Deck Builders • Deck Contractors • Porch Builders

Q. What decking and railing materials do you offer?
 

• We offer a variety of both wood and low-mx materials. For low-mx materials, we normally offer either AZEK decking or Evergrain decking, with a choice of either vinyl, aluminum, or composite railing. If you prefer wood, we offer pressure-treated wood, cedar, and exotic hardwoods. However, there are many decking materials on the market today. If you have a preference for something else, please let us know. (PLEASE NOTE that no matter if you choose low-mx or wood, the substructure will always be made from treated lumber.) For more about our materials, download our pdf brochure titled “Choosing Materials for your Deck."

Q. Why would someone prefer wood? Are there any advantages to a wood deck?
 

• With wood, you generally know what you’re getting. They’ve been around for thousands of years, and we have a very good idea how wood performs. For example, hardwoods such as Ipe and Cumaru have been known to last beautifully for over 40 years after installation.
• Wood also has a natural beauty not found in low-mx materials. It doesn’t have the “plasticy” look that you sometime see in composite and PVC decking.

Q. Won’t a low-mx deck keep its appearance for 40 years?
 

• It won’t look like it did when it was originally installed. As for how much of a difference there will be, in all reality, it’s hard to say. The technology for low-mx decking has advanced in the last twenty-five years, but the accelerated testing done on today’s products can only tell us so much. Sunlight is powerful, and the effects of sunlight can be hard to predict.

Q. I’d like a low-mx deck but I am on a budget. What are my options?
 

• One option is to go with a lower-cost composite board with a proven reputation. We offer Evergrain as a low-cost alternative to AZEK. AZEK performs slightly better than Evergrain, yet Evergrain does have a very good reputation and has been around for a long time.
• Another option is to go with a wood decking product and choose a low-mx railing product. This allows you to cut down on the amount of maintenance needed to keep your deck in good condition.

Q. How much money can I save by keeping the existing frame on my deck?
 

• If your frame is in decent shape and if it’s under 10 years old, you can likely save 10-20% off the cost of a totally new deck. On these projects we do our best to improve the existing frame by correcting cosmetic flaws and possibly adding hardware that will make the frame safer.

Q. How big should my deck be?
 

• It depends on what you want to do with your deck. If all you want is a place to put a couple of chairs, a 8x10 or a 10x10 deck can meet all of your needs. If you’d like to grill, eat, or have a seating area, most likely your deck would need to be anywhere from 250-400 square feet or larger.

Q. What are the pros and cons of hidden fasteners?
 

• The pros are obvious—a deck surface free of screws. As far as the cons, they are slightly more expensive. In addition, beware that some hidden fasteners don’t utilize a direct connection between the deckboard and the frame, increasing the chances for loose and squeaky deckboards in the future. Whenever possible, we use a hidden fastener system that allows for a solid connection.

Q. I have an existing deck and want more shade. What’s the best way to get this?
 

• A roof or an awning is the most effective way. Both of these also provide protection from the sun and from the rain.
• A pergola provides little protection from the sun and no protection from the rain. It’s generally more for aesthetics, although putting vines through the joists of a pergola does create more shade.

Q. When is a permit required for a deck?
 

• A zoning permit is normally required for any deck, no matter what the height. A building permit (depending on the township) is required if a deck’s walking surface exceeds 30” above grade at any point.

Q. What’s the purpose of a building permit?
 

• Building permits exist primary for your safety. The state of PA requires that all decks be built according to the 2009 International Residential Code. The IRC mandates that, among other requirements, a deck must be able to hold 40 lbs of live weight (people, animals, etc.) per square foot. This means that a code-compliant 14x16 deck will safely be able to hold roughly 45 people that weigh 200 lbs! For the typical American consumer, that’s overkill. However, the high standard of the IRC greatly minimizes the potential for deck injuries, which can easily turn into fatalities if a deck is 7’-8’ above the ground (which many decks are).