Homestyle’s Last Word on Outdoor Living: Take The Party Outside

This one is a keeper.  No, I don’t mean this blog article.  Nor do I mean any of the recent outdoor living projects we’ve completed here in the Des Moines area.  While we’ve certainly been exceptionally busy since Fall with the mild Winter and Spring – allowing us to build some very nice deck, porch and patio projects, our clients think those are all keepers, though.

What I am referring to is the May, 2012, edition of the Des Moines Register’s Homestyle magazine that just hit the streets.  It’s a keeper because from what I, as an advertiser in that publication, have been told, it’s the last Homestyle magazine we’re ever going to see.  At least on paper…in its current form.  Des Moines Register President and Publisher Laura Hollingsworth’s announcements of April 13^th and May 6^th put some background to this change…and others on the horizon.

Over the years, Homestyle has been a great resource for Archadeck of Central Iowa as a tool to promote our presence – our design and build services – in the Des Moines and Central Iowa region.  Occasionally, the Register and Homestyle publishers would be kind enough to feature us in stories and articles in the magazine.  Homestyle’s quality and professional production served us – and like-minded businesses – well over the years.  I know this because I know it served a lot of you well, too.  Countless people I’ve talked to over the 9 years I’ve been involved in this business of designing and building outdoor living spaces have mentioned seeing our ads and stories in the Homestyle magazine.  Whether you were looking for an outdoor kitchen or an indoor kitchen, an outdoor living room or an indoor living room, a patio or a pad, a ceiling fan for your bedroom or for your screen porch, Homestyle was a resource Des Moines relied on for ideas and inspiration.  Homestyle also provided you a way to find products and businesses to bring those ideas and inspiration to life.  Often on the vivid pages of the magazine itself.

But in a bittersweet end, those pages will be no more.  Its sad to see Homestyle go, yet I certainly understand.  More and more of you now find us – and nearly everything else – via the internet today.  And, to be honest, its more effective – cost-wise, reach-wise, message-wise – for us to be found on the internet.  Video killed the radio star.  And Microsoft, Google and Apple killed the print star.

Or did they?  Last I checked, radio still exists….even on the internet….and as a result, in even more specialized and targeted forms, not to mention from nearly every corner of the earth.  Maybe video actually created more radio stars…but diluted the term “stars?”

So, I think print is going to remain as well.  But, like radio and nearly everything else, its delivery is evolving to electronic form….on the internet.  And print stars will grow…and dilute.  In part, thanks to bloggers like me – I hardly consider myself a “star.”

I am one of those conflicted sorts who sees himself as both a technologist (a 29-year career in that field) and a traditionalist (I’m a born-and-raised Iowan, southern at that).  I often have both the Des Moines Register paper (paper!) and my iPad at the breakfast table in the morning.  I like to buy hardcopy books to have on a bedside table or library shelf, but I prefer to read them on iBooks on my iPad.  I actively promote wood-alternative material when it comes to decking and railing products, yet I believe nothing compares to the natural beauty of real wood (when its cleaned, sealed and nicely stained).  So, maybe I’m wired to adapt to the change of not having Homestyle delivered to folks doorsteps once a month to whatever the “next step” is in the evolution of the Des Moines Register and its spin-off publications.    Maybe.

I’ll miss the traditional ways and the traditional contributors and I will support these as long as they exist and work for us.  So, you’ll still find our ads in the Des Moines Register and in Sherry Failor’s Welcome Home Des Moines magazine (another fine, traditional print publication).  But, I’ll support the evolution, too.  Technology advances demand it.  And, quite frankly, so do you…we.  With every smart phone, tablet computer and low-maintenance, wood-alternative deck we buy, its one more vote for…change….progress…evolution.  But, its kinda like the saying about not liking to have birthdays the older you get:  consider the alternative.

So, in those terms, it sounds like the Des Moines Register is about to have one of those “major” birthdays.  And we’re all invited to the party.  As for Archadeck of Central Iowa, professionally, and me, personally, we’ll be there because we prefer parties to the alternative.  Especially, parties on the patio!

