outdoor living Archives - Page 6 of 13 - DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Container Tomatoes

June 26th, 2017|Blog, Garden & Lawn Care|

Imagine picking a ripe, juicy tomato right on your deck! All you need are some starts, and pots of various sizes. You can extend the season by covering plants, or taking them in overnight, as the weather cools. Pick a spot with good sun, but don’t overdo – tomatoes can wilt or burn under the hot Colorado sun. Test out and adjust locations as needed. Grouping pots together provides some shade and wind protection. Tomatoes need plenty of water and good drainage. Soil should be evenly damp to the touch, not dry, hard, or soggy. Transplant tomatoes in a timely manner as they outgrow containers. “Patio” tomatoes intended for pots may not taste quite as good. You can grow regular tomatoes and even some heirlooms in containers. Talk with your local gardening expert. Stake potted plants for support and monitor for disease – just like tomatoes planted in the ground. [...]

Deck Worthy Beer Pairings

April 24th, 2017|Blog, Outdoor Recipes|

Sunset Classic Barbecued Ribs with a Quadrupel Beer Pairing: Quadrupel No fat, no flavor. Properly seasoned and grilled pork ribs satisfy some of our most primal urges, and nothing less than a bold beer pairing is called for. Wine lovers would likely reach for a brawny Zin or Barbera. The beer pairing you need for ribs is a quadrupel, the Belgian abbey brew that marries huge layers of rich, stonefruit flavor with peppery yeast strains without the astringent tannins of big red wines. Look for Apis IV from Elevation Beer Co in Poncha Springs, CO; Elevationbeerco.com. Grilled Seafood and Chorizo Paella with Saison Beer Pairing: Saison Whatever else paella brings to the party, from shellfish to piquant sausage, saffron rules them all, and it’s both too delicately delicious and dear to overpower. Enter saison, traditionally brewed in Flemish farmhouses for seasonal workers. The most traditional versions are a touch sour, [...]

Why Design Matters

April 3rd, 2017|Blog, Deck Design Tips & Trends|

It’s officially spring now, and the demand for custom decks and outdoor living additions has never been higher! The combination of the booming housing market and Colorado’s incredible climate is leading to tremendous interest in custom outdoor living spaces. I’m sure you understand the importance of Design. Design motivates just about every major purchasing decision anyone makes! However, it often seems that when we bring up the subject of design, it scares people. Design shouldn’t be a scary word though. For some reason, most people think design adds to the cost. Actually, an experienced deck designer will help save you money by optimizing material use and finding construction efficiencies. Design reflects your lifestyle and how you’ll use your deck. The better the design, the better the function. And the more use you’ll get out of your deck. A well-designed deck provides one of the best investment returns of any home [...]

How Sweet It Is!

March 7th, 2017|Blog, Life On Deck|

I mean, is this weather crazy good or what? My brother sent me a screenshot of a weather news story recently showing Denver’s recent record 80° day in February. They were comparing it to other destinations that most people think of for warmth like Honolulu, where it was 76°, and Miami, where it was 74°. In some ways, it seems that spring is starting early this year in the Denver area with many days in the 60s and 70s. We could attribute this to global warming; however, the mountains have been getting pounded with incredible amounts of snow, and California’s drought has been entirely reversed. There’s nothing quite like the warm Colorado sun and the fresh crisp air with the majestic mountains in the backdrop. The 58th Annual Colorado Garden & Home Show was the best one yet! This was our 26th consecutive year showcasing our unique custom decks and [...]

Shake off the Cabin Fever & Get an Early Taste of Spring!

January 25th, 2017|Blog, DeckTec News & Updates|

If you’ve been in the Denver media area for any number of years, there’s no doubt you’re aware of the annual Colorado Garden and Home Show, even if you haven’t yet attended. For many that have attended in the past, it’s a great exhibit that they look forward to checking out regularly. The major themed garden is always extravagant and different and the many gardens are beautiful and new. The gardens include flowers, plants, and trees in full spring bloom that make you feel like you’re visiting a warm tropical destination for a day. (Talk about spring fever!) A week indoors in this environment is often more enjoyable than the alternatives. This year marks the 58th year of the annual Garden and Home Show. For 26 consecutive years now, we here at DeckTec have participated! For us, what started as an event to showcase our custom projects and attract new business has morphed [...]