Can the screen on your Central GA Porch keep the pollen at bay?

March 27, 2015 admin

Pollen!

As if we weren’t already sneezing enough, the surefire sign that pollen season has come is that lovely yellow dusting that greets us at our car each day, sits atop our outdoor cushions, and constantly has us itching and blowing our noses. Then there’s the perennial struggle. The weather finally warmed up and the last thing we want to do is have our allergies keep us inside. Is there any scenario that’s truly the best of both worlds? Many of our clients ask us if the screening on a porch will keep the pollen at bay. As you can imagine, nothing can completely keep pollen at bay even though screens do cut down on the pollen that settles on your porch furniture. But, have no fear, this is not a no-win situation. A great solution does exist.

It’s a Breeze

We can equip your new screened porch with windows that double as screened or as closable vinyl windows. Eze Breeze is a 4-track window system that has both a screen and a clear vinyl window component.

These crystal clear windows offer the ability to open at 25%, 50% or a full 75% from either the top or bottom of its full length frame. Constructed of a modern, impact-resistant vinyl, these panes can withstand being stretched nearly 12 inches without losing their shape integrity. This makes these windows perfect for outdoor rooms, which may encounter more than the usual share of bocce or croquet balls, not to mention Rover who may run up to the window a little too enthusiastically. These quality windows, which we can install onto your existing porch, magically transform the space into a 3-season room. We can either add Eze-Breeze windows to your new porch or retrofit many porch windows for an Eze-Breeze window system. Although it feels long, pollen season comes and goes before too long. You may have to keep the vinyl windows closed during pollen season or just keep a portion of your screens open during that time. Then, slide the windows open to experience the full breeze and smell of fresh air.

If you have a porch in need of a little more protection than screens provide, this may be the perfect solution. The additional seasonal benefit comes in the fall and very early spring when the clear vinyl windows provide just enough temperature protection to allow you to enjoy more time outside as the cold is settling in for the winter or hasn’t yet let up leading up to spring.

Each window is custom made to fit your particular porch’s measurements and, in many cases, can be installed in as little as three weeks. Contact Archadeck of Central Georgia to learn how we can transform your everyday backyard area into something beyond the usual, something extraordinary. We can take the potential your outdoor living area already has and improve upon it, or even build your dream backyard starting from scratch.

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

Archadeck of Central GA, Outdoor fireplace

Playing with Fire Safely on Your Warner Robins Central GA Deck or Patio

March 20, 2015 admin

As the weather moves from winter to spring, we are anxiously awaiting spending time on our decks and patios. Although it’s hot as blazes during the summer here in Central GA, fire features continue to be tremendously popular. We actually receive requests for fire features year round, probably because they’re not just about fire. What’s one of the quintessential memories of childhood? How about the memory of roasting marshmallows over an open flame on a hot summer’s night. Fire pits have many uses, only one of which is heat.

As builders of custom fire features, we are often asked, “Can we safely have a fire pit as a part of our deck or patio?” The answer is, “Yes! Absolutely!” There are; however, some safety considerations to bear in mind.

Do you want a fire pit that is permanent or removable?

All fire elements come in a wide range of styles and options. How you plan on using them is key. On one side of the outdoor fire spectrum, you have pre-fab kits, both wood burning and gas, that can either be permanent or removable. Opposite pre-fab are custom built fire structures that can be tailored to meet your family’s specific needs. If you are not going to use your fire feature very often, or if you are only planning on being in your home for a short time before you relocate, then it would probably be wise to simply purchase a movable fire pit from one of your local big-box stores and install it yourself. However, if you love a natural fire, find the beauty of flame alluring year round, and can see enjoying it as a fun activity for many seasons, then considering a more permanent, custom fire structure is certainly worth investigating.

Additional options to consider are size, shape, and the fire’s fuel. Traditionally, wood burning fire pits are either square, round or rectangle in shape. For a more modern take on outdoor fire pits, natural gas structures can be constructed into any configuration, including curves and non-traditional widths. Natural gas fire elements can also be incorporated as an outdoor lighting element for year round entertainment. As such, they can incorporate a variety of fillers, from standard lava rocks to exotic glass beads and “gemstones” which come in a range of colors and styles.

