Consider The Advantages Of Recycled HDPE Decking – Beautify Your Home

The synthetic deck boards manufactured by engineered plastic  systems are created using a mineral plastic composite formula that allows for increased HDPE strength and decreased thermal expansion.

The use of recycled materials makes Lumberock synthetic decking a green product. It will last at least two generations and can be recycled at that time into new decking profiles.

This HDPE decking is available is nine colors which will not fade during it’s lifetime. It is impervious to sun or salt water & bugs hate it, children can safely play on it. It will not splinter, crack or peel, ever. There is almost no maintenance except to hose it down every few months. Although HDPE decking is more expensive than traditional wood decks after about five years you will have recouped your investment and saved yourself hours of hard labor, sanding, sealing or painting your deck.

You build a deck for your home for a number of reasons. Why not have one you and your family and your friends can enjoy for generations to come. Because this decking is impervious to sun or salt water it is ideal for docks, anchored or floating, piers and boat bumpers.

GreenDeckSupplies: New Site, New Discussion Group

I hope your day is going well. GreenDeckSupplies is excited to announce our newest presence on the web.  We have established a website/blog at: https://greendecksupplies.wordpress.com/ that we feel will give you a better idea of how we can help you get the best materials and window installation services, and help the environment at the same time.

We value your input, so we are also inviting you to join our group Bay Area Builders on LinkedIn.  Just log on and then click the following link: http://linkd.in/QY27yk  This is a builders forum for networking; sharing project leads, resources, materials, techniques and advice. Best practices and techniques will be discussed in a casual neighborhood environment. Discussions are highly encouraged and the Q and A should be lively.

Happy Building!

Bill Flynn
Owner, Green Deck Supplies
info@greendecksupplies.com

Deck Piers And Footings – Foundations

from Decks.com

Footings are a very important component of deck construction because they provide the solid foundation that will support your deck. Your deck’s design will determine how live and dead loads are transferred from different sections of the deck to concentrated points of contact with the ground. The more footings your deck has to distribute the total load the less weight each footing will need to carry.

In effect your footings act to spread the heavy load of the deck from the surface of a support post over a larger surface of soil so the ground can adequately support it. Without footings deck support posts could sink into the ground under the weight of the deck. Footings also have to be installed lower than the frost line to prevent the deck from moving when the soil freezes in the winter. A pier is often used as an upright support to connect the buried footing pad to the structural post above grade. The soil conditions and the climate will determine the size and depth of your footings.

The IRC requires frost footings to be installed for all decks that are attached to a house in most climate zones. These footings will have to be inspected to make sure they are capable of supporting your deck and will resist damage from frost. Because footings are installed under ground they will have to be composed of materials that won’t decay. Usually footings are made of concrete. There are many different methods for installing footings that we will later address. Each type offers its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Installing frost footings usually involves making a mess of your yard and often require some hard labor if you do it by hand.

Preparing Your Yard & Garden for Fall: 5 Things to Do Now

by E. Spencer Toy

Here are the 5 projects we need to tackle and maybe you do too!

1. Do some late summer landscaping, such as adding fresh gravel or stepping stones to walking areas and some fall planting.

Here are a few great articles I found on easy-care fall landscaping that might inspire you as much as they did me! It is not too late to improve your yard!

• Landscaping with Gravel
• Lawn Free Landscaping
• Fall Gardening

Better Homes & Gardens

2. Freshen and Touch Up Exterior Paint.

Bloggers like to paint interior furniture and accessories to make them pretty, but now is a great time to do some routine maintenance and touch up paint on the exterior of your home, including fences, garage doors, and the front steps. Fresh paint will not only protect exposed wood and siding from the elements, but fresh paint will increase the value of your home. And caulking around windows and doors needs to be done before it starts raining!

Here is a helpful article on how to paint the exterior items around your home:

• Tips for painting everything from your front steps, to the front door to siding and garage doors.

 

3. Clean all patios, furniture and outdoor umbrellas from all the pollen and dirt collected over the summer.

If the climate in your area is favorable, you can still enjoy a few more weeks of using your furniture (all clean!) before you put the furniture away or cover it for the winter.

Need some tips on how to clean your outdoor furniture? I’m happy to share a couple of articles I found!

• How to Clean Outdoor Furniture
• Heloise’s Helpful Hints for Caring for Outdoor Furniture & Umbrellas

Better Homes & Gardens

4. Clean your garage or shed and make room for outdoor patio cushions, garden tools & accessories.

Ok, so if you garage is a little scary right now, how about cleaning it up before the weather turns cold and wet and you have to risk life and limb to venture out there in the cold months?  I’ll admit our garage is a real hazard, which is why I’m mentioning this tip. Ok actually I’m hoping my husband is reading this and will get the hint. While you are cleaning up the garage or shed, make sure you you set aside some space to put your outdoor accessories and cushions when you are ready to pack them away for the winter months.

Here is an inspiring article from Better Homes & Gardens:

• Storage Secrets to Organize a A Garage or Shed!

5. Clean Your Gutters and Downspouts.

I know, this is the tip no one really wants to think about but everyone who owns a house needs to deal with. It is the project we dread…cleaning gutters and downspouts. Yes, that is a picture of our dirty gutter with a tree growing out of it. A TREE!!! Cleaning out and wiping off gutters when the skies are blue is much more fun (fun?) than when it is freezing and pouring down rain. And of course, by cleaning out your gutters you will save yourself possibly thousands of dollars of potential damage around your home from clogged drains.

Give Your Home the Look You Always Wanted!

Whether you are building a new custom home, adding on to what you have, or remodeling, you deserve the best in craftsmanship and materials:

Windows, Deck, Construction, and Materials            

We offer window and door installation of top brand suppliers, and sustainable decking material that comes with an incredible 100 year warranty.  You never have to worry about staining, sealing, or replacing.