'Decking' out the lawn with a space for entertaining

Experts offer tips on decks old and new

Decks not only provide a space for outdoor entertaining, they also can add aesthetic appeal to a home’s posterior.

That is, if there is a deck and the deck in question is in good repair. Either way, there is a plethora of options for both sprucing up an existing deck and creating a brand-new one.

“One of our reps told us that three years ago, they only had about 60 products, and today, they have about 600 options — it’s pretty overwhelming. … There are a lot of pretty cool things you can do to make the outdoor living aspect a bigger, nicer reality,” said Paul Aggeler, owner of John’s Lumber, with locations in Clinton and Shelby townships.

Before planning what features — post and step lights, planters and benches, pergolas and gazebos, water features and fire pits, railing, etc. — to incorporate, Aggeler said it’s essential to thoroughly research and plan what type, color, size and style best fits an individual’s lifestyle and budget.

“I’ve never heard anybody complain that their deck is too large, but people need to be realistic and come up with a budget of what they can spend and then match that to the size and design choices,” he said.

Traditionally, wood — natural cedar or redwood and pressure-treated pine being the most common — has been the material of choice when it comes to building a deck, as it’s initially the most affordable, offers a more authentic appearance and is still the material of choice for the deck’s joists and support frame, said Aggeler.

The problem with wood is that maintenance can be a lot of work: Wood decks should be inspected for loose boards, protruding nails and splinters, and cleaned at least once a year; they’ll also need to be sanded and refinished from once a year to once every few years, depending on the finish, said Randy Solmen, owner of Mr. Clean High Pressure Power Washing.

“Always use a semi-transparent finish — if you use paint or a dark, solid color stain, it’s going to flake every year. Usually, when we have to sand or refinish a deck, it’s because of a problematic finish,” Solmen said. “Besides never painting or using solid color stain on a horizontal surface, make sure you use the right product the first time.

“You want to use professional-grade products for the most durable finish,” he said. “The do-it-yourself guy needs to go to a reputable paint store and get advice from professionals who deal in just paint and stain products, like Pittsburg Paints or Shelby Paints, or Sherwin Williams — they’ll have the right stuff, not like the big-box stores where you can’t get good advice and the products aren’t as good.”

One way to get around choosing the proper finish is to go with “alternative decking” — composite “wood” made of wood, plastic or aluminum that may be blended with recycled wood fiber, sawdust, plastic or fiberglass, among other materials — which comes in a variety of styles and colors; Aggeler advises taking time in choosing a color, as not only is it permanent and should blend in with the home’s design, but darker colors tend to absorb more heat and are more subject to fading.

While alternative decking better resists the effects of weather, that doesn’t mean it’s totally maintenance-free.

“(Composite) decks are certainly not the end-all to maintenance — not only do they fade from the sun, they also get very dirty. Just like a wood deck, all those little grooves get gunked up with debris and can be just as hard to clean,” said Solmen, adding that some composite decks are susceptible to mold and mildew.

If power washing doesn’t do the trick and chemical cleaners are needed, he said, it’s essential to choose eco-friendly cleaners that won’t damage the deck material or the surrounding landscaping.

However, Aggeler said, alternative decking has come a long way in recent years, and mold and fading problems have been addressed.

“Early on, there were problems with mold or mildew, but now all the (composite decking) companies have put in mold inhibitors their products … and the fade factor has really been decreased,” said Aggeler, who recently held a Summer Deck Expo 2010, featuring the latest materials and design trends, along with product demonstrations, June 26 at the Shelby Township location. “Any product is susceptible to sun fading; for example, if you have a rug in front of your doorwall all the time, or flowerpots set on your deck, you should move them around occasionally.”

As alternative decking is gaining ground on wood due to its nearly maintenance-free nature and more realistic-looking design options, pressure-treated wood is still essential to building a quality deck as composite materials aren’t strong enough to build the deck’s sub-structure, said Aggeler: “A pressure-treated sub-structure is the way to go; we always recommend using treated wood for a more durable sub-structure.”

In the end, the result is the same whether the deck is made of traditional wood or composite materials: “A deck adds value to a home. It gives people a nice living space on the back of their home that they should be able to use for a lifetime. It’s a place where they can sit back and relax, play cards, roast marshmallows with the kids … build memories,” Aggeler said.

John’s Lumber, www.johnslumber.com, can be contacted toll-free at (800) 440-9860, or contact the Clinton Township at (586) 791-1200 or the Shelby Township store at (586) 739-6700. Contact Mr. Clean, which also restores paver patios and log homes, at (248) 625-3284.