Thank you to The Des Moines Register and, specifically, the Homestyle production team for your contributions to Des Moines homeowners’ lifestyles through that forum over the years.  Thanks also for your support of Archadeck and like-minded businesses that operate in that arena; we look forward to that continued support in the next evolution of the Register.   Finally, thank you for the “Outdoor Oasis – Deck out your deck and take the party outside” nod.  Subliminal or not, it’s a keeper.

Satisfaction Abounds with Des Moines-area Deck and Railing Projects

Satisfaction...Archadeck Style

We’re just back from our annual workshop where, among other presentations, our franchisor recognizes several achievements across the Archadeck network of outdoor living space builders and designers.  Customer Satisfaction Awards are some of the most coveted awards and we’re proud to announce Central Iowa’s third consecutive Customer Satisfaction Award.  Satisfied customers are satisfied customers regardless of project size, complexity or style.  Based on our awards and their consistency, unlike the Rolling Stones, we do get satisfaction…nearly everyday.

Beyond that award, we had two other nice, unexpected acknowledgements awaiting us when we got home.

2012 Fortress Railing Calendar - March, Archadeck of Central Iowa

First, a project of ours was selected by Fortress Railing Products as their 3^rd Place winner nationally for their 2012 Calendar Contest.  As such, it is the March cover and feature on their 2012 national calendar.  Obviously, Fortress is a railing (and fence) company so the focus is on our use of their FE26 Traditional Iron Railing in the project we did for our client in Urbandale, a northwest Des Moines suburb.  The overall project scope included installation of a low-maintenance railing and cedar pergola on their existing builder-provided composite deck (but with wood railing, initially).  The sleek, crisp look of Fortress Railing was a key component of the stunning transformation we made to our client’s deck space.  The flared pergola concept was key, too.  Thanks to Fortress for selecting our project for March, 2012!  And, thanks to our clients for having the foresight to select Fortress Railing…and Archadeck…for their project!

On a side note, my co-hort Rick Conrad of our Archadeck of Bucks/Mont office in Pennsylvania won the 2012 Grand Prize – the calendar cover and January features in the same Fortress calendar.  Congratulations, Rick!  Rick’s Grand Prize follows on the heels of our Archadeck of West Rhode Island office winning the same award in 2009.  I’m in good company!

Ageless Deck Design, by Archadeck of Des Moines - circa, 2001 (?)

Secondly, a client of ours from 1997 – yes, 1997…from the tenure of the prior Archadeck of Des Moines office – called with a question related to their initial deck design and layout.  No problems or issues, she emphasized; in fact, said their deck is still the best investment they’ve made on their home.   They are reviewing options for addressing a new gas meter requirement in relation to the deck’s layout and wondered if I had any information relevant to that.  Unfortunately, due to the age of their project and retention limitations, I wasn’t able to provide much besides anecdotal discussion to assist her.  But, she said she was very appreciative of that and my call back and said it further validated their selection of Archadeck – 15 years later – to know that we’re still actively in business.

More active than ever, in fact!

We’ll be gearing up for the 2012 Des Moines Home and Garden Show at the Iowa Events Center in the coming weeks.  Stay tuned for more information and we look forward to seeing you there.

Resolve to Enjoy Your Outdoor Living Spaces More in 2012

Happy New Year!  2012.  Twenty-Twelve.  Has a nice sound, feel and look to it, don’t you think?  I’m always excited to turn the page on a New Year and look forward to the symbolic “re-boot” that New Years Day offers.  At the same time, I’m also caught up in both the “reflective” and “reality” aspects of the moment when the ball drops, corks pop and lips lock.  There are things, both good/bad…happy/sad, that happened in the past year(s) that will continue to influence us in the reality that a New Year brings.  I’m looking forward to building on all that and making a great 2012, both personally and professionally.  Here’s wishing you the best in 2012, too!

