5 Tips for Choosing Patio Furniture for Next Summer
Guest Contributor: Margaret Mills, Marina Pool, Spa and Patio You’ve got your brand new, beautiful deck from DeckTec, but now you need to find the perfect patio furniture to start enjoying it! With supply shortages and custom order delays still looming, NOW is the time to start planning your deck or patio furniture for next summer. Pre-season ordering allows you to get exactly the pieces you want, select just the right fabric, beat any price increases, and save on freight costs too. But it’s not as easy as you might think. Unlike indoor furniture, there are a few factors to consider when finding patio furniture for your home. 1. WHAT’S UP WITH THE WEATHER? When searching for patio furniture for your home, it’s very important to consider the weather. Your environment will actually affect the lifespan and appearance of the patio furniture you choose. Sunlight will cause colors and designs to fade and bleach fabrics. In addition, heavy snow or rain can damage materials over time. Ultimately, it’s critically important to consider how the weather will[...]
On-Deck with Steve Sparhawk – Gratitude 2022
This Gratitude Edition of our newsletter completes the sixth year of The DeckTec Lifestyle. We believe our little print piece is appropriately titled. While not a literary work of art, it is our attempt at staying in touch with our valuable clients (and some select potential clients) and musing about topics related to decks and the ubiquitous outdoor living along the Colorado Front Range. As a child and, later, with my own family of four kids, my fondest memories are all of outdoor gatherings with the people I care about. Easter, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, and nearly all graduations, birthdays and other milestones are celebrated outdoors. We believe that having a special outdoor space makes bringing everyone together that much more pleasurable. Especially in these turbulent times, having a place to relax, entertain, and escape is essential. I’m grateful to have been able to share a passion for outdoor design with clients and for the countless employees that have partnered with me over the last three decades. Our newsletter also allows me[...]
News Flash: Farmers say Winter will be Cold
Much like the kids returning to school, few things signal the changing of seasons like the headlines garnered by the Farmers Almanac’s long-term winter forecast. Local news outlets report on the Almanac’s predictions for winter with as much fervor as the return of pumpkin spice to Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts. For the Rockies, this year’s winter is expected to be a “hibernation zone, glacial, snow-filled.” It’s gonna be cold, they say. Yeah, winter in the Rockies can get a bit nippy. We know this. Why do we need to hear it from a farmer? What is the Farmer’s Almanac? The Almanac is the oldest source of consecutively published weather forecasts. The publication uses factors such as sunspots, tidal activity, and planetary positioning combined with mathematical formulas to report their projections. Over the years, the Almanac claims to have an accuracy of 80 percent or more. Historically, the Almanac’s ample lead time allowed farmers to plan upcoming crops. Hence the Farmer’s in the Farmer’s Almanac. However, not everyone trusts the extended weather report, particularly meteorologists. “I think[...]
Deck or Paver Patio? You Can Decide – But You Don’t Have to!
“What’s better, a deck or a paver patio?” It’s a question we get from many prospective clients. You’d be hard-pressed not to favor a deck, especially when folks see how cedar and redwood decks lend rich beauty, design, and value to an underutilized, boring backyard. Plus, once we take the time to describe how DeckTec expertly blends the natural wood beauty of our decks with your home and landscaping, you’ll see that you can never go wrong with a deck in Colorado. However, some are surprised to learn that we have an exceptional team of specialists dedicated to offering DeckTec clients the distinctive beauty of a paver patio. In fact, DeckTec has done more deck-paver combinations than any other company in Colorado. Paver patios are fantastic for ground-level outdoor living areas. They can offer all of the features that a DeckTec deck could – with fewer complexities associated with permits and building off the ground. “Lots of people come to us thinking about building a deck,” says Vince Stover, DeckTec’s Deck and Hardscape Specialist. “When, more[...]
DeckTec Client Review – Hadsell, Evergreen, CO, 2021
One year ago the fantastic crew of Cody, Will, Andy and Tommy were busy building our dream deck. It was a pleasure having this crew here every day. Will usually arrived first and reviewed the previous day’s work. He easily answered any questions that Dave and I had. Cody always knew the general plan and kept the project moving. These guys were always pleasant and positive and it was a joy to work with them. They were awesome dealing with our new puppy, Bogey, who was only 7 months old and a bit of a pest if running loose…we are sure he stole a couple lunches but I never heard a complaint from the ‘victims’. They had to shovel through snow onto the site at least 3-4 times and worked in conditions Dave and I considered horrible…snow, rain, fog and temps below 20 degrees. On several of the sunny days we joined the guys to throw a few horseshoes and enjoy a tasty cold beverage after work was done. Our 25-year-old beat up deck and pergola[...]
