The Choices You Have...
If you haven’t already read our
Getting Started Advice
- this could make more sense to you if read that first…Decks R Us can bring you much more than a standard deck… we can build a deck that will stand out in your neighborhood, and maybe even earn you a place in your local Home Showcase like one of our clients.
Some Free Advice on Decks:
We can build simple decks and more sophisticated decks. But decks is the only thing we specialize in. You may want to think twice about going with a contractor that doesn’t specialize in just decks. “Jack of All Trades- Master of None” are some pretty good watch words to follow.
Contractors that build sun rooms, garages, additions and decks just don’t specialize in decks the way we do. Decks are our passion! With every deck we build, we improve our quality and get more experience in just one thing- decks.
Selecting the right railing means you have picked something that looks good with your deck choices, will be long lasting, and will be compliant with both the International Residential Code as well as all your local ordinances.
Picking a railing should be done right after you select the type of decking you want, if you haven’t done that yet, you can click here to see which deck materials you should choose . There are quite a bit of different options when choosing the type of rails for your deck, you see, five or ten years ago white vinyl rails or pressure treated rails were basically the only options out there. Now decks are becoming more of a necessity rather than a luxury and as more and more companies start making rails, of course they all come up with new ideas.
“I personally think choosing the right type of rails is very important, and can make your deck look like it belongs to your house and not just some slapped-on after thought” -Ray Decks R Us
Here Are Some of the Most Popular Deck Railing Choices
During the low-pressure, no-obligation deck consultation- either over the phone if you are just getting started, or in person if you want a “to the penny quote” we’ll make sure the railings you like for your deck match any railings you need for hand rails and stair rails.
Don’t Break the Law
Nothing is more frustrating than to have your deck builder almost done and the local building code official comes by and tells you that your deck is “illegal.” If you are doing your own deck, make sure to find out what the local rules are for railings- they are more complicated than many homeowners realize. In some townships, there are literally pages of restrictions on deck rails and above ground pool decks. All decks including all deck designs (and especially wood deck designs) must comply with International Residential Code and all the ordinances set up by your Local County, city, and township zoning boards.
Why The Decks R Us Hassle Free Guarantee Keeps You in 100% Compliance...
Always ask any deck builder if they will handle the permits for you. And if they advise you that there is no need to get one - proceed at your own risk! Many deck builders will not secure the needed permits for you, leaving you to make all the calls to the different local government offices to try and find the right office- then fill out the paperwork and submit the plans just to get approval. A “shut down” job site can mean that your deck will linger for weeks- even months until someone gets the right paperwork submitted and approved before any work can start again.
But by choosing Decks R Us, our Hassle Free Guarantee means you won’t have to worry about it. We know the ins and outs of getting the required approval- and have a whole list of phone numbers with the exact building inspectors we need to contact in your municipality. To read the full story about The Hassle Free Guarantee, click here.
Deck Lighting
“These days, we’re selling lights on just about every deck we build. I think it’s great…I want my customers to spend every possible moment out on their deck. I am happiest when a customer tells me they spend more time on their deck than they do in their living room. So if you are going to be relaxing after dinner on a cool summer night on your deck, some accent lighting will make you feel like you’re in some mountain top resort...”-John, owner Decks R Us
Choices of Deck Lighting
As with all the materials they use, Decks R Us shops like any Pennsylvania Dutchman would- best quality at the cheapest price. We scour the country for the best material- that is the most popular but at a price savings we can pass along to our customers.
There are many types of lighting that we use, but here are the 4 basic ones that we use”;
- Eyeball lights- These lights mount on the side of the rail post and shine down on the deck to create soft accent lighting.
- Teardrop lights- Are much like the “eyeball” lights but are shaped a bit differently and the quality is a little better.
- Step Riser lights- Mount on the step riser( the vertical part) and shine down onto the step.
- Post cap lights- Mount on top of the rail post, gives you more of an “all around” light.
