ChoiceDek Blog - Plan Your Deck

6 Reasons Why DIY Composite Decking is Easier Than You Think

sales@choicedek.com — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 04:43:00 -0700

When it comes to building a composite deck, many people believe their only option is to hire a professional deck builder. This is not true! While a DIY composite deck may initially seem intimidating, thanks to advances in composite decking products it is now easier than ever to build your own deck. Here are 6 reasons why DIY composite decking is easier to use than you might think.

#1 - Easy to Buy

You might believe you need to buy composite deck boards from a special dealer, or directly from the manufacturer. This is simply not the case. Composite decking has become widely available at many large home improvement stores. For example, ChoiceDek is conveniently available at any Lowe's home improvement store.

#2 - Easy to Follow Guidelines

Manufacturers often provide easy-to-understand installation instructions so you can ensure you don’t void the product warranty during construction. ChoiceDek’s DIY deck installation guide helps homeowners each step of the way through the deck building process.

#3 - No Special Tools Required

A great thing about building a DIY deck with composite deck boards is you can use all the same tools you normally would use for a wood deck. All you need is a hammer, screw gun, circular saw, level, tape measure, and blue chalk line.

#4 – Just like Wood, but Better

If you are used to working with wood, you already know how to work with most composites. You can rip, route, mill, drill, and bend most composite boards with ease. So for all practical purposes composites can be worked just like wood, but offer greater flexibility and durability.

#5 - Install it Anywhere

One of the best aspects of a DIY composite deck, is the fact that you can install it wherever you want, with virtually no restrictions from the product. Certain decking materials, like ChoiceDek, can be installed on the ground, in the ground, or even underwater. On top of that, ChoiceDek is covered by a limited lifetime warranty, so the only thing you have to worry about is enjoying your new deck.

#6 – Easy to Maintain

Once you have completed your DIY deck project the next step will be caring for and maintaining your new installation. Thankfully, composite decking requires minimal care and cleaning. All it takes is a simple periodic cleaning with soap, hot water and soft bristle brush. No painting, sealing, or staining required. Visit ChoiceDek's care and cleaning guide to see just how easy it is to maintain a composite deck.

5 Reasons Why Fall is One of the Best Times to Build a Deck

sales@choicedek.com — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 01:42:00 -0700

When most people think of fall, they envision the leaves changing color, crisp air and some variation of their favorite pie. Kids return to school, football season starts and many of us are back at work looking a little less pale than normal.

Often, the changes fall brings represent a new beginning—maybe even more so than New Year’s Day. If this back-to-business, get-it-done mood invigorates you to take on fresh projects, it might be time to start building that deck you’ve been dreaming about adding. Home improvement centers sell spring and summer as the best time to work on outdoor living projects, but beginning a deck project in the fall has advantages for both the deck and deck owner. Here are five reasons why these underrated months are actually one of the best times to build your open-air space.

1. Be Motivated for More

Starting off the “new season” with a deck project might be exactly what you need to trigger the domino effect on your to-do list. A feeling of accomplishment can be a powerful motivator for future success. Psychologists, like Neil Farber in Psychology Today, state that a project needs to be big enough to invoke pride for a job well done, but not too large. A deck project strikes this balance. A little sweat equity or help from the skilled hands of a contractor is all you’ll need to create a stylish outdoor space. Once complete, it can serve as a catalyst for larger home improvement projects, ensuring your yard will be ready for warm-weather fun come spring.

2. A Time to Reevaluate and Refresh

With images of lazy days relaxing in the backyard still fresh in your mind, fall is the perfect time to reflect on your outdoor space and plan for the future. Is your current deck giving you splinters? Are fading deck boards becoming an eyesore? Maybe it is weak in areas or growing mildew.

Having an outdoor space that can weather the test of time and backyard barbeques is important. If your deck is on its last leg, or just isn’t the quality it once was, use your fresh summer insight to evaluate how you can best upgrade your deck. If you’re building a new deck, think about how you use your outdoor living space to create a design that fits your family’s lifestyle and backyard parameters.

3. Get the Best of the Best

During the spring and summer—when deck building season is at its peak—you risk long hours on hold and frustrating project delays. Why wait if you don’t have to? Get the best people to do the job, on time, and with the product you’ve been dreaming of. Fall is the start of the off-season for the decking industry. You can often get ahead of the deck crowd and hire the most popular contractors at a reasonable rate.

4. Milder Mother Nature

Compared to other seasons, fall is the most kind in its transition. Trees sleepily drop their leaves, the sun begins to set earlier and the weather slowly but surely gets colder. This temperate weather not only reduces the construction impacts on your land, allowing nearby plants to bounce back to full health sooner, but it also improves working conditions. Whether you’re DIYing a new deck or hiring a contractor, fall’s cooler weather will make it easier to build your dream deck.

5. Extend your Outdoor Time

One popular fall trend is to create cozy outdoor spaces. With decks becoming an extension of the living room, you can use this overlooked time to create an outdoor space that spans multiple seasons. Not only are you broadening the scope of your home, but you’re also getting the most use out of your product. Composite decks, specifically ChoiceDek, work especially well for the harsher weather that accompanies winter and spring. The boards are extremely durable, water-resistant and splinter free. Pair your new deck with outdoor heaters and a string of lights, and you’ll have a setting that is just begging for hot cocoa and good company.

8 Deck Do's For Your Backyard Upgrade

sales@choicedek.com — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 01:44:00 -0700

Don’t let a drab, dated or decaying deck stifle your dreams of open-air retreat in your own backyard. All you need to transform your outdoor living space into a backyard getaway is a little inspiration. Get started with these 8 creative deck do’s.

Bring the indoors out – there aren’t many places more relaxing than a cozy outdoor living space. Use lighting, color, texture and the separation of spaces to finish your deck the same way you would the interior of your home. It’ll be your favorite “room” in the house in no time.
Add a pretty pergola – if you live in a warm climate, consider blocking the sun with a practical yet beautiful pergola. You can customize this unique structure to fit the style of your deck, and use it to define your outdoor living space without restricting views.
Screen your deck in style – To deck out your shade structure, weave breezy fabric overhead or drape sheer panels around a lighting fixture or pergola. This low-cost solution is a great way to provide relief from direct sunlight while transforming your deck into a restful spa-like retreat.
Throw a curve – you can also incorporate deck elements of different shapes and sizes into your backyard living space to ramp up its style. Use soft curves to contrast the traditional rectangular shape of a platform deck, enclose a hot tub or accent a landscape.
Create a garden retreat – Go one step further and use today’s versatile decking products to turn your deck into an extension of your garden. Materials like ChoiceDek composite decking allow you to rip, route and bend your way around existing landscape features. With better workability than wood, these boards can be curved around trees or flower beds to seamlessly blend your deck into its natural surroundings.
Add beautiful water features – For a more soothing outdoor experience, add a peaceful water feature or fountain on or near your deck. It will help block out unwanted noise and bring serenity to your open-air retreat.
Customize your getaway with railings – With your deck designs in place, add a touch of individuality with railings. Whether you prefer the clean lines of aluminum railing or a more traditional matched look, there are a number of products you can use to spruce up your getaway. Look for railing options that are sold in kits to make installation easier.
Cast a magical evening glow – finally, make sure your deck-escape is as charming in the nighttime as it is during the day. From simple post lights to strip lights hidden under a handrail, you can light up the deck of your dreams in style.