Decking Choices and Fire

Regardless of whether you decide to use a permanent or removable fire pit, your decking choices also have to be considered with your installation, not only for safety, but also for the care and maintenance of your deck or patio. Fire pits do not come with screens and if they are wood burning, can “spit” hot embers. So, you will always want to supervise a live fire, especially one with wood, sticks, leaves, and other organic timber. If you have a deck built with low-maintenance composite timbers, such as TimberTech® or Fiberon, you will need to use extra care to ensure that burning coals do not escape, because they will immediately begin to burn and mar the surface, which is very costly and sometimes impossible to easily replace. A well-qualified builder will plan for the use of stone or other hardscape elements into the design and surround of your fire pit, so that this is not an issue. Stone decks and patios are regarded as spark resistant. Remember, with all fire: before you leave, make certain that the fire is out!

Fire Pits vs Outdoor Fireplaces

For several years, we have continued to see in Central GA a rise in requests for outdoor fireplaces. Whether you choose a fire pit or a fireplace is completely up to your budget and needs. For cost-savings, most homeowners choose ventless fireplaces. There are many factors to consider with outdoor fireplaces, including the materials used and proximity to your home. Generally, outdoor fireplaces are at the top-of-the-line in materials and cost when it comes to adding a fire feature to your home.

Whatever your choice, you can see that playing with fire safely on your Warner Robins Central GA deck or patio is easy to do. Contact Archadeck of Central Georgia to learn how we can take your everyday backyard area into something beyond the usual, something extraordinary. We can take the potential your outdoor living area already has and improve upon it, or even build your dream backyard starting from scratch. Call for a free consultation: (478) 745 – 2000 or email:centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Stephen Denton, owner of Archadeck of Central GA

AZEK, Composite deck builder

A note of caution when working with composite decking: Don’t try this at home

February 24, 2015 admin

: Fiberon ProTect deck in Warner Robins

At Archadeck of Central GA, we build with an array of low-maintenance building materials. In decking, these include decking boards by Trex, Fiberon and TimberTech. If you are thinking about adding a composite or synthetic (low maintenance) deck to your home, it’s wise to contract with a professional deck builder that’s experienced in working with these materials. There are a couple key reasons why you want a contractor who has specific experience working with these materials.

Mistakes can be very costly

Composite and synthetic decking boards cost 3-4 times as much as pressure-treated wood decking boards. You essentially can’t afford a mistake. This could quickly run into a $1,000 mistake or more.

: AZEK Deck with seating area

Experienced contractors are familiar with ways to work with costly materials in a way that mitigates any unnecessary expense. For example, our design recommendation takes into account the standard length of the boards and ensuring that a non-standard configuration doesn’t leave enough waste to make the materials much more expensive than they need to be.

Composite decking expands and contracts differently than does pressure-treated wood. For example, depending on the board, composite decking can expand up to 1/4″ lengthwise and compensation is necessary for this fact. In the event that the design calls for decks abutting each other, this consideration requires accommodation for the 1/2″ expansion.

Preserve your warranty

Red tape. The fear when consulting any warranty paperwork is whether we’ve done something that may make the warranty void. With composite decking, this is certainly the case. For example, because of the weight of composite decking, the deck joists must be set at 12″ on center. A configuration for a wood deck does not require joists to be that close. While there is a cost in adding more joists, this cost is nothing compared to the expense if your decking had problems and the required substructure, for warranty consideration, was not met.

If you’re thinking about adding a composite deck to your Macon and Warner Robins area Central GA home, give us a call for a free consultation. We look forward to your call!

Take a look at a recent deck we built in Warner Robins. This deck uses TimberTech decking boards for the deck and also used for the rail caps. With composite decking, you have to order different boards for flooring, rail caps, and stairs. An experienced composite deck builder will know to order and use the correct materials. With this Warner Robins deck, we used diagonal decking for visual appeal. The contrasting black metal pickets add even more visual appeal. Although not seen in this picture, the deck includes a gate so the owners can decide whether to keep the dogs on or off the deck.

If you are considering adding a new outdoor living space to your Central GA area home, contact us for a free consultation.