The Nebula and the Malibu eyeball lights mount on the side of the rail posts and shine down on the deck, Mose from Decks R Us advises, “They are great if you want accent light or “mood lighting”, they come with a 7 watt bulb. These lights usually run between $55.-$65. each which includes wiring, installation and the transformer.”
“There’s no doubt that adding lights to your deck extends the use you’ll get from it. Rather than just using it when the sun shines, adding a well thought out lighting plan will let you enjoy your deck into the evening and night as well.”
The Kitchler Teardrop lights are much the same as the Eyeball lights, except their shape, and the quality is just a little better, but then the price is a little higher as well. They will usually run between $65.- $85. each which includes wiring, installation and the transformer.
Step Riser lights mount on your stair riser (the vertical part) and cast a light onto the step. You can easily see where you are walking at night with these lights. Some models come with regular light, and some come louvered-which cast the light directly down on the step. These lights range from $50 to $60 per light which includes wiring, installation and the transformer. Here again the Kitchler lights are just a bit more.
Cap lights mount on the top of your rail posts and give you more of an “all around light” these lights are a little brighter than the eyeball or teardrop lights, and will light-up more of the whole deck, they have an 18 watt bulb in them. These lights will usually run between $65-$75 each which includes wiring, installation and the transformer.
Here's an Insider Secrets to Deck Lighting
If your stairs are longer- maybe 10-15 steps- you may want to consider the louvered Step Riser Lights. The regular lights on a step riser could shine directly in your eye as you're walking up. But the louvered lights shine down onto the step and not in your eyes.
Steps on Your Deck
“Probably about 95 percent of the decks that we build have steps of some sort”… says crew leader Joe Stoltzfus- “They either lead down to the backyard, out towards the driveway, down to another level, or out to a pool”.
Steps are one of the most functional parts of a deck, they provide access from the deck down to the yard below. When considering where to put the steps coming off the deck, here are a few things to ask yourself;
- Which part of the yard do I use the most; Turn the steps toward that area.
- Do I want the steps closest to the driveway, so when there is a party, the guests can go from the driveway directly to the deck without the need of going through the house…or maybe even two sets of steps
- Another good rule of thumb is to try to put the steps close to the door that comes out from the house, That way when there’s a lot of people on the deck, like let’s say there’s a big table in the middle of the deck and it’s full of friends eating dinner, if someone from inside the house wants to go out to the backyard they can come out the door and down the steps without needing to go through the crowd.
“Do it Yourself” Steps Can Get Tricky.
We try hard not to get “erschwert” (that’s Pennsylvania Dutch for huffy…or annoyed) when folks tell us that they can easily build a deck just as good as we can. Probably hurts our pride a bit, but steps can really be a tricky part of the job. Aside from the pages of building codes you’ll have to follow- the possibility of error is pretty big. With our Hassle Free Guarantee, we take care of all the permits for you –including the pesky ones for the steps. Even something as straight forward as deck planters can be hard for the weekend warrior.
Function AND Form
Designing your deck is really a function of 3 separate but equally important parts:
- The Looks of it
- The Function of it
- The Budget
You would think you would start with the looks or with the budget, but we actually encourage you to start with the function. Know how your deck will be used and write it down.
Once the function is decided you are ready to do some designing, Get a couple pieces of paper and start drawing. Drive around and check out the other decks in the neighborhood, write down the things that you like-and more importantly of what you don’t like.
Finally, find out from a deck builder what your dream deck will cost and compare that to your budget. The Better Deck builders will happily give you a quote or two quotes of what your “dream deck” will run. Be sure to work with them so you can find a balance between your budget and your dream. Ray from Decks R Us always says, “We would rather you have to scale down a few things on your wish list to match your budget rather than sacrifice your deck's function or appearance.”
And during your free consults, we can share our years of experience of what to trim or substitute so you can get a deck that meets your goals for all 3 of these.