That opening could be summarized as the “3 R’s of New Years:”  Re-boot, Reflection and Reality.  And, I managed (until now) to do that without using that other dreaded “R” word (Resolutions).  I’m not sure what your disposition is towards New Years Resolutions, but I tend to think that a good, positive attitude (such as “reflectively rebooting for the reality a New Year brings”) goes a long way towards achieving any resolution…whether you actually make resolutions or not.   But, if you are a person who makes New Years Resolutions and you’re looking for help both in making and meeting your resolutions, Archadeck | Outdoor Living can help you with that:

Resolve to enjoy your outdoor living spaces more in 2012!

Note that I said “…both in making and meeting your resolutions.”  Anybody can make resolutions.  Meeting them is the hard part.  Often it’s the hard part because there isn’t a good plan in place to bring the resources together to achieve the goal.   Or, on the flip side, the goal isn’t realistic based on the resources that only haphazardly come together when planning is overlooked.

Multi-Season Room, West Des Moines

How does this relate to Archadeck and Outdoor Living?  If you take us up on our resolution offering, you’ll soon see that we focus on developing a design and plan to achieve your outdoor living space needs and desires. When the design and plan is in place, we focus on building it with the most qualified, experienced resources and to the highest standards in the industry.  After its built, we warrant it and guarantee our warranty coverage for up to 5 years.  “Better Building by Design” and “We Design It, We Build It, You Enjoy It” are not just catch-phrases for us…its our way of life…our way of business.

Maybe you want a patio with an outdoor kitchen and firepit.  Maybe you want a screen porch to keep out the bugs and sun.  Maybe you’re tired of splinters, tired of staining your deck and railing and are looking for lower-maintenance outdoor living components.  Maybe you don’t want to get “burned” like your neighbor did with their contractor.  Maybe you want all of that.  You can have all that – or all that makes sense for your reality –  under the Archadeck | Outdoor Living umbrella (maybe “pergola” is a better word in our case).  We take making resolutions for you very seriously!

Front Porch with Pergola, Central Iowa

Of course, this will cost you some money and, likely, more money than you anticipate going in (as many things do, right?).  But, we’ll certainly address the cost and budget aspects of your project and its various design options in the planning process as well.  The connection between planning/design and cost is comparable to the connection between the chicken and the egg:  Which comes first?  Not sure about the chicken and the egg, but I wish I had that “magic.”  Unfortunately, I’m only human so we address it in a number of ways (design retainers, iterative designs, addendums within known ranges, etc.) depending on the situation.  But, our goal is always the same…to develop a known budget up front, contract to that and…no surprises along the way…or at the end.

The consensus among remodeling industry experts is that this is money well-spent, too. Remodeling Magazine recently published their 2011-12 Cost/Value Analysis Report.  In that, they track 35 common remodeling projects with average project costs, resale value and cost recoupment; they do this nationally, regionally and within major metropolitan areas.  Archadeck’s product offerings span more than these 35 projects primarily because Remodeling Magazine is focused on in-, or on-home remodeling projects while we focus on outdoor spaces, rooms and accessories.  So, for example, patios, pergolas and outdoor kitchens aren’t specifically included in the Remodeling survey.  But, decks are and we generally relate that as the “outdoor living spaces” indicator for cost/value returns.  Remodeling also tracks “sunroom additions.”  But, “sunrooms” tend to not reflect the “stick-built” approach we take with our multi-season rooms and porches here in our Des Moines-based Archadeck office.  So, we look at the “family room addition” within Remodeling’s survey as the indicator for our “room” projects.  Admittedly, though, “porches” (front, screened and open) are difficult to assess via this survey.

Low Maintenance Outdoor Living Spaces on Urbandale Home

With those caveats, you’ll find that deck additions, wood and composite, are 2 of the top 10 projects with the highest cost/value returns in the Midwest/Des Moines region.  Room additions, depending on what you call the room, are holding strong in the middle of the pack.  Deck additions (and other outdoor living spaces such as patios) continue to be strong performers in this survey, primarily from the perspective that they, unlike many other projects in the survey…and, I might add, when they are done “right” (see above), add living space to your home (if even on a partial-year basis).   It’s the space and functionality aspects that are adding value.  If you choose to add that space/functionality with a cheaper material (wood) over a more expensive material (composite), then the cost goes up but the value (as measured by this survey) remains the same, therefore driving down the overall value on a percentage basis.  That’s my explanation for the drop between wood deck and composite deck values per this survey.  This survey does not take into account some of the more lifestyle-oriented values that composites may provide on a more subjective basis.