Call: (478) 745 – 2000

Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Visit our website for more great design ideas and inspiration

Porches

If you want it, then you have to put a roof on it

February 8, 2015 admin

We suspect that only few of our readers will be familiar with Beyonce but if you’ve heard one of her songs, a particular repeating lyric comes to mind. Beyonce’s song says “if you liked it then you should have put a ring on it”. These homeowners had previously wanted and still wanted an attached open porch for their backyard entertaining area. Not only did the previous home owner not find a builder who could put a roof on it, neither did any contractors the new homeowners contacted for round 2. The homeowners wanted a large open porch with the porch roof attached to the house. This would allow them to walk out from the house under cover of the roof. It also provided more space for them to enjoy a light rain while under the cover of the roof.

Sometimes, the architecture of the back of the home makes it very difficult to figure out how to attach a roof. Many custom homes here in Macon and throughout the Central GA area have a number of different architectural reliefs as this home has. As you can see in the picture, multiple roof lines and a chimney adorned the back facade of this home making it a challenge but certainly not an insurmountable one.

An important thing to remember is if one contractor tells you it’s not possible, there is a better contractor out there that will not only identify the solution but be able to build it with ease and experience. You can see from the photo to the left that the roof connection was anything but square. The roof had to wrap around the chimney and work around two additional roof lines. The entire roof also had to be low enough that it did not impede on the upper level windows.

: before

In their first go round with this space, the previous builder was not able to figure out this sticky roof connection so he suggested and built a gazebo-style roof that did not connect to the home. The first go round also included 2 deck areas. The homeowners liked having multiple connected outdoor living areas. When creating a space with multiple areas, it’s important to think about how you are going to use each space. Will you use that particular space for eating and the other space for soaking up some sun? Based on how they were going to use the space, we enlarged the covered patio space and made one of the deck areas smaller.

An outdoor living space is all about how you want to live outside your home. A great custom space fits your needs and wants.

For the 2 deck areas, the family chose TimberTech Pacific Walnut decking. The low maintenance decking material was perfect for the deck areas. Low-maintenance decking stands up to sun’s penetrating rays. It also stands up to staining and fading. Under the porch area did not require low-maintenance flooring so they used pressure-treated tongue-and-groove flooring.

Another important thing to think about when deciding on your perfect outdoor living space is future growth and additions. This family was eyeing the addition of a swimming pool in the future. As you can see, we used low wide steps leading from the left deck out to the yard. This makes for an easy transition to any future spaces they add to the rest of the backyard.

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 will help you identify the best structures and materials to create the perfect outdoor living space just for you.

Call: (478) 745 – 2000

Email: centralgeorgia@archadeck.net

Visit our website for more great design ideas and inspiration

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.

Archadeck of Central GA

Goodwill, great jobs, and blessings abound

December 25, 2014 admin

A few years ago, I became involved at Goodwill of Central GA. At the time, I had no idea how it would change my life. My late wife Polly was an excellent chef, a dreamer, and we together were good friends of Jim Stiff. These three things came together at Goodwill. Jim’s goal was to grow Goodwill into brave and bold new directions. He would visit my wife and I, and share his dream. Polly, the eternal enthusiast, knew it would come to life and indeed she was instrumental in making it happen. Goodwill of Central GA now has the first licensed, nationally accredited, post secondary school in the Goodwill network. When she passed, I joined the board to continue her legacy and to carry her eternal enthusiasm and cooking passion forward.

Helms College now has 2 local culinary colleges here in Macon and Augusta. Central GA area aspiring chefs no longer need to travel to Atlanta to get a great education in cooking. Making this school happen was a long process and it has been a joy to be part of the education committee even chairing the committee at one point. In addition to my involvement in the Helms College arm, I also joined the Board of Directors back in 2007 serving as secretary. In 2013, I sadly reached my term limit on the board but luckily a year off was the only requirement before rejoining the board.

Throughout my time working with Goodwill, I’ve realized that not everyone knows what Goodwill does. Everyone is familiar with the clothing stores and the Goodwill drop off locations. If you think Goodwill is in the clothing business, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. Goodwill is in the business of creating jobs, locally, for those with barriers to employment. The Goodwill company started over 110 years ago when Dr. Helms envisioned an organization that would give to people while helping them to help themselves. He realized that it’s better to give someone the means to improve their life instead of giving them handouts. In fact Goodwill’s philosophy is “a hand up and not a hand out”. In 2013, Goodwill of Central GA provided services to more than 21,000 individuals with barriers to employment. Some of these barriers include disabilities, lack of work history and recipients of government support programs.

