Forever Living with California Redwoods
As a member of the DeckTec community you have, no doubt, heard about our love affair with California redwood. This wood is strong, long-lasting, bug and disease resistant, and one of the finest building products ever discovered. And chances are if you have a DeckTec deck, you have it right under foot. But is redwood's existence going to be there when I need a new deck? We don't tend to talk in terms of the wood's natural state, unless there is something in the news that might affect either the quality or the price of the great wood we use. Lately, the drought in California has been frequently mentioned on television and in magazine articles, so we thought we'd check in with the California Redwood Company (a subsidiary to the Green Diamond Resource Company) to see if there is cause for concern. Gary Rynearson, Manager of Forest Policy and Communications, from the California Redwood Company said not to worry. "While the El Ninos and La Ninas lead to fluctuations in precipitation, redwood endures. In fact it's[...]
Mule Deer, Icons of the West in Decline?
For many people, one of the great attractions to Colorado is our abundance and wide array of beautiful wildlife. Some of us with homes in the foothills have the added advantage of being able to watch that wildlife from the comfort of our backyard decks. And this time of year is a great time to get out the binoculars for a glimpse at the magnificent wild mule deer. What is a mule deer? There are two main species of deer in our region—the whitetail and the mule deer. Both animals weigh between 130 and 280 pounds, support large antlers or "racks," and are seen in abundance throughout the year. The whitetail tends to be found more on the eastern plains of our state, while the mule deer or "muley" is scattered throughout Colorado and the entire west. The big visual differences between the two species are in the tails and the ears. Hunters are encouraged to identify the deer by their tails. The mule deer has a rope-like white tail with a black tip and large[...]
Keeping Cats Indoors
Once, at a local veterinarian, I saw a cartoon that read, "When you call a dog, he comes right to you for a treat… But when you call a cat, he'll take a memo." You have to love these independent, self-content creatures that wander in and out of our lives and who allow us meager humans to service their needs. But should you keep your cat indoors for 100% of its life? Shouldn't Fluffy enjoy the exercise and fresh air of a life outdoors? Isn't it inhumane to curtail such independent tendencies and hunting instincts? This is a topic that sparks debate at any time, and at every cocktail party. We love our pets and want what's best for them, yet our neighbors don't necessarily appreciate our intentions nor the "presents" of dead birds, mice, or poo left in their yards. Beyond the impact on neighbors and friends, there are also other serious considerations for keeping your cat indoors: Cats live longer when kept indoors – According to an article by WebMD, "Cats who are kept[...]
Fall is Time to Play in the Dirt
The first cold of the autumn hit recently, and with it comes the desire to pack everything into the garage and snuggle up under your nearest blanket. But for gardeners everywhere, this change in weather is all part of the rhythm of life. There is still plenty of work to do at this time, and plenty to enjoy about being outside. Right now is a great time to be thinking about next spring. We gardeners can run to our garden shops and catalogs and picture great color for when the last of the snows melt away, even if we haven't experienced the first touch of winter yet. Now is a great time to amend the soil for next year's gardens. Betsy Kelson, staff horticulturalist with Jared's Nursery spent a little time with us to review this past summer's challenges and getting the ground ready for next spring. "The problem this year," said Betsy, "is that there's been so much moisture and so much disease as a result. All the lovely greens from your squash and pumpkin[...]
Enjoying the Change of Seasons
Most of the time, we like to think of the art of outdoor living as having something to do with enjoying your backyard and the deck you may have had built there. But the great outdoors can encompass so much more. Take, for example, the wonderful colorful display Coloradans enjoy each fall. This year, sometime between September 15th and the end of October, we will have a chance to see Mother Nature in all her glory as the trees of our state first burn with incredible color before dropping off for a well-earned winter's nap. Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn't keep time the way we humans do, so you need to be prepared to jump into your car on your own chosen weekend and drive to locations throughout our area to truly enjoy the spectacle of the season. Wave Dreher, a spokesperson for AAA Colorado said, "These autumn drives are a very popular activity. There are wonderful routes in any part of Colorado, depending upon where you start." She said that many great Aspen views could be[...]