“Start with Function”, recommends Ray Ebersole of Decks R Us. “Start by writing down the things that you are specifically looking for on your new deck-“First, decide how you want your new deck to flow with the rest of your home. Ask yourself these questions when designing your deck-
- How am I going to use the deck?
- How many people do I want to fit comfortably on the deck?
- What type of furniture do I want on the deck?
- How much furniture do I want on the deck?
- Do I want access from the deck to the yard?
- If so, what type of steps do I want?
Those are just a few of the thing you should think about when building a new deck, Make sure you write down the things you specifically want to include, such as;
Before After
- Benches
- Lighting
- Pergola
- Gazebo
- Lattice
- Hot tub
- Privacy panels
- Skirting
- Roof
- Gate at top of steps
- Storage area under the deck
- Storage benches
- Stones under the deck
Designing a Deck for Wheelchairs
Deck R Us-with their years of experience in working with local township, county and other municipality code and builder enforcers- is able to help you create a compliant deck with a wheelchair ramp. When meeting for your complimentary session, make sure to review with us any specific things you want for your deck.
Back to TopReady to set up Free deck consultation? Call 1-800-854-0269 or email Sam at sales@decksrusllc.com to set up an appointment.
Free Deck Advice:
Compare Apples to Apples. When shopping for a deck builder and comparing prices, make sure you are comparing the same deck. “It’s kind of sad to tell you, but some ….less trustworthy guys will low ball you with a price then add this on, add that on... and the next thing you know you have a deck that is WAY beyond your budget. When Decks R us sits down with folks, they try to make sure that your tastes and wallet match up.
Benches
One of the best improvements you can make to your deck is to add benches; Our benches are usually made out of the same materials as the decking, They are all custom made to fit your deck, weather you just want a small 4’ long bench to fit in a corner, Or a 30’ long curved bench that runs all the way along the front of your deck or around an octagon.
Adding some deck benches can really add interest to a straight-forward deck," teaches decorator Hapeman. “And put some thought into where you are placing them…when you work with your deck designer, position your benches on your rough draft so they face your best view. If you know you will be entertaining a lot, then make sure the guests on your built-in benches will be part of the party-and not facing the other way.” You can click here to find out approximately What this is going to cost .
Pergolas / Arbors
You may have seen them but weren't exactly sure what they were called."Think of a pergola as a cousin to the gazebo," explains John from Decks R Us. "The difference is, A pergola doesn't have the full roof like a gazebo, And you can't really enclose it with screens, It's just for partial shade or the looks of it. Pergolas are sometimes called arbors or trellises”.
"It’s really a way of making your house a real home by putting something truly unique like a pergola on your deck." A mild warning: Pergolas are much more of a permanent structure than they appear. Although it doesn't look like too much went into the construction, it really is securely built so it's not that easy to take down or change once it's constructed. And sometimes they do require a separate permit or zoning approval. But rest assured; by going with Decks R Us, all of those headaches are taken care of as part of our Hassle Free Guarantee .
Unlike a gazebo, there isn't as much practicality with a pergola, but man do they look good, " says John.
"It does provide some benefit though- depending on how the sun moves across your deck, it can give a few needed hours of shade each day to retreat from if you've been out there working on your tan." And you can determine how much shade you want. Because we customize our pergolas for each customer, we can build it so it gives more shade or less shade. We can work with you find out how many cross pieces (or lattice) you want on top of your pergola. The more cross pieces you have, the more shade is provided. To get an idea of what a pergola will cost click here .
Gazebos
"Sometimes I think a Gazebo can be a crowning touch on one of our decks," says Decks R Us Proprietor John Stoltzfus "Not only does it provide a real function, but it also makes the entire outdoor space look like a true outdoor retreat."
As much as we are excited for our customers' rave reviews of the beauty of our decks, and the awards we've received for how our decks look, we are actually more excited when we hear how much the decks get used.