I mentioned above that this Goodwill is different. In addition to Helms College, Goodwill has a contract with Fort Gordon and Warner Robins Air Force Base that employed 226 disabled employees in 2013. That same year, the Job Connection served over 20,000 job seekers and placed almost 3,000.

Holidays are a time of reflection, appreciation, and aspirations for the coming year. In counting my blessings, after my family, being a part of Goodwill ranks up there in the most important blessings in my life. If you are interested or you know someone who is interested in a great local cooking college, check out the Polly Long Denton School Of Hospitality website.” If you are looking for employment, here is a link to Goodwill’s Job Connection. If you would like to donate and you are not sure of collection locations, here is a list of locations. Here is a list of Goodwill retail locations. The newest addition is Helms Career Institute.

: My family at this year’s Goodwill Gala

Outdoor kitchen

Your new Warner Robins outdoor kitchen doesn’t need to be completely outdoors

December 24, 2014 admin

When these Warner Robins GA homeowners called, they knew exactly how they wanted to live outdoors. They wanted to update their screen porch and add a covered area for an outdoor Kitchen. After much discussion, we proposed updating their porch and adding the outdoor kitchen within the existing porch, This adding the cost of a grill hood but avoiding the cost of another roof structure. This helped keep the cost down.

Outdoor kitchens continue to be more and more popular and can can be designed in all shapes and sizes. If you’re thinking about adding an outdoor kitchen, there are a couple popular configurations from modest to downright fabulous. Here are some configurations that Central GA area homeowners choose based on scale and budget.

One of the most basic configurations includes a grill top cooking area on a small bar with a modest amount of counter space on either side of the grill. These outdoor kitchen units often live on decks or toward one side of a patio. The next level up might include a built-in storage area. This configuration might not require running power or gas to the outdoor kitchen if traditional grill propane tanks are stored within the kitchen unit.

Moving up another notch to a more sophisticated outdoor kitchen, you might add electricity to power a compact refrigerator and some lighting. Also popular is building a shelf to the back side of the unit. If the shelf is cantilevered over the far side, it can be used as a bar. Add a few bar stools and guests can interact with the chef while the feast is prepared.

The outdoor kitchen we just built in Warner Robins has most of the bells and whistles. One thing people often don’t realize is there can be a substantial cost in building an outdoor kitchen. Think about the cost of an indoor kitchen renovation. An outdoor kitchen can cost that and more since the outdoor area needs to be built to withstand the elements.

One of the most important things to consider before adding any type of outdoor living space is how you will use the area. Think of your formal dining room. While it’s a beautiful room and often a show piece, it’s likely a room that is very seldom used. Had you considered the number of times you would entertain in a formal room or have family dinners in a formal room, you may have decided to allocate that space for a different purpose.

An outdoor space could fall prey to the same problems if your lifestyle just doesn’t warrant spending a lot of time outdoors. Let’s say mosquitoes are a big problem, you have a deck instead of an enclosed area, and you would like to cook outside. In that scenario, it’s unlikely that you would use the space very much. This Warner Robins family knew they wanted to frequently cook while avoiding the bugs. Together we designed the perfect space for how they want to live. Our porch customers often tell us that their screened porch is their favorite room in the house – I suspect that will be even more of the case for this family with all the different ways they can use their porch.

Give us a call if you are considering adding an outdoor living space to your Central GA area home. We would love to provide a free consultation to see whether Archadeck of Central GA would be a good fit for your upcoming outdoor project.

Call (478) 745 – 2000 or email centralgeorgia@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.

Outdoor kitchen, Outdoor rooms builder/contractor

If outdoor kitchens could talk, this is what this Milledgeville GA outdoor kitchen would tell you about making an outdoor kitchen more cost effective

December 11, 2014 admin

When you hear outdoor kitchen, you immediately envision a large space with all the “fixins”. And, your mind starts calculating all the dollars and cents involved in adding an outdoor kitchen. For this Milledgeville family, the outdoor kitchen was almost an afterthought but the way we did it made this afterthought possible.

