Ann & Paul Sims: Windsor’s Winter Wonder Deck
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 we saw how well the roof worked, we brought DeckTec back to build our outdoor kitchen and install our heater, which was project #2.” When the[...]
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Garden & Home Show!
Did you know that the Colorado Garden & Home Show, all 400,000 square feet of it, is the largest and most prestigious home and garden show west of the Mississippi? More than 600 companies from 25 states and Canada are showcasing cutting-edge technologies in landscaping, gardening, energy-efficient heating and cooling, window treatments, flooring, lighting, fireplaces, patio furniture and fun stuff like greenhouses, sound systems, decks and hot tubs. This year’s show includes 11 inspiring landscaped gardens. It’s the place to go to get out of the cold or if you’ve got cabin fever. More than 50 free educational seminars and how-to demos offer something for everyone. If you’re a flower lover, Wednesday, February 13 is the annual flower sale with proceeds benefiting the Arvada Rotary. This one-stop garden and home improvement marketplace is obviously not-to-be-missed. No matter how big or small your home-related concerns, you’ll find options and answers from a host of vendors. With free tickets provided by DeckTec, there’s simply no excuse not to share in the fun. What have you got to lose?[...]
Come One, Come All See You At The Show
How time flies. I can’t believe this is DeckTec’s 29th year of participation in the Colorado Garden & Home Show down at the Colorado Convention Center. You’d think we’d get tired of this massive production and all the hard work exhibiting entails – assembling, staffing and disassembling our massive 20 x 20 display. Take a year off? Unthinkable! This magnificent home show is totally worth the effort. It’s an unsurpassed opportunity for connecting with wonderful clients such as yourself, with free tickets for all, including your friends and family, courtesy of DeckTec. The more the merrier! We love catching up with you and hearing how things are going “on deck” as well as in the rest of your life. If you have feedback or suggestions for us, we hope you’ll share those. The show really helps us to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to what our clients are wanting and needing in their outdoor living. And if you’re looking for something a little different this Valentine’s Day, bring your special someone down to[...]
The Winter Bird Blurb
We’re back for an update on winter birds with our favorite birding expert, Scott Menough, co-owner with his wife, Sandy, of Wild Birds Unlimited in Lakewood since 1989. Scott is the host of BirdTalk radio on Saturdays from noon to 1 p.m. on 710 KNUS and 1690 KDMT, and also hosts a podcast at www.BirdTalkGuys.com. An Abundance of Winter Birds We’re fortunate to have lots of birds that stay with us here all winter, Scott said, although of course not all of them will stick around. Birds that only rely on insects, such as hummingbirds, swallows and flycatchers, head south for warmer weather, while still other birds head down here from the north. (Everything is relative!) Fish-eating birds, for instance, such as ducks and herons come in search of open water and stay until it freezes over. Winter birds need high-protein, high-fat foods. Fat helps them stay warm and keep their energy up. Chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, bushtits and other insect-eating birds that stay year-round rely more heavily on fat-rich seeds in the winter. Finches and some[...]
Vehicle Winterization and Safer-Driving Tips
When it comes to winter driving, an ounce of prevention and preparation, as they say, is truly worth a pound of cure. It’s no fun getting stranded in below-zero temps or a blizzard, and the best way to handle a fender bender is to avoid one. Use this checklist now to keep you and your family safe on the road during this frigid season. Safer-Driving Tips for Winter Always give yourself extra time to get where you’re going. This is not the time to rush. Drive slowly and carefully and be extra aware of your surroundings. Safety really does come first. DO NOT TEXT while driving in winter conditions. If you must make a call, find a safe spot to pull over and stop driving before you pick up that phone. Stopping distances are much, much longer on snow and ice. Give yourself extra room and time to be able to stop safely. Allow ample room between you and the vehicle in front of you. It might seem counterintuitive, but steer into a skid. Once you[...]
A Season of Gratitude
It’s that time of year again, when we collectively pause and take a moment from our busy lives to reflect on the many things we have to be grateful for. No matter the ups and downs of our lives – and we all have some – there’s always so much to appreciate if we just look. We’re blessed to live in an unusually beautiful place full of cultural and recreational riches. The economy is strong and has allowed DeckTec to grow and even expand. (And, if you’re anything like me, you’re probably grateful that the elections are over!) It’s hard for me to believe that 30 years have passed since I founded DeckTec. I was just a spry pup when I started this thing! I still feel young at heart, but the reality is that I’ve grown older and hopefully a bit wiser. With the holidays, I find myself reflecting on the past and I've come to realize that they have taken on a different meaning to me. My children have grown and now I'm a[...]