Multi-Season Room and Patio, Des Moines

Certainly, the values of our homes and what we put into them have been a tricky proposition in recent years…trickier depending on where you live.  Nearly all of the remodeling projects tracked in the survey are down in the cost/return ratios compared to survey results 3 years ago; that’s more reflective of the housing bubble burst that’s impacted our economy over the past few years than it is of any of these projects, per se.  But, here in the Des Moines and Central Iowa region, we’ve been fortunate enough to be as stable as any place in that regard.  That helps to put us in a position to feel good about investing in our homes.  And, more folks are doing that with more of a longer-term outlook.  Outdoor living spaces remain one of the best investments you can make on your Des Moines-area home.

So, re-boot, reflect and look forward to the new realities that 2012 will bring you.  If those realities include a desire (resolution?) to enjoy your outdoor living spaces more in 2012, I look forward to hearing from you soon.  With Archadeck’s proven processes and experience, we’ll put together a good plan for a good investment in your home.  For one piece of a good 2012!

Happy New Year!

I’ll Have Another Green Beer and a Spiced Rum Trex Deck Chaser

One year ago, St. Patricks Day, 2010, I wrote what turned out to be the most popular posting to date, in terms of reads and search terms “hits”, on this “An Outdoor Living Space” blog site.  What put that one over the top in terms of popularity wasn’t just the insightful information about the decks, porches, patios, pergolas and outdoor living spaces, rooms and accessories we do around the Des Moines area.  What put it over the top was…its reference to “green beer.”

What does “green beer” have to do with Des Moines-area decking, railings, 3- and 4-season rooms, brick paver patios or outdoor kitchens?  Well, the premise of that posting was “color” and the title said it all:  “Green Beer and Decking / Railing Color Combinations” (click that to read it).  St. Patricks Day, with its “green” color theme, seemed an excellent opportunity to talk about the multitude of color choices in the various decking and railing systems that can be used in your outdoor living project.  While I try hard not to recycle themes here, this one seems worthy.  Plus, the theme has continued unabated over the past year.  For some examples…

• I bet many of us will be drinking a little green beer again this St. Patricks Day (in fact, I learned that many folks drink – or look for – green beer year round…and, therefore, the high hit count on that search term).  And, if the Des Moines area weather holds with these temperatures, maybe even some of you will be doing that on your own decks or in your own porches.
• TimberTech tweaked their XLM line of PVC decking and now offers 6 colors of decking in that line, two of which are modified or new from last year:  Harvest Bronze (formerly Desert Bronze) and HarborStone (a new, grey-streaked board).
• TimberTech reformulated their Earthwoods line of wood-plastic composite (WPC) decking, now called Earthwood Evolutions and now the hybrid, WPC/PVC-capped technology introduced by Trex in their Transcends line last year.  This resulted in 3 modified Earthwood colors as well:  Pacific Teak, Pacific Rosewood and a very nice (one of my favorites) Pacific Walnut.
• TimberTech also now has out 2 new colors of their Radiance Rail system to better compliment their new decking colors.  And, TimberTech also offers more mix-and-match coloring options in their Radiance Rail line.
• Azek’s PVC-based Arbor line now also includes 2 new colors of decking:  Cobre and Silver Oak.  No new railing colors for Azek; apparently they think the 6 colors they already have are sufficient.  But, with TimberTech now having 7 colors in their Radiance Rail line, I’m sure Azek is looking for 2 more colors.
• Trex expanded their Transcends line of hybrid, WPC/PVC-capped decking to include colors/styles called Lava Rock and (my personal favorite name of a decking color) Spiced Rum.

