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Friday, October 28, 2011 by
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Basic maintenance to prep your treated wood deck for cold weather
can help ensure it will endure the cold or snowy season in great
shape. Thoroughly clean the decking, posts and railings using an
appropriate cleaning product. If your deck boards and deck railings
are made of wood and showing some wear, consider giving them a
fresh coat of stain or sealant. It’s also a good idea to check for
nail heads popping up, loose or damaged boards, posts, and
railings. Better to repair them now so you’re only worrying about
how to enjoy your outdoor living space and not spring maintenance
when the...
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Friday, October 28, 2011 by
Unlike wooden structures, composite decking never needs to be
sanded, stripped or stained. In fact, composite deck cleaning is
usually as easy as some soap, water and a brush. One word of
caution – avoid using paint thinner or similar solvents on
composite decking, as these products can affect the finish and
grain of the material. See cleaning recommendations for cleaning
Latitudes Composite Decking. See blog on Cleaning a wood deck in
the Fall. Visit my video blog on Cleaning Latitudes Intrepid
Composite Decking.
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Friday, October 28, 2011 by
It is not uncommon to discover a tree that was just a sapling when
you built your deck has now grown up and is too close to your
outdoor living space. Cutting the tree down is an option,
especially if it is not healthy and a danger to your home. If you
wish to keep the tree, you can preserve it by incorporating it into
your deck design and expanding the deck around it. To do this, you
will first need to run beams in front and back of the tree between
two double wood joists. Fasten the joists on both sides of the tree
with their load being relocated around the tree. Install diagonal
supports at...
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Friday, October 28, 2011 by
Location, weather and years of everyday wear can sometimes cause
wood deck boards to warp, split or generally lose their good looks.
If there are just one or two problem boards, it’s typically not
difficult or expensive to replace them. Remove the boards you wish
to replace and install new ones cut to the appropriate length. If
your deck has a protective finish such as stain, it’s a good idea
to apply the finish to replacement boards prior to installation. If
your deck has more bad boards than good, you may want to replace
all the decking and maybe go so far as to change the layout and
style....
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Friday, October 28, 2011 by
Wood deck railings can loosen and get wobbly over time,
compromising the safety and beauty of your deck. Fixing this
problem is usually a simple matter of tightening or replacing
existing screws or bolts, or possibly adding new ones. If deck
railings have deteriorated, it may be necessary to replace them. In
fact, replacing an old worn railing with sturdy, decorative
alternatives like Latitudes composite railing or Deckorators
aluminum railing is an easy, high-impact way to upgrade the look
and feel of your deck.
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Friday, October 14, 2011 by
If you're having your deck built or doing it yourself, deck
building requires planning and forethought. Even the best deck
plans can get off to a bad start if you don’t understand how your
deck construction components fit together. Deckorators offers
special connection products to make installing these glass baluster
infills on a wood deck rail quick and easy. A few easy steps will
get your deck rail up and looking good in no time. Before you
install Deckorators Scenic Glass Deck Balusters, check with your
local building inspector to verify the product made with 5/16-inch
tempered safety glass...
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Wednesday, October 5, 2011 by
Building a 2x4 deck railing? Consider using Deckorators deck
railing connectors for a secure connection of the top and bottom
rails. These deck railing connectors create a strong and effective
support to the rail. The railing connectors make attaching standard
2x4 rails to the deck post quick and easy. Made from heavy duty
nylon, these connectors are available in five colors including
black, cedar, redwood, gray and mahogany to accommodate virtually
any type of 2x4 deck rail system. Durable plastic is pre-drilled
for accurate attachment of the rails to the posts. Works with
composite deck...
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Wednesday, September 28, 2011 by
In a perfect world, no one would ever have to face the challenge of
trying to sell a house when there’s snow on the ground and the
trees are bare. In reality, people have to sell and buy homes
throughout the year. While winter may not be the optimum season to
showcase your landscaping, there is one improvement you can make
that will help you boost your home’s outdoor appeal no matter what
the season: a deck. When potential buyers visit your home in
winter, they might not be able to envision how green and lovely
your backyard will look come spring. But they will be able to see
with their own...
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Friday, September 23, 2011 by
Beautifully built for the long haul, Deckorators CXT Deck Railing
features: Co-extruded cap made from two layers of materials and
incorporates Strandex® technology inside for superior long-term
performance The consistent cap stock finish looks like real painted
wood, is ultra-low maintenance and provides long-term durability
and strength Unique “U-bracket” design provides a fastener free
appearance in this easy-to-install alternative to other railing
systems on the market Two distinct profiles and three colors:
Contemporary and Colonial in white, black and an all new bronze 15
deck baluster...
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Wednesday, September 21, 2011 by
What makes Latitudes composite decking special is the Strandex
technology it employs. Like individual strands of a rope make the
rope stronger, Strandex technology makes Latitudes composite
decking products stronger. Strandex technology offers superior
protection against UV degradation and water absorption, because
every “strand” of wood fiber is encased in high-density
polyethylene. Latitudes uses Strandex inside, so you can be assured
that you’re getting the highest, most consistent quality and
strongest composite product available in the industry. Has Strandex
Technology been tested in...