Deck Worthy Dinners: Beer-Brined Turkey with Onion Gravy & Bacon
Ingredients ¼ c. yellow mustard seeds 2 tbsp. black peppercorns 8 bay leaves 1 c. dark brown sugar 1 c. kosher salt 2 onions, cut into thick wedges 1 lb. bacon slab, skin removed, sliced 1/3-in. thick six 12-oz. bottles Guinness stout one 12-14 lb. turkey 1 c. turkey stock or chicken broth 1 tbsp. unsalted butter 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour Directions In very large pot, combine mustard seeds, peppercorns and bay leaves. Toast on moderate heat until fragrant, about 2 mins. Add brown sugar and salt, remove from heat. Add 4 cups water, stir until sugar and salt dissolve. Let cool completely. Add onions, bacon, Guinness and 16 cups cold water to pot. Add turkey to brine, breast side down, keep submerged with heavy lid. Cover and refrigerate 24 hours. Preheat oven to 350°, put rack on bottom shelf. Lift turkey from brine, pick off spices, pat dry. Transfer to large roasting pan breast side up. Scatter onion wedges, add 1 cup water. Secure bacon with toothpicks on turkey breast. Roast about 2 hours, turning[...]
That Golden Glow: November 30th Candlelight Walk
A not-to-be-missed event! Catch that true Golden Glow and walk off that big Thanksgiving meal at this year’s Candlelight Walk in charming and historic Old Town Golden, Friday evening November 30. Kick off the 2018 holiday season with thousands of joyful others on a walk down Golden’s main street, Washington Avenue, lit only by candles. If you haven’t gone before, you’re in for a real treat. Folks gather at 6 p.m. outside the Foothills Art Center, 809 15th Street, and start walking at 6:30 p.m. to the Visitors Center at 1010 Washington Avenue for a holiday show and short fireworks display above the roof of the historic Golden Hotel. This annual event has something for the whole family. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand for kids’ photos from 3-5:30 p.m. at The Dove Inn, 711 14th Street. After that take the kiddos in hand and walk over to the Golden Library at 1019 10th Street for cookies, cider and children’s crafts from 5:30-8 p.m. And for the grown-ups, the Golden History Museum at 923[...]
Off the Beaten Path: Cortez
About seven hours from Denver, but just 46 miles from Durango is Cortez, population 9,007 (and, yes, they’re counting!) Cortez has a quaint Main Street with brew pubs and coffee shops and goes to show that good things are found near small packages, at least when it comes to mountain biking. This little town (believe it or not, they call it the “City of Cortez”) is home to the 26.8 mile Phil’s World Mountain Bike Trail system. Phil’s World offers views of the Sleeping Ute, La Plata and Mesa Verde mountains and is ranked #2 for best mountain biking in Colorado and 10th for “all-time best rides” by the MTB Project and the International Mountain Biking Association – now that’s something to pop a wheel about. What else do you expect from trails built for and by mountain bikers and maintained by the Kokopelli Bike Club? Phil’s World parking lot is located at 9450 Road 30.1 and fills up fast, so get there early. Head west and just 10 miles from Cortez you’ll find the 176,000-acre[...]
Eric Veronesi: DeckTec’s Mission Control
Little known to clients these days, Eric Veronesi, head of DeckTec’s estimating and design department, is actually the company’s “mission control” man behind the scenes. A mechanical engineer by training and a former painter and home improvement specialist, Veronesi started off in sales at DeckTec in 2010. His current position makes perfect use of his broad-based background and widely-known addiction to perfection. Whether he’s determining the best approach for constructing a complicated deck or pitching in with a final copy edit on the newsletter, one golden thread runs through everything Veronesi lays his hands on – getting it done right. With his impeccable standards and unwavering commitment to excellence, Veronesi has found a professional home for himself and his talents at DeckTec. He answered an ad for a salesperson, was immediately impressed with the company, and hasn’t looked back since. “I have pretty high attention to detail with the construction work I’ve done. It was clear that DeckTec, just from looking at pics of the decks the company’s built over the years, had very high-quality standards.[...]
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