Archadeck Design 3D Rendering of an Urbandale Outdoor Living Space

As I said, its continued unabated.  The choices can make your head spin as much as green beer might.  Fortunately, the hangover from color options in decking and railing combination decisions (as well as others related to your new outdoor living space project) can be avoided.  Our design process can show you the impact of the various color combinations you like as they look on your home thru near-photo-realistic 3D renderings.  In our showroom in Urbandale, we’ve got many of these new products and colors in various display forms to see, touch and even walk on.   Our design process eases you through the selection process and gives you the security of knowing what you’re going to get before you get it.  And then we make it happen.  And we go so far as to guarantee it will happen. 

Archadeck | Outdoor Living.  All the fun and enjoyment of green beer on St. Patricks Day, without the hangover.

The Value of Nice Outdoor Living Spaces – Helping Make Nice Homes Happen

A comment I frequently overheard in our booth at the Home & Remodeling Show last weekend by people reviewing some of the pictures in our display, went something like “Oh, those are really nice homes.”  Often times it was followed by a “…though.”  The implication then being  “Oh, my house isn’t nice enough to have one of Archadeck’s fine decks, porches or patios on my home.”  One nice lady from Des Moines actually went so far as to ask me if we had pictures of outdoor living projects we’ve done on “just a plain ol’ home.”

The project pictures we selected to put on our display exhibit are certainly there to show our best side, so to speak.  At the same time, they were selected to be representative of the types of outdoor living projects designed and built by Archadeck of Central Iowa.  For example, the display includes:

• a screen porch and deck project in Urbandale (Patricia Park neighborhood)
• a patio, open porch and deck project on Des Moines’ east side (Brook Run Village neighborhood)
• a 3-season room addition, deck, stamped concrete patio and multi-level pergola project in West Des Moines (22^nd and Ashworth area)

Archadeck TimberTech Low-Maintenance Deck Project, Altoona

So, despite the thoughts behind some of those comments, our projects are designed and built for a wide variety of home styles, home values and for people – like you – representative of Central Iowa as a whole.  And, we leave a nicer home behind when we’re done than what it was when we started…regardless of where it started.    I realized I missed an opportunity with some of these folks at the show…

The outdoor living spaces, rooms and accessories that we design and build are one of the very things that make a “really nice home” or that make a home one that’s not “just a plain ol’ home.”  So, to that latter comment, I guess maybe it is hard to find one of our project pictures from a “plain ol’ home” after we’ve been there.  Maybe she had better luck at another booth. ;)

Seriously, what this made me realize (again) is that its often hard to appreciate what we do and what we provide in value to our clients without first seeing what we started with.  It reminded me (again) that I need to get a nice before/after gallery up in our photo gallery on our web site.  In lieu of that, I linked that to the web site of our Boston office of Archadeck (Thanks, Jim!) as a representation of what ours will ultimately show.  In addition, here are the before/after images of the 3 projects noted above and seen on our home show display:

Screen Porch and Deck, Urbandale

Open Porch, Deck, Patio, Des Moines

3-Season Room, Deck, Stamped Concrete Patio, Pergola, West Des Moines

The true value of outdoor living comes in having a safe, structurally sound, functional and attractive living space that is an asset to your home’s value and to your lifestyle.  And, one that “fits” your home and your lifestyle.  That doesn’t happen by just hiring someone to build the same deck they build for everyone else (or the same one you have) or to build it off a napkin while they’re there building.  It happens by paying attention to homeowners’ ideas, styles and lifestyle and applying that information to the detail of the project design.  It happens by following industry-recognized standards and procedures in the design and building process.  It happens by using someone experienced in all these areas who will warrant and guarantee their performance.

Archadeck makes it happen. 

And when we’re done, you’ve got a really nice outdoor living space.  On a really nice home.  Or so it would seem.

8 Words To Remember About Outdoor Living

I stopped in at the Urbandale Post Office the other morning to purchase stamps.  I was wearing my Archadeck-logo’ed jacket and the clerk must have noticed.  He asked “What’s the difference between a patio room and a sun porch?”  Given there was a line behind me, I just kinda laughed and said “Words.”  The clerk appreciated my response, though; he too laughed and said “I thought so.”