These homeowners had an existing deck in need of some work. It was in some disrepair did not fit with with the condition of the rest of the house. If this new Fiberon composite deck could talk, it would whisper a few great ways ways to get the structure you want, with great materials at a much more affordable cost.

Your existing deck may be a great fit for re-decking

The first secret is re-decking. Re-decking means keeping the existing deck structure but adding a new face to it with new decking boards and a new railing. A good bit of the expense in building a deck is in the sub-structure. While the structure needed some reinforcement like some additional joists, we were able to use the existing substructure and just add new decking boards.

Forgo the drop-in and outdoor rated materials

: You would never know that this custom outdoor kitchen utilizes a standard Weber grill and a traditional compact refrigerator

If you’ve shopped around for outdoor kitchens or outdoor kitchen elements, you know the components can be incredibly expensive. But the next secret is that sometimes you may not need drop-in grill tops or even an outdoor rated refrigerator. Taking a look at this picture, you’d probably never know but the grill is a standard Weber grill that we built into the kitchen unit. And, believe it or not, the refrigerator is a standard compact refrigerator rated for indoor use. While drop-in outdoor cook tops can easily be $2,000 – $4,000 or more, this standard Weber grill was a fraction of that cost. There are a couple other benefits related to integrating a stand-alone grill into an outdoor kitchen unit. If something breaks on the grill or if it just becomes rusty and aged, you can purchase a new grill to insert into the area just like you would a drop-in stove. Further, there’s no reason to run gas to your outdoor grill. Underneath this grill is the standard gas can that you fill at your local neighborhood grocery store. Your guests will think your kitchen includes an expensive grill top and cabinetry.

The refrigerator used is a traditional indoor rated refrigerator. Because the refrigerator is under the cover of the bar top, it is protected enough to last without any more problems than you would have if it was used inside. A few years down the line, if you need to, just pop it out and replace it with a newer mini fridge of the same size. The electrical ground fault circuit interrupter is built into the kitchen unit.

The secret of synthetic stone

Synthetic stone has come so far. It truly is indistinguishable from genuine stone in every way except for the price. We used Suncrest stone veneer in Banks County Stack to face this outdoor kitchen unit. Synthetic stone veneers come in many colors, shapes, and sizes. We selected the stone facade you see here in colors that compliment the colors we find in this area of Central GA.

Keeping the railing pricing down

The decking boards are Fiberon ProTect Advantage in Chestnut color. The bones of the railing are built with pressure-treated pine. Atop the railing are Fiberon deck boards matching the ones used on the deck. This gives the custom look at a more affordable price. Using composite or synthetic materials for railing may not be a necessary expense. The weather is a lot more forgiving to vertical structures than it is to horizontal structures such as railings. So, while synthetic is a great fit for decking and the railing cap, the expense can be spared with the posts and spindles. These particular customers did select beautiful baroque balusters which were another nice complement to the other materials used.

You will meet all sorts of contractors. Some will want to sell the biggest and most expensive project they can. Some will be looking for a quick job because of cash flow. Others have been building in their local area for a long time and want to give the best solution to their local area homeowners. While other builders might not have suggested these cost efficiencies to their customers, we regularly offer or advocate cost saving options that make sense for how the homeowners plan on using their outdoor space. We’ve been in Central GA for 23 years and plan to continue to be here for many years to come.

Call (478) 745 – 2000 or email centralgeorgia@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.

Reviews and testimonials

All around, these Hawkinsville GA owners love their TimberTech deck

December 8, 2014 admin

In this business, reviews have become very important. We are grateful when our clients give some of their busy time to write an online review for us. In this case, one of our Hawkinsville customers sent us a review before we even asked. He was also happy for us to share his positive feedback on this blog. As a business owner who works really hard on providing excellent service and excellent work, I find that I too go out of my way to provide positive feedback when I buy a great product or have great customer service.

: Leaves from plants and nearby trees will settle on the deck. They can be easily removed with a hose and do not leave any stains.

