GA 750This new two-level deck has an integrated hot tub. If entry and exit were ever important, they are super important with a hot tub. For many people, climbing up and climbing down can be trouble. This can certainly be the case when homeowners use the spa to help with joint discomfort or therapy. The built-in bench not only makes this task easy but is also a great place to store towels, robes and even beverages.

If you are considering the addition of a hot tub to your deck, whether you intend to build a new deck or add a space large enough to place a hot tub, we can help. Our unique deck designs and expert craftsmanship will have you soaking up in style and safety. Contact Archadeck of Central Georgia today. Call for a free consultation:
(478) 745 – 2000 Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lr
Stephen Denton, owner Archadeck of Central GA.

See more stylish hot tub and pool decks by visiting our decks photo galleries located on our website.

Choosing a contractor, Decks

Some contractors don’t disappear

Hiring contractors can be a scary experience. Being a contractor can be a frustrating experience – for the same reason. The bad contractors ruin it for everyone. Bad contractors leave a bad taste and often shoddy work in their trail making homeowners leery of engaging a contractor to do business at their home.  As a reputable contractor doing business here in the Macon/Warner Robins area for over 26 years, we often meet homeowners that have expectations of sub-par value and communication that is even worse.

Deck-Fiberon Protect-Warner Robins GA 750When looking for a builder, there are a couple great litmus tests to apply to a contractor but all of those won’t tell you whether that contractor will be around 5, 10 or more years in the future if something goes wrong.

Recently a past client gave me a call. My team built his deck about 11 years prior. The client was replacing a few “rotten” deck boards himself and had some questions. I remembered the homeowner and set a date to go take a look at the deck. Pressure-treated wood is warrantied against fungal rot and termites for the life of the project or 45 years by the wood manufacturer. Regardless, the Archadeck plate is affixed to that gentleman’s deck and we stand behind our work.

Fiberon Protect-Deck-Warner Robins 750The homeowner noted that some of the deck boards and joist were rotting. Usually when someone says their deck is rotting it is actually not fungal rot, but a loss of structural integrity due to lack of maintenance. The sun and rain are very destructive to pressure treated lumber if it is not maintained properly. However, when I inspected the deck I found some of the joists were actually rotting from fungus! This is something I’ve virtually never seen. I also noticed that Restore paint had been used on the decking boards. We do suspect this contributed to the condition of the deck boards because it does not allow wet boards to dry. But the joist should not have been affected and regardless there should not have been “rot” from fungus. The homeowners did not realize that this was covered by the ArchadeckWarrantyy but I did. So, I explained to our clients that we were going to take care of this issue.

Now that the homeowners knew we were going to replace the joists that were rotting and were going to do this at no charge to them, they decided to upgrade the decking to a composite decking to alleviate annual maintenance in the future. I did this at a discount just to cover the labor in replacing the joists and installing the new decking boards. It’s our busiest time of the year and losing a crew for a week is painful; but our past clients are just as important as our new ones, whether those homeowners have been with us 1 month, 12 months, 11 years or more.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lrIf you are considering adding a porch, deck, patio or other space to your Central GA area home, give Archadeck of Central GA a call for a free consultation at (478) 745 – 2000. We look forward to your call.

To see hundreds of great pictures, watch Archadeck of Central GA videos, or read customer reviews and testimonials, visit our Archadeck of Central GA website.

 

Decks, Porch builder/contractor, Porches

When you have a great porch, but also want some sun

These homeowners had a great porch. They could enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors with cover overhead to ensure neither rain nor the sometimes blazing hot Georgia sun forced them indoors. But, there were all too many times they wanted to feel the sun on their backs and enjoy the Georgia sun on the many days it wasn’t too hot outside. Since they had a lot of trees in their backyard, those trees provided a good bit of shade to call for a second outdoor living space for these homeowners.

There was a particular obstacle in adding a deck to their backyard. The porch was in the way! Sometimes the footprint of the yard, setbacks or house connection pose challenges in where and what size the outdoor addition can be.

The logical place to put a new deck would be the back door where the stairs go out from the breakfast nook. However, adding the deck there would obstruct the view from the breakfast nook.

Porch and Deck-TimberTech-MaconTogether with the homeowners, we decided to make the obstacle the solution. By adding a door to the back door of their existing porch, we were able to extend the deck out from the porch area allowing them to easily move from covered to open sun outdoor living.

Like many challenges, just when you thought you had solved one challenge, another appears. Right in the area where the back edge of the deck would go was a favorite tree. To accommodate the beloved tree, we built a bump out to the deck and integrated the tree into the deck. Take a look.