Wood-Alternative Deck-Patio Project, West Des Moines

About an hour later, I had some folks in our office/showroom exploring some possibilities for their outdoor living spaces at their Des Moines-area home.  Those possibilities ranged from a new, larger, low-maintenance deck to a deck/pergola or deck/room (or porch) combination project on their walk-out home…which then also demands patio space at the lower-level.  Of course, with the “room” option came the inevitable “What’s the difference between a 3-season room and 4-season room?” question. I again laughed and recounted to them my earlier encounter at the post office.  And, because there wasn’t a line behind me, I did give a better answer than just “numbers.” 

3-Season Rooms.  Patio Rooms.  4-Season Rooms.  Sun Porches.

Multi-Season Room, West Des Moines

Screen Porches.  Open Porches.  Gazebos.  To us, they’re all just rooms and spaces with roofs…designed and configured to feel as outdoors-y or indoors-y as you want.

Decks.  Patios.  Again, they’re just rooms and spaces without roofs.

Pergola, West Des Moines

Not sure how much roof or shade you want over your rooms and spaces?  Pergolas are a nice in-between option.  Other accessories include outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, firepits, benches, planters, lighting…virtually anything under the sun.  In (almost) any combination.

So, back to my opening…”words.”  There are a lot of words to describe what you can do with your outdoor living spaces today.  Particularly because there are so many options…choices.  We’re finding more and more that folks are combining the options…the words.  Like the second encounter described above, combination projects are becoming more prevalent because today folks desire more than just a slab of concrete or a plank of boards for their outdoor living spaces.  Thoughtful design and construction of these spaces is key to their viability as a functional and valuable addition to your home and to your lifestyle at home.  The words are important, too.

Archadeck – Spaces, Rooms and Accessories for Outdoor Living.  If you only remember 8 words from this, I’d recommend that sentence.  Archadeck of Central Iowa has been providing Archadeck | Outdoor Living design/build services in backyards (and some front) around the Des Moines and Central Iowa area for over 13 years.  We’re asked a lot of questions…most of them “outdoor living” related.  We’re committed to providing answers (in word, number and picture form) and we’ve got a wealth of “outdoor living” related resources to obtain the answers that make sense for the outdoor living space, room or accessories you are considering.  And, we’ll make it happen for you.

If you have questions, or an outdoor living project in mind, you can call us (515-266-8844) , e-mail us (centraliowa@archadeck.net) or complete the “contact us” form on our web site at central-iowa.archadeck.com.  And, this weekend – March 11^th – 13^th, 2011 – we’ll be out at the Varied Industries Building at the Iowa State Fairgrounds for the Home & Remodeling Show presented by the Home Builders Association of Greater Des Moines (of which we are an associate member); stop out and see us there if you get a chance.

The Beauty and Practicality of Wood Decks and the Iowa Countryside

Tuesday, I was driving up the state and county highway systems north of Des Moines on my way to investigate a couple of new, potential Archadeck outdoor living projects…one in Boone, one just south of Story City.  We do promote ourselves as Archadeck of Central Iowa, and its days like this that we truly, geographically, live up to our name.  These trips actually give me a little time to relax and catch my breath during the middle of a busy deck building season in the Des Moines and Central Iowa area.

I was reminded of two things on that trip.  One, that Iowa has some of the most beautiful countryside you’ll find anywhere.  Two, that pressure-treated lumber is an underrated and oft-maligned board for building outdoor living structures…and unfairly, at that.

To that latter point, we did a front porch project, using pressure-treated lumber,in Madrid back in 2005. 

Madrid Front Porch, 2005

On my travels yesterday, I stopped by to check it out.  It looks better today than it did 5 years ago.  Why?  Because the owners have taken care of it.

The Madrid front porch project is small in comparison to many other projects we do….size-wise.  But, not in impact and value to the home and the homeowner’s enjoyment of the home.  People sometimes call us with “smaller” projects and they’ll somewhat timidly say something like, “…maybe my project isn’t big enough for you…I know you guys do a lot of projects on multi-million dollar homes.”  To that I say something like “…its not the size that matters…it’s the value and quality you are looking for and the satisfied customers we are looking for.”  Besides, there aren’t really that many multi-million dollar homes in the Central Iowa area.  Think about it.

