Harry Lee's Landscaping and Concrete Services » Information on Decks http://www.harryleeslandscaping.com Landscaping and Concrete Services Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:02:13 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Best Wood For Decks http://www.harryleeslandscaping.com/best-wood-for-decks/ http://www.harryleeslandscaping.com/best-wood-for-decks/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:07:31 +0000 admin http://www.harryleeslandscaping.com/?p=19 What type of wood is best for decks and porches?

By Jackie Craven, About.com

Will your new deck be an enhancement or an eyesore? The answer depends on the type of decking wood you use. Pressure-treated pine resists rot and repels pests, but the green-tinged lumber is unsightly and the pesticides it contains are unhealthy.

To build a safer, more attractive deck, choose a prettier yet still durable wood for the floors, railings, and steps. Save the pressure-treated wood for the frame and supports.

If you purchase a tropical rainforest wood, make sure it carries the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) trademark, which certifies that the wood has been harvested responsibly.

1. Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar is reddish brown and ages to silvery gray. The soft wood splinters easily, but holds up well in rain, sun, heat, and cold. To add beauty and durability to your cedar deck, use a penetrating stain.

2. Redwood

Like cedar, redwood is a soft lumber that ages to a pleasing gray. Prolonged moisture will cause the wood to blacken. A redwood deck will resist rot, but will look more attractive if you use a sealer.

3. Philippine Mahogany

Philippine mahogany is a tight-grained hardwood that resists pests and rot. Treat it with marine oil and it looks like teak. Or, let your mahogany deck age to a silvery hue. Look for the “FSC” trademark to assure that rainforests have not been harvested irresponsibly.

4. Ipé

Known by the brand names Pau Lope® and Iron Woods®, Ipé is an almost magical South American hardwood. The USDA Forest Service Products Laboratory gives Ipé top marks for bug- and rot-resistance, and the wood is so hard, it’s nearly as difficult to burn as concrete. The use of rain forest woods is controversial, however. If you choose Ipé for your deck, make sure that it has been harvested responsibly.

]]> What type of wood is best for decks and porches?

By Jackie Craven, About.com

Will your new deck be an enhancement or an eyesore? The answer depends on the type of decking wood you use. Pressure-treated pine resists rot and repels pests, but the green-tinged lumber is unsightly and the pesticides it contains are unhealthy.

To build a safer, more attractive deck, choose a prettier yet still durable wood for the floors, railings, and steps. Save the pressure-treated wood for the frame and supports.

If you purchase a tropical rainforest wood, make sure it carries the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) trademark, which certifies that the wood has been harvested responsibly.

1. Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar is reddish brown and ages to silvery gray. The soft wood splinters easily, but holds up well in rain, sun, heat, and cold. To add beauty and durability to your cedar deck, use a penetrating stain.

2. Redwood

Like cedar, redwood is a soft lumber that ages to a pleasing gray. Prolonged moisture will cause the wood to blacken. A redwood deck will resist rot, but will look more attractive if you use a sealer.

3. Philippine Mahogany

Philippine mahogany is a tight-grained hardwood that resists pests and rot. Treat it with marine oil and it looks like teak. Or, let your mahogany deck age to a silvery hue. Look for the “FSC” trademark to assure that rainforests have not been harvested irresponsibly.

4. Ipé

Known by the brand names Pau Lope® and Iron Woods®, Ipé is an almost magical South American hardwood. The USDA Forest Service Products Laboratory gives Ipé top marks for bug- and rot-resistance, and the wood is so hard, it’s nearly as difficult to burn as concrete. The use of rain forest woods is controversial, however. If you choose Ipé for your deck, make sure that it has been harvested responsibly.

]]> http://www.harryleeslandscaping.com/best-wood-for-decks/feed/ 0 How to Hire a Contractor for a Deck Project http://www.harryleeslandscaping.com/how-to-hire-a-contractor-for-a-deck-project/ http://www.harryleeslandscaping.com/how-to-hire-a-contractor-for-a-deck-project/#comments Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:52:19 +0000 admin http://www.harryleeslandscaping.com/?p=13 From Kris Jensen-Van Heste, for About.com

Adding a deck to your home can provide you with a space to socialize, relax and eat with friends and family. But before you can enjoy your dream deck, you’ll need to hire a contractor to build it. This article provides the basics of hiring a contractor.

Before You Hire a Contractor

Unless you want to hire a designer, you’ll need to come up with a reasonable idea of what you want included in your project. Above all, you’ll want to set a budget so you know precisely how much you can afford. Some things you’ll want to consider when planning a deck include:

  • Size: Rough dimensions will clue you in to what’s possible and impossible to include in your deck. It will also give the contractor a clear idea of the scope of the project from the start.
  • Levels: Do you want a single expanse or multiple levels? Are you considering two deck areas connected by a passageway deck or stairs? Will the deck lead down to a pool or garden?
  • Material and finish: Pressure-treated wood used to be the only choice for an outdoor deck, but the wide variety of materials available today gives you enormous latitude in composition as well as appearance. Pressure-treated wood is still a very popular choice, but synthetic decking is becoming increasingly popular. Some are made completely of plastic, while others blend wood fibers with polymer bonding agents.
  • Features: Would you like a fire pit? A water feature? Built-in seating or planting areas? Metal, wood or composite railings? Make a list of what you can and cannot live without in a deck, and work it out with your contractor.

