When you invest a lot of time and money into a beautiful, custom outdoor living space, you want to know it’s going to last a long time.
Unfortunately, the elements that Mother Nature throws at us here in Colorado are more than some decks can handle. From 300 days of bright sunshine a year to deep winter snowfall and early summer hailstorms, there are a lot of natural elements for your outdoor living space to contend with.
But not all decks are created equal. With expert know-how, preventative maintenance, and the right time-tested materials and design, you can build a deck that will last a lifetime.
Here are 5 ways you can ensure your next deck project will stay with you for decades.
1. Go with Real Natural Wood, Not Composite or Imitations
Composite decking seems attractive on paper with claims of maintenance-free living, but it falls short of the superiority of real wood in many ways. Quality materials don’t undergo so many product changes and suffer poor customer reviews year after year.
Composite decking warps, chips, cracks, degrades, swells, stains, and molds. We’ve seen deck after deck made with composite materials that fall victim to degradation and non-repairable damage in as little as 5 to 10 years. Look closely at the warranties, and you’ll realize that composite is only maintenance free if you choose not to maintain it.
That’s way too short of a lifetime, especially when you consider how much composite decks cost.
That’s why DeckTec relies exclusively on quality, insect and decay resistant softwoods such as Redwood and Cedar and hardwoods like Mahogany and Ipe when creating our custom decks. There’s simply no substitute for the way wood enhances an appealing and stylish sense of home.
Wood offers a solid, authentic, and rich feel, with subtle earth tones and natural markings that make each piece as unique as each of our customers. Nothing manufactured or mass-produced can possibly compare with what nature has provided.
Real wood beats out composite in just about every category: It’s longer-lasting in Colorado weather, naturally resistant to insects, and way easier to repair and refinish if there is a problem, plus it just lasts longer.
Did we mention it’s got a higher ROI than a composite deck? That makes it a sound investment for your peace of mind and your bank account.
2. Put a Roof on It
Recent years have brought increased sophistication to outdoor living, with the outdoor “room” now rivaling the finest interiors in terms of design, furnishings, and material quality. And what makes an outdoor room? A beautiful, vaulted deck or patio roof addition!
A roof protects your deck by decreasing the amount of sunshine it’s exposed to, as well as minimizing exposure to rain, hail, and snow.
Today’s homeowners want their outdoor environment to reflect their particular taste, values and lifestyle – it’s not just any deck, it’s “our” deck.
And with the growing emphasis on environmental sustainability, we’re witnessing a welcome return to the rich beauty of natural materials such as wood and stone, as reflected in the design and construction of today’s quality homes.
Outdoor living spaces have become an extension of the indoors in terms of personal aesthetic expression, attention to detail, culinary and entertainment amenities, and greater year-round use.
You could say that today’s outdoor room is not just one room, but many: an outdoor kitchen, dining room, family room, recreation room – whatever your family wants it to be!
With a custom roof addition, you can transform your outdoor living space into an outdoor room that can be enjoyed nearly year-round. Not only does it protect your deck, it makes your deck more beautiful, more usable, and more valuable should you decide to sell down the road.
3. Be Careful with the Shovel
If you don’t have a roof on your deck, you may find yourself staring out at a foot of snow covering it after a heavy winter storm. You might be tempted to shovel that snow off your deck.
But assuming your deck is of a quality build and weather-sealed, it doesn’t hurt to leave the snow in place. The snow won’t harm your deck, but shoveling it could if you’re not cautious.
If you must clear the snow and ice, be careful with how you do so. You should never use a metal-edged shovel, which can catch on the wood and scratch it.
Opt for a plastic shovel or a metal one with a rubber edge, and shovel parallel with the boards so you don’t catch the side of one and crack or chip it. Better yet, use a broom to sweep the snow off if possible!
4. Keep Calm and Maintain
Between Colorado’s hot, sunny summers and dry, snowy winters, regularly refinishing your deck is an important preventative measure to keep it looking great and minimizing the chance of long-term damage.
DeckTec’s refinishing pros will save you the time and hassle of doing it yourself while maintaining the value and beauty of your deck.
We offer our premium clients a set-it-and-forget subscription service called Fresh Deck that will keep your deck looking its best year-round. It’s just like a landscaping or pool and spa service, but for your deck.
DeckTec’s Fresh Deck service includes:
- 3 seasonal inspections per year
- Rapid checks after extreme weather events like hailstorms
- Priority scheduling and rescheduling
- Twice-yearly deck cleaning and finishing — we’ll even take care of moving and cleaning your outdoor furniture!
- And more!
Learn more about Fresh Deck here »
5. Repair, Repair, Repair!
Have you let your deck’s maintenance fall by the wayside? Don’t fret — with a little TLC from our deck restoration and repair crew, we’ll have your deck looking like new in no time.
DeckTec is the recognized experts in deck repair and restoration here in Colorado. Our proven techniques will upgrade the beauty of your deck and home exterior.
The best way to maximize your investment is to combine refinishing with repairs and restoration. This will ensure that your deck stays structurally sound while looking incredible.
DeckTec is Your One-Stop Source for Outdoor Living Additions
When you work with a DeckTec specialist on your Colorado custom deck, you get a professionally-designed outdoor living space that can withstand the weather and provide you and your family with decades of entertainment and relaxation.
Our own Denver deck builders will work to craft a custom design that integrates beautifully with your home and landscape and fits in all the features that will make it a one-of-a-kind outdoor living space. It won’t be a plain, generic deck — it’ll be your deck.
Whether you want to build a new wood deck from scratch, upgrade your existing one with a roof addition or paver patio extension, or just need some restoration work to whip it into shape for the summer, we’re ready when you are.
It all starts with a free consultation. Contact us now »
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