Blogs

Low voltage deck lighting is one of the coolest, most practical things, you can add to your deck. As I’ve said before, we love to help our customers get the most out of their new deck. With a lighting package, your deck will be a more attractive spot for your families’ late night games and hanging out. It is also a relatively low cost way to set your deck apart from other decks in your neighborhood There are three types of lights we typically install on our decks. Post cap lights, step riser lights, and side mount post lights. We...

Have you thought about using the space under the deck, or is it an idea that never sparked your interest? Some people prefer to keep the area open, whereas others prefer it closed off. Our owner, John, loves to design decks and get the most out of the space. He has eight ideas to fill in the wasted space below the main attraction and turn it into a space the whole family can use. 1) Add Lattice as a Deck Option Lattice or latticework is created by crisscrossing material strips. This creates a functional grid- or weave-like ornamental pattern that...

Pros & Cons of Vinyl Wrapped Composite Decking Vinyl Wrapped Composite is the newest type of decking on the market. We have been using the Timbertech version of it for several years. It is pretty much what it sounds like, the old composite type of decking, wrapped in a vinyl shell. The big advantage to using a composite core for deck boards, is that it will absorb the heat better than the CPVC decking. A lot of people had concerns initially about the vinyl separating from the composite. After using this decking ourselves, and seeing the test results from it’s...

We here at Decks R Us are big fans of the latest versions of Vinyl decking, especially the Azek brand. We began using Azek back in 2005 when it was still sold under the Procell brand. This decking is made much like the older composite type, but is 100% plastic. It is available in many colors and sizes. One of the things we love about Vinyl decking is how easy it is to work with. Unlike wood or composite decking it does not crack or split. Most Vinyl decking brands come with a lifetime warranty against cracking and rotting. It...

Pros & Cons of Composite Decking Traditional Composite decking, such as Trex, is a mixture of wood dust and plastic. It is extruded in a machine with lots of heat allowing the wood, plastic, coloring, and UV protectant to melt and mold together. This technology was first introduced to the decking industry in the 1990s. Today there are dozens of different brands of it available. The color selection has expanded considerably, but the technology has not changed much. Composite decking is still a cost effective option in low-maintenance decking, and for the most part will outlast wood. It has however...

In this second part of our five part series on the pros and cons of different types of decking, we will look at the more traditional wood deck boards. Wood Decking There are two species of wood traditionally used by deck builders. Cedar has been a staple of deck builders for a long time due to it’s high acid content and natural weather resistance. On the East Coast, Pressure Treated Pine is the #1 type of wood used for decks. Cedar Decking A beautiful wood that resists rot and decay, Cedar wood is readily available at most lumber yards. However...

Finding the right decking for your new deck can be a bit overwhelming. Hardwood or Pressure Treated wood? Composite or Vinyl? And if you decide to go with something man-made, there are dozens of options and hundreds of opinions out there. Decking can be be put into 5 simple categories, Hardwood, Traditional Wood, Vinyl, Composite, or Vinyl-Capped Composite. So this post is the first in a 5-part series that I will share with you over the next few months. Hopefully I can shed some light on the pros and cons of each type of decking. Hardwood Decking There are 3...

Low-voltage deck lights are becoming popular for some very good reasons. They provide a nice gentle glow to your deck and they also can also provide additional safety for steps and pathways. In Pennsylvania, for example, it is required by code that any outdoor steps are illuminated. If you don't have an outdoor light in your house near the deck steps, you may be required to install riser lights on your new deck steps. These Endurance lights are the perfect answer for you. They are much smaller than other step riser lights, but with their unique design, they provide plenty...

If you are looking for something to set your deck apart from the other decks in your neighborhood a pergola is a great choice. They can also provide a fair amount of shade depending on their configuration. If your new pergola will get a lot of sun, you may want to consider maximising your shade by adding a canopy underneath. We generaly install 2 types of pergolas, Cedar wood, or Vinyl. Wood pergolas are a good choice for some surrondings, but Vinyl ones are more poular because of their low-maintenance upkeep. Vinyl Pergolas are available in white and tan colors...

One of the best improvements you can make to your deck is to add a bench or a waterproof storage bench. Our benches are usually made out of the same materials as the decking. They are all custom made to fit your deck, whether you just want a small 4-foot long bench to fit in a corner, or a 30 foot long curved bench that runs all the way along the front. Our waterproof storage benches are also made from the same materials as the deck. They are coated with a sealant on the inside and the lids have rubber...