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Tuesday, September 20, 2011 by
When you’re planning on building a deck or thinking about a deck
renovation or patio project, consider how you’ll use your outdoor
living space. Outdoor kitchens are popular, but you might also
consider creating an outdoor family room with a cozy seating area
and warming fireplace. Outdoor family time is a great way for
family members to reconnect with each other while also enjoying the
outdoors. When you’re planning your outdoor family room, keep in
mind that you’ll want to incorporate many of the elements your
family enjoys in their indoor environment. Your inside family room
probably...
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Tuesday, September 20, 2011 by
Adding a built-in bench to your deck seating area evokes the charm
and convenience of a window seat while providing additional seating
for family gatherings and entertaining. You can enhance the cozy
atmosphere of your outdoor family room with the addition of a fire
pit. If adding to a deck, define the space for your chiminea or
fire pit and protect your deck by using Latitudes Deck Stones.
Available in 16-inch square Smoke slate or Riverstone granite
tiles, the deck stones interlock, self-drain, require no mortar and
can easily be installed on new or existing conventional wood-framed
decks....
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Tuesday, September 6, 2011 by
Outdoor Essentials has introduced the latest M Brace design—The M
Brace Mini—a colorful line of brackets for children’s raised garden
beds and sandboxes. The M Brace Mini is a miniature version of the
original M Brace raised garden bed bracket. This patented, no-tool
bracing system allows for fast, simple construction of small raised
garden beds. About The M Brace Mini Made of recycled metal and
powder-coated in bright colors with playful cutout designs, The M
Brace Mini is designed specifically to appeal to children, and can
also be used by growers desiring a small raised garden bed. The...
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Thursday, September 1, 2011 by
Outdoor Essentials has added a full line of ornate vegetable
markers, garden stakes and bird silhouettes to its product
offering. Showcased during IGC 2011 in Chicago, these unique metal
cutouts are designed for practicality and visual appeal for gardens
and landscapes. About the products The rusted patina markers and
garden stakes are made from laser-cut recycled metal. Each
vegetable marker is welded to a 12-inch-tall metal stake and
available in seven flat metal profile designs. The ornamental
garden stakes are welded to 18-inch-tall metal stakes and are
available in seven flat metal...
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Tuesday, August 30, 2011 by
Blocking a treated wood deck post is critically important for
making sure your wood railing, composite lumber railing or metal
deck railing stays secure for the life of the deck.
Blocking/bridging is installed into the side framing mainly to
control lateral movement. If you have to run handrail in the
direction of the joists, use blocking to create your box and bolt
through the post and the blocks. The bridge will help keep the
outside joist from deflecting when you lean on the handrail.
Installing a post when the railing runs parallel to the joists
First mark the location of the post with a...
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Monday, August 29, 2011 by
Long gone are the days when deck railings could only be wood.
Today, you’ll find residential deck railing options in kits made of
aluminum, composite material and vinyl or acrylic. Each material
has its unique advantages. Deckorators’ aluminum deck railing is
durable and lightweight. It’s ultra low maintenance and won’t rot,
corrode or stain. It’s a great choice for decks, docks, balconies
or anywhere that strength and durability are especially important.
If you like the look of wood but crave superior low maintenance and
durability, composite deck railing like Latitudes Intrepid can be
an...
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Monday, August 29, 2011 by
Deck railing accessories can be the crowning touch on your new
railing. Decorative post caps can change the look of any railing,
and install quickly and easily. Whether you opt for metal, glass or
even planter post caps, adding ornamental post caps to your railing
can really create a one-of-a-kind look. Faux stone postcovers are
another way to enhance the look and personality of your deck
railing. Deckorators cast stone postcovers fit over the standard
4x4 or 6x6 treated wood posts of your deck railing, and provide a
realistic appearance of authentic stone without the cost. Top them
with a...
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Monday, August 29, 2011 by
Whether your railing is wood, metal, composite or vinyl, you have
plenty of options for decorative balusters. Deckorators pioneered
the use of metal balusters and offers the widest array of aluminum
balusters in many shapes, styles, colors and sizes. Installing
maintenance-free powder coated aluminum balusters on your deck
railing system is a great way to add a creative, colorful touch.
Deckorators aluminum deck balusters are available in several colors
and designs and come with a lifetime warranty on the finish. You
can also find glass balusters from Deckorators or Latitudes (for
composite...
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Monday, August 29, 2011 by
With summer winding down and cooler weather approaching, it’s a
great time to think about upgrading your treated wood or composite
lumber deck. Updating your deck’s railing is one of the easiest,
most versatile ways to make your outdoor living area unique and
more appealing. If you’ve never really thought about the function
and design of your deck railing, keep in mind a few key points:
Railing is an important safety feature, especially if your deck is
several feet off the ground. It’s important to maintain a
code-compliant deck railing to ensure it provides adequate
protection against...
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Friday, August 19, 2011 by
Building a deck from scratch or remodeling an existing deck with
new railing? There are plenty of ways to make your wood deck or
composite wood deck stand out—and it doesn't have to cost an arm
and a leg.Here's a short list of cool and unique ways to make your
deck area pop without breaking the bank:add unique features to
railing with decorative post caps or postcoversincorporate metal or
glass baluster infills to your deck railbuilt in bench
seatingincorporate deck stone transitionsinstall low-voltage or
solar deck lightingplace colorful plants on your deck and
stairsincorporate colorful...
read more
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