DeckTec’s Second “Season”
It's hard to imagine that the wonderful summer weather we've been experiencing will soon come to an end. This year, particularly, homeowners have been grateful for drought relief with plenty of rain and cooler temperatures than the last few summers have shown. So, as surely as the seasons change in Colorado, it's time to enjoy that one last fling of Labor day, then return kids to school and make summer vacations a fond memory away. With this in mind, it may be tempting to think that all the outdoor fun is over. But at DeckTec, we celebrate this time of year, because it marks the beginning of our "second season"—a deck building and maintenance time that runs from September through the end of the year. We're committed to being a part of your community all year round, and have the construction and maintenance teams ready for your new dreams and visions of the great outdoors in your back yard. Our second season is here to help with that vision. Now is an exciting time to be[...]
Barbeque and a Blast
As the summer season starts to wind down, the team at DeckTec is proud to say that we've been responsible for building 65 new decks in the Denver metropolitan area this year. For those who are new clients, welcome to the DeckTec family. Meanwhile, whether yours is a new or well-used deck, isn't it time to celebrate with a barbeque on your deck? Gather friends and neighbors, colleagues or family and have a wonderful time together. We talked to some entertainment experts in the area to help you get started with these great tips: Invitations Looking for a way to get the buzz going about your party? Why not start with a creative invitation? Chris Gravely, a manager at our local Michael's arts and crafts store had lots of ideas. He said you could do something as simple as an email blast or an Internet invitation, but if you want that personal touch there are lots of ways to make a great invitation for friends. "There are so many options," said Chris, "that you can make[...]
Harvest Abundance? Give It Away!
Have you ever been hungry, really hungry? Have you ever wondered where your next meal might come from or if it will come at all? According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture, one in seven people in Colorado are food insecure. "Food insecure simply means that people are not sure where their next meal is coming from," said Jodi Torpey, a member of Garden Writers Association and volunteer coordinator for Colorado's Plant a Row for Hunger organization. "They're not sure about tomorrow or next week. Even if they are working, minimum wages aren't enough to ensure they'll eat." Carol Ledbetter, the Program Administrator for Plant A Row's national effort concurs. "It isn't just derelicts that are going without food," she said. "It's also a lot of people working two jobs, or who can't find a job while they're taking care of their kids. We have to keep in mind that hunger statistics are often much greater in your own community than you might think." These two experts in gardening, writing, and helping[...]
Mist Away the Heat this Summer
Everyone knows that a nice summer shower helps cool the earth and makes you feel much better. But when the summer showers can't be depended on to bring relief, smart homeowners make their own, and one of the best ways to do this is with a Do-It-Yourself patio mister kit. A mister placed in the beams of your pergola or roof cover to your patio can cool that area by as much as twenty-five degrees and leave you comfortable on the hottest of summer days. Just ask Bob Loshbough of Lowe's Hardware in Littleton. Bob is a manager in the garden center there, but before that lived in the dry heat of Tuscon, Arizona. "I grew up in Chicago and never saw misters," said Bob. "But that's no wonder. It's too humid there for a mister to do any good. Here in the west, you can see them in homes and restaurants, all over." He said that misters generally work the same as swamp coolers do, by creating droplets of water in the air that are[...]
A Snake In The Grass May Not Be A Bad Thing
Even the words we use to describe one of nature's most misunderstood animals are enough to give you the creeps—slithery, slimy, sneaky, and poisonous—snakes! And summertime in Colorado is when you're likely to have a snake encounter. Eew! But wait a minute. Are snakes truly as bad as their reputation would have you believe? Recently, we talked with Victoria Sutton, Park Interpreter at the South Platte Park Carson Nature Center in Littleton, and learned more about the nature of snakes in our area. "I love snakes," said Victoria. Originally from Arizona, a state that boasts 14 species of these reptiles, Victoria learned early on that snakes are an important part of our ecosystem. "They're critical in the environment when it comes to things like population control for rodents and other small vermin. They not only hunt them, but they use their rattles to scare away rodents too." In Colorado we have about 23 species of snakes, but most people will only see a few in their day-to-day living. Snakes are, by nature, rather shy creatures and[...]
Recent Works