The Madrid front porch project also does not use any of the new technology, expensive, wood-alternative products

Madrid Front Porch, 2010

that 75% of our projects last year used.  No composite.  No vinyl.  No PVC.  Just wood…for the framing, decking, railing, stairs and skirting.  Southern Yellow Pine.  Pressure-treated with chemicals to make it termite-resistant and ground contact tolerant.   

Yes, it (any wood decking product – PT/SYP, cedar, ipe, etc.) will fade grey.  Yes, they will splinter and check; it even warps and twists a bit (more than we like).  And, splits and knot holes will occur over time.  But, all this will occur less and slower and the deck will last longer and look better if its diligently maintained.  What does that mean?  We recommend a minimum of a 2-year cycle of cleaning and sealing…with a stain if you prefer.  The latter is the maintenance you don’t have to do with the wood-alternative products; cleaning may still be necessary (though in 3 years I still haven’t done mine).

If that maintenance is done regularly on a wood deck, the results can be as stunning as anything you’ll find in the wood-alternative world.  The Madrid front porch is a prime example.  Our client there has taken good care of their front porch.

If that maintenance isn’t done regularly, the results aren’t as stunning…and the maligning begins.  And, unfairly so if the home/deck owner didn’t do the maintenance and expected better results.  This does drive a lot of wood-alternative sales – and there are other valid reasons to make that jump as well.  For another time.

For this time, for this beautiful trip from our office in Urbandale to Polk City to Madrid to Boone to Story City and back thru Ames, Ankeny and Altoona to my home in Des Moines…it was all about the beauty of well-maintained, natural wood.  On decks and porches.  And on homes – the Story City prospect has a beautiful log home with the most awesome deck and porch view of the Iowa countryside after an Iowa thunderstorm you could ever imagine.  It’s a million dollar view, which is also more important to me than the value of the home.  This is why we live outdoors.

Enjoy the home you’re in.  Start living outdoors.

Outdoor Living Perfected, Des Moines Style

Spring thru Fall is a great time to enjoy all that Des Moines and the Central Iowa area has to offer…particularly outdoors.  The Downtown Farmer’s Market.  Not to mention the Farmers Markets in West Des Moines, Urbandale and others.  Iowa Cubs baseball.   The Des Moines Arts Festival.  The 80/35 Music Festival.  Nitefall on the River.  Iowa Speedway races.  The Iowa State Fair.  Iowa Hawkeye and ISU football and tailgating.  And much, much more…including your own backyard!  I mean, we always come home, right?  And often we’re coming home to continue the fun…outdoors, right?  Grilling, entertaining, relaxing.  Under the sun.  Under the stars.  Are your outdoor living spaces up to the occasion?

• Would shade make your outdoor living perfect? How about a pergola or a porch?
• Would eliminating staining and splinters make your outdoor living perfect? How about a wood-alternative deck? Less Work.  More Life.  According to TimberTech, anyway.
• Would a grill and bar area fulfill your outdoor living dreams? How about an outdoor kitchen, customized to your grilling and entertaining style?
• Would deck lighting make your outdoor living perfect?  How about a lighting system installed on your deck?
• Would a room from which to view or transition to your outdoor spaces perfect your enjoyment of your home? How about a screen porch or sunroom or 3-or4 season room?  And while you’re at it, incorporate energy-efficient windows and doors in your 3-and-4-Season and Sunrooms and qualify for Federal Tax Credits.

As you’re enjoying the months ahead, if you find your outdoor living spaces less than perfect, keep in mind that Archadeck’s custom design and build services can bring these – and more – enhancements to life for you.  Our design process is geared to help you plan and design a project which will enhance your outdoor living lifestyle and increase the value of your property.  Our construction process and standards bring it to life for you.  Our reputation and integrity has made us an industry leader, both locally and nationally.  Our industry relationships and warranty and guarantee programs provide unsurpassed levels of safeguards and support in regards to you project. 

Outdoor living perfected.  That’s our goal.  Virtually anything under the sun, as individual as you are.

