Steve Sparhawk, Author at DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Considering the Critters: Your Deck and Wildlife

March 14th, 2016|Animals Out the Back Door, Deck Design Tips & Trends, Outdoor Living|

At DeckTec, we care deeply about the environment, which is why we continue to be the leading crafter of natural wood outdoor projects. We know that you enjoy spending time on your deck or patio, but we also know that other creatures might, too! It’s spring time, and besides a blossoming business season for deck construction and service, that can mean baby animals. Most common visitors are birds and squirrels, who after having spent a long, hard winter collecting nest materials, are just about to give birth to a batch of (soon to be) bushy tailed babies or feathery fledglings. Wooden structures placed off a warm home, like decks or roofs, can seem to be the perfect lodgings for wild animals looking for a place to nest. While you’re getting your house ready for a change in the season, make sure it’s wildlife- proofed as well. Scheduling your deck service [...]

Maintaining Your Outdoor Centerpiece

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

You’ve created a stunning outdoor space. You’ve made your deck into an outdoor centerpiece using beautiful exotic wood. At Decktec we’re very familiar with many exotic woods but the two we work with most frequently are mahogany and ipê. Mahogany According to eHow, mahogany is “commonly regarded as the world’s leading wood for fine-quality furniture, cabinetry, sculpture, carving, interior trim, and other applications.” The mahogany used for building decks typically comes from a tree called Swietenia macrophylla, also known as the big-leaf mahogany tree. These trees grow in tropical environments and they get huge. Rainforest Alliance says they can grow at tall as 200 feet. Reminiscent of a tropical oak, the Mahogany tree yields a gorgeous auburn colored wood that’s quite durable, which makes for a tough, long-lasting deck. Ipê Another exotic tropical wood called ipê comes from a tree known in the scientific world as Tabebuia spp.. These graceful [...]

DeckTec Has Upgraded Their Service Systems!

March 1st, 2016|DeckTec News & Updates|

DeckTec Outdoor Designs continues to grow as a company, and with that growth comes improvements for our customers. With an increase in demands for quality, custom wood decks come the requirements for us to meet the needs of our customers. So, to do that, we have upgraded our scheduling and customer relations systems! The new scheduling system has been implemented to minimize delays and time on the road, get to more jobs each week, and allow for built in slack to lessen any “domino effects” in delays when it comes to weather, according to Sean O’Brien, Customer Service Specialist at DeckTec. “The Deck Service department grew incredibly fast and, due to the older systems and the processes that we had nothing to compare to, there were bumps in the road in years past,” said Steve Sparhawk, DeckTec’s president. An improved scheduling system that ensures proficiency of our work crews out [...]

Meet The Owner

February 28th, 2016|DeckTec News & Updates|

It’s hard to believe, but my whole working life has been about outdoor living design and build. My earliest childhood memories — as well all my adult leisure time — has been spent on decks and patios, relaxing, entertaining, and barbecuing. I did landscaping as a summer job in high school and studied some horticulture in college. I then went to work in a nursery and garden center prior to starting my own landscape company and becoming something of a serial entrepreneur. Curved glass and aluminum then caught my attention but proved to be a short-lived fad. A short stint in cedar homes got me closer to what I wanted to do, but it wasn’t until 1988 when I became involved with a custom deck company that I discovered my calling. These varied, but related, job experiences and time spent living outdoors found me a profession I truly loved. My [...]

Deck-worthy Dinners – Grandma Sparhawk’s Marinated Pork Loin

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

A great recipe is something to be treasured, and this one is no exception. You'll love this simple, easy to prepare family recipe from Grandma Sparhawk. I prefer this fresh off the grill, but it's pretty awesome when baked in the oven. Ingredients: 3/4 cup salad or vegetable oil 6 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon dry mustard 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 tablespoons course ground pepper 1/4 cup wine vinegar 3/4 teaspoon dried parsley 1 table spoon crushed garlic 2 1/4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Directions: Marinate 24 hours in refrigerator. On grill: Cook on hot grill for 15 minutes or until your preferred degree of doneness. You may want to turn and brush on more marinade as it cooks. In oven: Bake tenderloins in broiler pan for 30 minutes at 350° F. Enjoy!

steve.sparhawk

About Steve Sparhawk

Considering the Critters: Your Deck and Wildlife

Maintaining Your Outdoor Centerpiece

DeckTec Has Upgraded Their Service Systems!

Meet The Owner

Deck-worthy Dinners – Grandma Sparhawk’s Marinated Pork Loin