"My customers are making a sizeable investment. That's one of the reasons why I take the Free Consultations so seriously. And one of the things I try to get them thinking about is how much they can use their deck. They way I look at it, the more time they will use their deck, the more they'll get out of their investment." Probably the biggest functional addition to you can make to your deck is to add a gazebo because it gives you a separate space to one side of your deck that is more protected from the elements and lets you increase your outdoor living time.
About 85% of all our customers who select a gazebo, go with a screen package so they can use on days when the bugs may be annoying or if there is a light drizzle. And when the heat is too bad on your deck, you can still enjoy the outdoors by moving your party or your solicitude a few feet away to your gazebo. Depending on which size gazebo you go with you can comfortably set up a table and some chairs for meals or a fantastic home office. We have a lot to say about all the options for a Gazebo if you click here .
Privacy Walls on Decks
If you want to ensure your privacy, or have some parts of the deck you would like to make more intimate, think about maybe putting a privacy fence along one side (or both sides). They can be made out of the same material as the rails so that it looks good with the rest of the deck and rails.
“If your house is close to the neighbors, we can build a really sharp looking privacy screen that looks like it’s part of your deck, and not an afterthought...” says John. “We can build a privacy fence a couple different ways; one way is to have a solid panel about 5 feet high, and then put about 12’’ of lattice on top to make it a total of about 6’.
Another way is to have the privacy wall totally solid without any lattice on the top, oftentimes these walls are 4’-6’ high.
If your new deck will include a Hot tub and you want privacy while in the tub, Decks R Us recommends going with like a 4 or 5 foot high wall around part (or all) of your hot tub. You can see over this wall when you are standing on the deck, but it ensures complete privacy if you are down in the Hot tub taking a relaxing soak under the stars…
Lattice or Skirting Around the Bottom of Your Deck
If you will have any open space between the ground and your deck, you may want to give some thought to deck skirting or Lattice. We’re able to provide skirting and lattice all the way up to7’ or 8’ and if your deck will be above ground that has different elevations, we can build your skirting to follow the contour of the ground.
“It’s just really unattractive and well…to be direct…kind of cheap looking to have that open space around the sides, especially one that’s 2’-3’ off the ground. It will also keep leaves and twigs from blowing underneath the deck where they are hard to reach, will also keep baseballs, soccer balls, footballs… from rolling under the deck.
Decks R Us always puts an access door in the Lattice or Skirting so that if you ever need to get in underneath deck it’s no problem. A lot of people also use the space underneath to store like your latter, garden hoses wheelbarrows… it puts them out of the way where you can’t see them. Raccoons, Skunks and all the other critters will have a hard time making homes underneath the deck if you have Lattice or Skirting around the bottom.
After all these years and all these decks, just when we think we have seen it all- a customer will give us a fresh and exciting new idea for their deck.
Do you have an idea for your customized deck?
Do you have a design that you drew up?
If you can think it, we can build it.
Send your pictures or drawings to us and we can give you an idea of how much your creation would run. Or if you just have the idea in your head, we’re pretty good at being “Deck Psychologists” and during your free no obligation consultations, we can help you get your idea down onto paper.
Some cool things we’ve done with decks...
Built a deck around a 100 year old treeBuilt a deck with an outdoor bar
Built a deck with customized-one of a kind outdoor dining table
Built decks with tailor made benches
Built decks with water proof storage benches
Built decks with buffet tables with shelves
Ready for the next step?
If you haven’t already, educate yourself on deck cost by going to that page now.
Call us at 800-854-0269 for a free no obligation consultation at your home. We’ll have a relaxed chat about some of the things we have covered here including your choices in deck design. We’ve built hundreds of decks in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey.
Serving Central PA, Eastern Pa, Northern Maryland and Northern Delaware
Phone: (800) 854-0269Email: sales@decksrusllc.com
2482A Horseshoe Rd.
Lancaster, PA 17601
Professional Website Design and Development by Schweb Design, LLC
Copy by Coach Thom