I’ve emailed you in the past about how easy it is to maintain TimberTech. But what we’ve come to realize after having it two years is dirt seems to wash off with rain–even bird droppings. There were several places in the attached image that had white/dark bird stuff. After the last few rains we’ve had, they’ve washed away! Amazing! We’ve never scrubbed, brushed, washed this deck–ever! Only use a blower for leaves/debris. Whatever may look like spots in the image is actually moisture from rain or dew.

Thanks for recommending a great product that has exceeded my picky expectations!

Best regards, Mike

Earlier, we wrote two blog stories about this deck. It was a challenging yet fun project.

> Archadeck of Central Georgia explores the differences and similarities in Timbertech XLM and Earthwood Evolutions decking
> This well-rounded deck inHawkinsville, GA is curved for all the right reasons

: This two year old TimberTech deck looks as good as new. The decking is warrantied for 25 years so it will look great for many more years to come.

The home was built in the 1800’s and had an old well in the backyard. We recommended and the clients agreed to use a round deck design. This design complemented the shape of the old round well. We used TimberTech Earthwood Evolutions Pacific Walnut decking boards for the deck surface and used pressure-treated pine for the seating bench and step railings. You will note that the railing is only on one side. Depending on the area, a deck under 36″ does not require a railing. Based on the grade of the yard, this meant we did not need to use a railing for the entire curved portion. Customers with a low grade in their yards often like a low-to-grade deck without railings to completely open the space up to the backyard.

: Stephen Denton, ownerArchadeck of Central GA

If you are considering adding a new outdoor space to your Central GA yard this winter or next spring, contact Archadeck of Central Georgia for a free consultation. We can help you decide which design, structure, and materials are the right fit for your outdoor living needs. Call (478) 745 – 2000 or email centralgeorgia@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.

Gazebos

Envision the perfect gazebo for your Macon GA home – this may be what you’re looking for!

November 28, 2014 admin

Take a look at this gazebo we built in Macon. There’s something very harmonious about the gazebo. The traditional quaint look with custom white rails along with the natural orderly and geometric sensibility of a gazebo make it the quintessential outdoor living space. While an orderly hexagonal or octagonal shape is expected for a gazebo, the compilation of design elements on this gazebo give it that white picket fence feel. Here are some of those elements.

This family had a pool in their backyard and wanted a space to sit and congregate while enjoying their backyard space. Depending on the layout of the home and yard, a gazebo can sometimes be connected to the home but is often connected to a deck. This family wanted a shaded area near the pool. The pool was too far from the house for an attached gazebo to accomplish that objective. So, we designed and built a detached gazebo on the far end of the family’s pool.

The small arched footpath connects the gazebo with the concrete apron around the pool. The brick wrapped pillar bases are made to match the brick on the home. The roof shingles also match the shingles on the home making the space a natural extension instead of just a cookie cutter structure out in the yard. If you look closely, you’ll note we even finished the cupola with the same roof shingles to tie it all in together.

Chippendale railings are perennially popular. At Archadeck of Central GA, we don’t buy pre-made railing panels, we build them ourselves. There are a couple additional elements of this gazebo that you might not notice at first glance. Just below the roof edge, you’ll noticed the exposed rafter tails with an ogee cut. The ceiling is made of stained beadboard. We even wired the ceiling for a fan. The posts are wrapped giving us the opportunity to run wire through them up to the ceiling.

At the base of the gazebo, moving farther into the yard, you’ll notice the custom skirting. These homeowners wanted a truly finished look. To that end, the homeowner, who had painting experience, painted various elements white to get that truly “white picket fence” look.

If you are working with a custom outdoor builder to build your deck, porch, pergola, gazebo, patio, outdoor kitchen – or whatever outdoor structure you are having built, really spend some time asking questions and throwing out ideas and goals. Your builder has likely built hundreds of projects and has seen the way lots of different options look when complete and how they look together. If you’re not sure if your builder has been custom building in your area for a long time, ask them. Ask them to see pictures of projects to get a good sense of their building style and capabilities.

If you’re thinking about adding a custom structure to your Central GA area backyard, give us a call for a free consultation. We look forward to mulling over ideas and design suggestions based on how you want to use your outdoor space. Give us a call at (478) 745 – 2000 or drop us an email at centralgeorgia@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.

Pollen!

It’s a Breeze

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