Girl Scout Cookie & Beer Pairing
It's that time of year again! Girl Scout Cookie season is in full-swing. Sure, you could stuff that box of Thin Mints in the back of your freezer, but where's the fun in that? Bust that box open and pair it with some beer. Check out our suggestions for pairing these tasty treats with your favorite beers. Thin Mints & Dry Stout (Lefthand Nitro Milk Stout) Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-Si-Dos & Brown Ale (Woods Boss Rock Bar Brown) Shortbread/Trefoils & English Pale Ale/ESB (Hogs Head BOYS Best Bitter) Caramel Delites/Samoas & German-Style Doppelbock (Paulaner Brauerei Salvator)
Going for the Green
Colorado is known for the green. It's all over Denver! You can smell it everywhere! Not to mention, GASP!, the suburbs too! People come from all over to try a bowl. Most people swear by it with a burrito, or the stickiest-ickyest cheese fries. Drool. Some make the mistake of eating too much of it, so they lock themselves in their bathroom for hours. Wait! No! I'm not talking about that! I'm talking about CHILI! Colorado Green Chili! We have high standards when it comes to green chili. So we set out to list some of the best places to load a bowl or roll up in a tortilla. Check out our list and tell us your favorite place to go for the green chili in Colorado. Top Rated Green Chili Sauces in the Denver Area El Taco de Mexico, Santa Fe Art District Efrain’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, Boulder Brewery Bar II, Lincoln Park Taquería El Trompito, Twin Lakes, Southeast Denver Burrito Giant, Berkeley Tamales by La Casita, LoHi The Original Chubby’s, Sunnyside Sam’s No.[...]
Control the Elements to Maximize Your Outdoor Living
Colorado weather is unpredictable. As Coloradoans, we have learned to be dubious of the forecast and adapt to rapidly changing conditions. Colorado weather is part of our identity, a badge of honor, and the reason you keep a winter coat in your car all of the time. The same forethought you have while enjoying golf or biking also applies to your outdoor living. A wide-open deck plan makes for a great place to entertain, but what do deck owners do when the sun starts beating down or that 5 percent chance of showers turns into a downpour? You might not control the weather, but like that jacket in your trunk, you can hedge your bets and be prepared. Along with heaters and fire features, our clients do this by adding custom sunrooms or deck covers. DeckTec Sunrooms According to a national real estate company survey, sunrooms are one of the most desired improvements homeowners would like to make to their homes. Sunrooms offer the opportunity to bring fine outdoor furnishing and plants inside allowing the experience[...]
Hard to Beat Hardscape… but Why Choose?
We’re known for our natural wood decks However, decks aren’t the only way DeckTec creates stunning outdoor living environments. One aspect of our work that has increased in demand is our paver patio designs. For years, DeckTec has done more deck and patio combinations than any other company. Similar to our wood decks, we prefer natural materials for our patios. We believe the authentic stone blocks provide the most elegance and appeal. Additionally, the larger, interlocking stones handle settling and expanding Colorado soil much better than a static patio material. Plus, when substantial shifts occur, we can repair paver patios much more quickly and less costly than pressed concrete. If you have cracks in your driveway, you know what I’m talking about. Combining a deck and patio This is an attractive and cost-effective way of expanding your outdoor living environment. DeckTec professionals understand your needs and can create the ideal addition to your home and lifestyle. If you’re looking to expand your patio, give our team a call. Here are a couple favorites: Contact DeckTec Today[...]
6 Dos and Don’ts to Protect Your Deck This Winter
Photo by Toni Tan on Unsplash A properly sealed deck is your first—and best—defense against Colorado’s extreme winters. We recommend contacting DeckTec ASAP if you feel your deck’s current finish is not up to the task. Here are a few dos and don’ts to ensure your deck thrives this winter and is ready to go next spring. 1. Do Remove Planters and Excess Furniture Avoid unsightly marks and make room for easy shoveling by removing excess furniture from your deck. Be sure to add plastic foot covers to the pieces that remain. Cover your tables and chairs with vinyl covers to keep them in good shape. 2. Don’t Leave Mats and Rugs Useful in the summer, but mats are unwelcome in the winter because they get wet, freeze, and stain your deck. Remove them from the exterior of your door so you can shovel with ease and keep the area clear. 3. Do Shovel Don’t let the snow pile up. Instead, shovel it off as soon as possible to avoid damage to the wood and reduce[...]
Recent Works