Green Beer and Decking / Railing Color Combinations

What color do you think of for St. Patrick’s Day?  Green, right?  Green Beer.  Green Eggs and Ham.  Notre Dame Irish green…and gold.  Which happens to be the same color of a lot of beers, come to think of it.  There will be plenty of these served around Des Moines’ Irish pubs today…Cooney’s, AK O’Connor’s, Flanagan’s, Mickey’s…and right around the corner from our office and showroom in Urbandale, Murphy’s.  Might have to drop in at Murphy’s for one myself sometime today.  A toast to the Irish, a celebration of the luck of the green.  I’m not Irish, but that doesn’t really matter, right?  However, I recently learned that there is a section of Dublin called Harold’s Cross.  Its over 900 years old and is named after a gallows and was used as an execution ground in a prior era.  Hmmmm.  Another green beer, bartender. 

What color do you think of for decking and railing?  Brown?  (Faded-) Grey?  White, maybe?  Those are the “standards”…what you see on most decks.  But, today, with the improved coloring techniques in wood-alternative decking and railing products, the color choices you have in the wood-alternative world are much broader.  Mostly earth tones, still (although CorrectDeck used to have a log cabin green color), but the hues are all over the “earth tone” pallet.

Azek Deck, strictly a PVC-based decking product, now offers 11 different deck board colors across 3 collections of style lines (Arbor, Terra, Harvest).  Azek’s Premier Rail product comes in 6 different colors, most of which complement, if not match, most of the 11 deck boards… interchangeably…across all styles.  If you’re doing the math, that’s 66 possible combinations of a deck/rail configuration…and that’s assuming you’re just going with one color of decking.  I think I would throw out a few of those for all but those of you who have had too much green beer.

TimberTech, too, has 3 primary lines of decking boards – both wood-plastic composite and PVC – and has 10 color / style options across those boards.  TimberTech offers railing products in 8 different colors but segregates their railing offerings to align with each of the 3 lines of decking (XLM, Earthwood, TwinFinish). That alignment effectively reduces the total combination of TimberTech’s decking/railing combinations to 44.  But, TimberTech also offers their railings on a “mix-and-match” basis, so that number can rise quickly…exponentially, almost.  Again, though, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend all of those combinations. 

Azek and TimberTech are just 2 of dozens – though our preferred options – of wood-alternative decking and railing vendors in the market.  Trex can offer combinations approaching the numbers of Azek.  Evergrain’s combination options approach the numbers of TimberTech. 

As you can see, there are literally hundreds of color and product options available for your new low-maintenance, wood-alternative deck.  Hmmmm.  Another green beer bartender.

 How to decide?  That is the question.

• Azek offers an interactive Color Selector on their web site.  It provides a very basic, but representative, view of their decking and railing combinations.
• TimberTech offers an interactive Color Visualizer on their web site.  It provides a basic and representative view of how some their product color combinations can be paired.
• Archadeck of Central Iowa takes color visualization two steps further during our custom design process. 
  • We use Softplan Architectural Software which allows us much more flexibility in the color and material selections in its 3D renderings of our designs.  Unlike TimberTech’s and Azek’s tools, we can:
    • for example, show balusters yet a different color than the other railing components (if applicable)
      

      Actual Project Design - SoftPlan 3D Rendering

    • show it to you in Azek and TimberTech (and Evergrain and…and…) colors all on the same design
    • show this on the actual project design we’re going to build for you 
  • We have an office and showroom in Urbandale, a suburb of Des Moines, where many of these deck boards and railing styles can be viewed in display settings.  Don’t expect a Homemaker’s-sized showroom with hundreds of these combinations shown on larger, multi-level decks, but…I think you’ll like what you see…and see what you like.

Our preferred vendors, with their products and support, combined with our industry relationships and our custom design services can bring you a low-maintenance deck as distinctive or simple as your tastes, lifestyle and personality commands.  Brown on Brown works.  White on Grey works.  So does Kona on Fawn…Mountain Cedar on Tropical Teak…Brownstone on Morado…

…Green in Beer…on St. Patrick’s Day.