Making a Splash Since 1990
In 1991 I was an upstart deck designer, determined to create a new type of deck, not the boring, square platforms that were ubiquitous along the growing Front Range, but a customized and personal outdoor environment. My designs would incorporate multiple levels and different living areas to relax and entertain. They would blend the beauty of landscaping as much as providing a seamless outdoor continuation of the home. Above all, DeckTec decks would redefine outdoor living in Colorado. There was just one problem: no clients. With no clients to vouch for me, convincing homeowners to trust a drastically new way of thinking about their backyards would be challenging. I needed an “in” and I found it with spa companies. It’s true! I made my very first sales by partnering with sellers of hot tubs. These folks knew their clients wanted a private place to relax and entertain. They could provide a spa to soothe sore muscles, but who can relax when you feel exposed to the wind and prying eyes of the neighbors? At the end [...]
5 Design Elements to Create Your Own Epic Spa Environment
Integrating a hot tup or spa into your landscape creates a spa environment, multiplying the time in and around the spa. You relax and feel more secure with more privacy without sacrificing – or perhaps even improving - the view from the tub. And entertaining no longer requires shivering in the wind. Your guests can enjoy themselves with or without hopping in. No matter what you use your spa for, you owe it to yourself to create an environment that takes advantage of all its benefits. So the next time you’re soaking up your spa life (Or thinking about adding a spa to you outdoor living), consider these elements to enhance your lifestyle and spa enjoyment. 1. Privacy You got the spa to relax, not entertain your neighbors. Positioning the spa in the optimum location and adding custom, semi-solid privacy screens can eliminate prying eyes. 2. Safety Increase ease of access to your tub. You don’t want to feel like you’re climbing onto a horse when you’re getting in and out of the hot tub, especially [...]
Deck The Deck: DeckTec’s Epic Outdoor Living Gift Guide
We may be bias, but there’s nothing better gift to give or receive than the gift of Outdoor Living. Best of all, Outdoor Living is a gift that gets better when its shared. We humbly present our 2022 installment. We aren’t affiliate marketing savvy, so we’re not get kickbacks for pushing any of this. We just think they’ll make your Outdoor Living a little more cheery. Outdoor Heating Gas outdoor fireplaces are beautiful additions to the outdoor living room. By adding the charm of an outdoor fireplace, you create a warm and inviting focal point for any room or deck! https://decktec.com/our-services/amenities/outdoor-heating Homecrest Outdoor Living Natural Series Fire Tables This is the perfect top for achieving a modern, industrial look. Our Concrete tops are a part of our Natural Series collection, which brings a sophisticated organic design element to outdoor spaces utilizing the latest in composite technology. Fire table features: Powerful, up to 65,000 BTU burner Removable security key valve Natural gas and liquid propane compatible Hidden LP tank mount ¾ in. aluminum fire burner riser Fire [...]
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. [...]