Macon-Tree-TimberTech-Deck 750

For the decking we used low-maintenance TimberTech decking in Caribbean Redwood. The standard pressure-treated railing is topped with a rail cap of the same decking material.

As you can see, there are quite a few benefits to working with a custom outdoor spaces builder. We work to accomplish your outdoor living goals ensuring to create the best solution that works with your home and yard.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lrIf you are considering adding a porch, deck, patio or other space to your Central GA area home, give us a call for a free consultation at (478) 745 – 2000. We look forward to your call.

Deck builder, Deck engineer and construction, Decks

Reinforcing art at the cabin in the woods

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

Porch-cypress-macon-cabin-after lr

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.

Archadeck Central GA cabin-before sm

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.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lrIf 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

 

 

Porch builder/contractor

Could there be anything better than a wrap around porch for your Central GA area home?

These Byron GA homeowners had a lovely home with a beautiful wrap-around porch. What could be better than spending hot GA afternoons under cover or enjoying the day fading into night with a couple of rockers outside your own front door?

In many cases, an open porch is all you need. But, depending on how you want to live outside, you may want the sort of protection that an enclosed space provides. An enclosed space can provide some additional sun protection but can also provide protection from strong wind, rain, and more extreme temperatures. While screened porches are very popular, here in Central GA, many customers are opting for Eze-Breeze windows on their screened porch. The Eze-Breeze window system is the best of both having a screened porch and having a porch enclosed with vinyl windows. The 4-track window system allows you to open your vinyl windows up to 75% allowing your 3-season room to function as a screened porch. However, this family opted for insulated sliding glass windows for more protection from the elements. These horizontal sliding windows provide the same option to open up to 75% and function as a  screened porch but they also are insulated. When they are closed the temperature inside the room can be heated or cooled just like your interior spaces. This particular family wanted to not only provide a little protection from the elements for themselves but also for their plants.

Can you convert part of a sun porch into a 3-season room?

Take a look!

wrap around Sunroom-Byron GA lr

Utilizing the existing room, we enclosed a portion of the covered wrap-around porch converting it to a sunroom. Take a look at the large window areas ensuring the family still gets a sunny space. But, when the mosquitoes come out or the temperature becomes more severe, this family can head for the comfort and protection of their enclosed porch area.

Porch-Sunroom-Byron lr

In order to enclose this portion of the porch, we had to remove the columns and railing and then re-install them inside the porch. We worked to find siding to compliment the existing home’s siding since that one is no longer available. The family will soon paint this siding for a great match to the home.

Byron GA-wrap around Sunroom lr

When searching for a solution to enclose this porch area, the family spoke with a contractor who suggested using aluminum. For the same price, we were able to custom build the space using matching high-quality materials.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lrIf you are considering adding a deck, porch, pergola or other outdoor living space to your home give Archadeck of Central GA a call for a free consultation. 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. Or visit our website http://central-georgia.archadeck.com/

 

Porch builder/contractor

Blissful Macon outdoor living

Outdoor kitchen-pavilion-macon GA lrTake a look at this incredible custom pool pavilion in Macon. This custom built pavilion was designed specifically for how this Macon family wanted to live outside.

The family had a lovely pool and patio but knew they wanted to do a lot more living outside. They wanted to cook outside, prepare food in a smoker, watch TV, and lounge in style. They also had a specific need for storage. This Macon pool pavilion was built to suit all their needs and wants.

Outdoor Kitchen-Macon GA lrIn the picture above, you likely noticed the beautiful hip roof. From within the porch, the roof creates a cathedral ceiling. This provides cover for the space but still creates a very bright and airy feel. The ceiling is finished with recessed can lights and large ceiling fans to keep air circulating within the space.

pavilion-kitchen-macon GA lrInside the pavilion you’ll see tons of counter top area creating space for everything from grilling to food prep to using the smoker, and more.

The 2 bar areas also house food storage areas and an outdoor refrigerator.

One important part of this project that you won’t notice by looking at the space is the approval we needed to secure from the Architectural Review Board in this lovely Madison community in Macon. While we always take care of all permitting, we also meet with other review boards as necessary before beginning our projects.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lrIf you are considering adding a deck, porch, pergola or other outdoor living space to your home give Archadeck of Central GA a call for a free consultation. 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. Or visit our website http://central-georgia.archadeck.com/

 

Deck builder, Decks

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

Historic district home Macon GA composite deck lrWhen 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.

Composite deck historic home in Macon GA lrAnother 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.

Stephen Denton Archadeck Augusta square lrArchadeck 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.