The Ultimate Deck Blog

You have been dreaming of your ultimate backyard experience for a while now. You might even be daydreaming about it right now. But before you get into the down and dirty business of having to pick out all the colors, materials and other fun stuff it's time to make a big decision.  Who is going to build my deck?

Planning your deck before going to the store gives you a huge head start and can save you money, time and mental stress. It will give you a chance to figure out what you really want on, in and around your deck. Remember your deck is essentially an extension of your house and becomes a seasonal room for you and your family to use. That is why proper planning before the entire building process is essential. It will help the rest of the process go smoothly with as few interruptions as possible.

Decks are a big investment, but oh...so...worth it.  Absolutely NOTHING beats hanging out in the backyard grilling, entertaining, and enjoying the sun in the summer on your deck.  But is your deck as good as it COULD be?  Here are 18 "low to no" cost tips for getting the most out of your outdoor space.

Over the course of building a deck you will likely have to work with multiple trades. It might be as simple as having the piles installed or maybe some electrical work done for your new hot tub, outdoor kitchen or you may hire someone to do the entire supply and build, “turn-key” deck for you. I want to give you an outline of how most trades people think and operate, in an attempt to help you while working with them.

"But wait Shane, you said FALL was the best time to build a deck!?"

Yes. Yes I did. But just because Fall is almost over, that doesn't mean you need to give up on getting that deck built. I completely understand that 0.01% of Do-It-Yourself deck builders are thinking building a deck in the snow is something they want to do with their winter weekends. But if you're planning on hiring a contractor for your project anyway, then winter is still in play to get ready for 'deck beers' in the spring.

If you polled 100 people, my guess is 78 of them would say "spring" is the best time to build a deck.  And while spring deck building has many advantages, I truly believe, from the homeowners perspective, that fall is actually the best time to build a deck.  Here's 5 REALLY solid reasons why...

If you're familiar with just one brand of composite decking, it's Trex. In fact, you might even think "Trex" is synonymous with "composite". But beyond the name, what do you need to know? We have it for you, right here:

There are a lot of options for deck railing on the market. Different types, looks, brands, price points, and more. But one of leading brands out there is Regal Ideas. Here are 5 reasons why we think Regal Ideas rail is a great choice.

If you know us, you know we LOVE what lighting does for an outdoor space. We always suggest leaving a little room in the budget for some accent lighting. There are a lot of options out there, but here is why we love In-Lite.

You may not have heard of it, but once you put your eyes on Wolf Serenity decking, you won't forget it. Arguably one of the best looking maintenance free decking options on the market, Wolf packs a big punch in the value game.