Steve Sparhawk, Author at DeckTec Outdoor Designs

7 Reasons Why Savvy Homeowners Build Their Outdoor Living Addition “Off-Season”

November 7th, 2016|Blog, Deck Design Tips & Trends, Life On Deck|

Eliminate Hassle, Save Time, & Receive Supreme Value by Planning Like a Pro The vast majority of people don’t even begin to think about initiating their outdoor living projects until the weather starts to become consistently warm. They all wait and then rush to start the process at the same time. This produces an effect akin to everyone funneling out of a concert or ball game simultaneously; movement becomes congested and people become irritated by the slow progress. Don’t follow the herd. Instead, discover why off-season (anytime snow can affect a job) is the best time to build your unique outdoor living addition. 1) Greater Scheduling Flexibility During peak seasons everyone seems to be in a hurry to get their project underway. This can be overwhelming and frustrating for everyone. With minimal scheduling flexibility in the peak seasons, construction times can be challenging to align with all of your fun summer plans. [...]

Preparing for The Winter Season

October 7th, 2016|Blog, Deck Care & Repair, Decks & Backyard Features|

Prepare Like a Bear I think there is a lot to be learned from nature; as the great Albert Einstein said "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Fall is now upon us, with a change in colors, light, and air. In my opinion, this is one of the best times of the year for outdoor living. What do animals do during autumn? If you notice, they’re all busy preparing for winter. Many of them have distinct routines, but the one thing they all have in common is preparation. Squirrels come to mind, gathering and storing as much food as they can to last through winter. Other animals, like bears, eat extra food in order to store the energy as fat and then find or build a warm shelter to hibernate through the winter. Even the birds prepare by migrating as a flock to warmer climates [...]

Picture This! Photo Contest Voting

October 1st, 2016|Blog, DeckTec News & Updates|

Summer is over, but don't fret, that just means that the best time to enjoy outdoor living is here! This is my favorite time of year, and I hope you join me in celebrating it. If you want some tips, look no further than our latest newsletters, especially the one we have coming out this October. Speaking of newsletters, earlier this year we asked you, our community of outdoor enthusiasts, to share with us photos celebrating deck life and you did not disappoint. We’ve seen some fantastic entries come into the office and we wish we could have been there celebrating each moment. It is time to share those moments with everyone and ask, will you help us pick our winners? Visit this link to cast your vote for your favorite outdoor moment! I know that not everyone reading this submitted a photo, but it’s not too late to participate [...]

Fall Thoughts: The Best Season for Outdoor Living

September 22nd, 2016|Life On Deck, Outdoor Living|

Change is in the air and after a long, hot, and dry summer; fall is now upon us. People are finishing their vacations, kids are going back to school, and collectively our routines all seem to settle down as summer winds to a close. Hopefully you took advantage of the beautiful weather and participated in some of the many fantastic festivals, fairs, and other events throughout summer. The Best Season for Outdoor Living In my opinion, fall is the best season of the year for outdoor living in Colorado. Is it just me, or does it seem like the seasons have been shifting here for several years? Winter weather often extends throughout half of spring; hot summer weather seems to start yielding to fall in August. Fall appears to be the longest and most predictable season producing pleasant and mild weather that’s ideal for enjoying the outdoors. If you ask me, [...]

Mini Portobello Burgers

September 21st, 2016|Life On Deck, Outdoor Recipes|

September might just be the last month to get the grill going, so enjoy this tasty backyard burger! Ingredients 12 Medium Portobello Mushrooms 2 Small Italian Eggplants 2 Yellow Squash 2 Zucchini ½ Teaspoon Sea Salt 12 Mini Brioche Buns or Dinner Rolls 1 ½ Teaspoons Sesame Oil ½ Teaspoon Sesame Seeds 9 Ounces Swiss Cheese Directions Heat grill or grill pan to medium- high heat. Trim stems from the mushrooms. Slice the eggplant, squash, and zucchini into ¼-inch-thick rounds. Brush vegetables with canola oil, sprinkle with salt, and grill until softened and grill marks have formed — about 10 minutes each side. Transfer to a baking pan. Heat broiler to low. Split the buns, brush the tops with the sesame oil, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Layer the squash, zucchini, eggplant, and mushroom on the bottom bun halves. Top each with cheese and broil until cheese melts, about 1 [...]

steve.sparhawk

About Steve Sparhawk

7 Reasons Why Savvy Homeowners Build Their Outdoor Living Addition “Off-Season”

Preparing for The Winter Season

Picture This! Photo Contest Voting

Fall Thoughts: The Best Season for Outdoor Living

Mini Portobello Burgers