How to Find a Contractor

With the budget and your ideas in place, it’s time to find a contractor. The best way is to ask friends, neighbors and colleagues for recommendations, because a contractor’s reputation among former clients is the best gauge of his work. It’s also a good idea to look at the work a contractor has done for previous clients.

Questions to ask former clients include:

  • Did your contractor finish the job within the budget? If not, what caused the overage?
  • Were you informed of the costs as they came up?
  • How did the contractor handle setbacks or glitches?
  • Was he or she easy to work with?
  • What was the contractor’s crew like? Were they respectful? Did they clean up after themselves each day?
  • If plans changed while the work was in progress, were the changes accommodated, or was the contractor inflexible?
  • Would you hire that contractor again?

Another good way to find a contractor is by using the website of a reputable professional organization, such as the National Association of Homebuilders.

What to Ask a Contractor

  • How many deck projects have you built?
  • Who will handle any required permits?
  • Who will contact the public utilities and have underground lines marked?
  • May I visit a site you’re currently working on?
  • How early and late in the day will workers be here?
  • What would the payment schedule be like?
  • What type of insurance do you carry?

Getting an Estimate from a Contractor

Estimates should be given to you in writing and include these essentials:

  • The work to be done in detail, including a rendering of the project
  • The specific materials to be used and quantities of each
  • A time frame for the work to be completed
  • A firm price

Give the same information to each contractor so the comparisons are fair, and when you’ve narrowed it down to one or two, check references thoroughly. Ask homeowners on the reference list if you could visit and see the work that was done.

Things to Watch Out For

Don’t hire the contractor if he/she:

  • Requires cash only or pressures you for an immediate commitment
  • Doesn’t have or can’t provide proof of insurance and applicable licensing
  • Requires you to get the necessary permits
]]> From Kris Jensen-Van Heste, for About.com

Adding a deck to your home can provide you with a space to socialize, relax and eat with friends and family. But before you can enjoy your dream deck, you’ll need to hire a contractor to build it. This article provides the basics of hiring a contractor.

Before You Hire a Contractor

Unless you want to hire a designer, you’ll need to come up with a reasonable idea of what you want included in your project. Above all, you’ll want to set a budget so you know precisely how much you can afford. Some things you’ll want to consider when planning a deck include:

  • Size: Rough dimensions will clue you in to what’s possible and impossible to include in your deck. It will also give the contractor a clear idea of the scope of the project from the start.
  • Levels: Do you want a single expanse or multiple levels? Are you considering two deck areas connected by a passageway deck or stairs? Will the deck lead down to a pool or garden?
  • Material and finish: Pressure-treated wood used to be the only choice for an outdoor deck, but the wide variety of materials available today gives you enormous latitude in composition as well as appearance. Pressure-treated wood is still a very popular choice, but synthetic decking is becoming increasingly popular. Some are made completely of plastic, while others blend wood fibers with polymer bonding agents.
  • Features: Would you like a fire pit? A water feature? Built-in seating or planting areas? Metal, wood or composite railings? Make a list of what you can and cannot live without in a deck, and work it out with your contractor.

How to Find a Contractor

With the budget and your ideas in place, it’s time to find a contractor. The best way is to ask friends, neighbors and colleagues for recommendations, because a contractor’s reputation among former clients is the best gauge of his work. It’s also a good idea to look at the work a contractor has done for previous clients.

Questions to ask former clients include:

  • Did your contractor finish the job within the budget? If not, what caused the overage?
  • Were you informed of the costs as they came up?
  • How did the contractor handle setbacks or glitches?
  • Was he or she easy to work with?
  • What was the contractor’s crew like? Were they respectful? Did they clean up after themselves each day?
  • If plans changed while the work was in progress, were the changes accommodated, or was the contractor inflexible?
  • Would you hire that contractor again?

Another good way to find a contractor is by using the website of a reputable professional organization, such as the National Association of Homebuilders.

What to Ask a Contractor

  • How many deck projects have you built?
  • Who will handle any required permits?
  • Who will contact the public utilities and have underground lines marked?
  • May I visit a site you’re currently working on?
  • How early and late in the day will workers be here?
  • What would the payment schedule be like?
  • What type of insurance do you carry?

Getting an Estimate from a Contractor

Estimates should be given to you in writing and include these essentials:

  • The work to be done in detail, including a rendering of the project
  • The specific materials to be used and quantities of each
  • A time frame for the work to be completed
  • A firm price

Give the same information to each contractor so the comparisons are fair, and when you’ve narrowed it down to one or two, check references thoroughly. Ask homeowners on the reference list if you could visit and see the work that was done.

Things to Watch Out For

Don’t hire the contractor if he/she:

  • Requires cash only or pressures you for an immediate commitment
  • Doesn’t have or can’t provide proof of insurance and applicable licensing
  • Requires you to get the necessary permits
]]> http://www.harryleeslandscaping.com/how-to-hire-a-contractor-for-a-deck-project/feed/ 0