winter

Best Local Cold Weather Micro-Brrrews

February 27th, 2019|Blog, Colorado Life, Life On Deck, Outdoor Recipes|

Beer is a big part of the Colorado lifestyle! For every camping trip, whitewater adventure or 14’er summit there’s beer shared on the back of a tailgate, at one of Colorado’s 300+ taprooms or on your custom redwood deck. But what to do when the temperature drops and the flakes start flying? We’re blessed with plenty of excellent Colorado craft beers for the 65 days of the year when the sun isn’t shining. Find them at your local brewery or stock up until deck weather returns in the spring. These malt-focused beers are perfect for cozying up by the fire after a long day in the Colorado cold and are guaranteed to chase your winter brrrews away! German Dunkel If you’re a fan of Porter be sure to give Dunkel a try – similar to the English favorite but with a cleaner taste from cold fermentation and lagering. Dunkel is [...]

Ann & Paul Sims: Windsor’s Winter Wonder Deck

February 20th, 2019|Blog, Customer Feature, Deck Project Highlights|

When Ann and Paul Sims moved from Loveland to Windsor in April, choosing DeckTec to create and build a winterized deck for their new home was a no-brainer. “This is our third project with DeckTec.” Ann, a construction software consultant, said. “They just do fantastic work.” Paul, deputy sheriff of Larimer County, agreed. While they’ve been in Colorado for 20 years, the Sims, originally from Florida, enjoy being outdoors as much as possible. For their first deck at the Loveland house, other contractors simply offered the basic slatted roof (trellis or pergola) that the Sims had asked for. DeckTec, on the other hand, proposed a more functional and appealing open gable (A-frame) roof addition, and the rest is history. “Steve came out and knew we needed something more. He came up with his own design and we loved it. It’s turned out to be perfect for us,” Ann said. “When [...]

Winterizing Your Home

January 3rd, 2018|Blog|

The cold weather is upon us, and it’s time to get your home winterized to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your investments safe, secure and operating properly. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Use our handy checklist to help stay warm and dry! OUTSIDE 1. Disconnect hoses and turn off water, sprinkler systems and fountains to prevent the lines from freezing and bursting. 2. Cover patio furniture and appliances, such as grills, to prevent rust. 3. Consider a fresh coat of sealer for your deck, this will help it weather the freeze/thaw cycle of winter. 4. Drain the gas from your lawn mower. 5. Clean gutters and down spouts to prevent ice buildup. Install leaf guards to keep gutters clear. 6. Have your chimneys inspected, and cleaned if needed. 7. Cover your air conditioning condensing unit. 8. Have your roof inspected and [...]

Delicious Hot Apple Cider

November 22nd, 2016|Blog, Outdoor Recipes|

It's hard to beat cup of hot apple cider on a cold fall or winter day. This recipe is great and will warm you from the inside out. Ingredients 6 cups apple cider ¼ cup real maple syrup 2 cinnamon sticks 6 whole cloves 6 whole allspice berries 1 orange peel, cut into strips 1 lemon peel, cut into strips Directions Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel, and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture. Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5–10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling. Remove the cider from the heat. Discard [...]

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 [...]