This week’s video post is from Southwest Fence & Deck, Inc, in Carrollton, Texas. For more info, visit http://www.southwestfence.com.

Thanks to the team at Southwest Fence & Deck, Inc. for their expertise and advice. Do you have any additional tips for composite decking stain prevention or stain removal? Add them to the comments below.

Professionally built Fiberon Horizon Deck in Ipe

Professional Deck Builder Bayn Wood returns to On Board with the second installment of his “Why Hire a Pro?” series. For more info from Bayn and his company visit www.autumnwoodconstruction.com or Bayn’s blog.

The benefits of hiring a professional deck builder not only apply to the quality of your deck, but also the design and functionality of your outdoor space. A professional deck builder can make the difference between a unique, high-quality, up-to-code deck and the standard square, cookie cutter project. Here are a couple of additional reasons to consider hiring a professional for your deck installation:

1. Experience in carpentry and construction codes

2. Unique design experience

Can you think of other reasons to hire a pro? Share your experiences or comments below!

Outdoor living room with Fiberon Horizon Decking in Rosewood

Not all composite decks are created equal. In fact, no one deck should look the same. Give your deck its own personality. Here are four areas you can focus on when looking to customize your new composite deck.

• Intended use – start with the main function of the deck. If my deck will be used for dining and entertainment, I’m going to consider putting an offset on for a barbecue or outdoor kitchen. Or even an area for a table and chairs. If you prefer lounging and relaxing, I would consider an area to put shading, such as a pergola.
• Railing – railings come in a variety of colors, shapes and styles, ranging from conventional to spectacular. Like your deck, your railing choice depends on the desired function.
• Color/pattern – today there are many colors to choose from. With so many choices, you no longer have to settle for a solid color composite deck. You can use a different color to picture frame and highlight the main color. Make the fascia match the rails. Add dimension by putting a breaker board down the middle of a hardwood-colored deck, like our Horizon Ipe or Rosewood. The breaker board can also help create a herringbone patter. There is no rule that the boards have to run parallel or perpendicular to the house. The possibilities really are endless.
• Lighting – how much do you want and where do you want it? You can light the caps, the rails, the steps or any other part of the deck based on your preference and need.

Be creative and treat the deck like another room of the house. If you need help, check with a deck building professional in your area and use this composite decking photo gallery for inspiration. Feel free to share with us pictures of your customized composite deck at info@fiberondecking.com.

This week we introduce you to one of our FiberPROs, Gordon Whittaker – master carpenter & owner of Alter Eagle Residential Building and Construction in Sonoma Country, California. For more info on Gordon and his company, visit http://www.altereagle.com.

Hello, my name is Gordon, a 30-year master carpenter and owner of Alter Eagle in Sonoma County. We are nestled in the Redwoods by the Pacific Ocean in the wine country of Northern California. With our stunning vistas and enjoyable year ’round climate, decks have become an extension of our interior living space. Spending quality time on our decks has become a life-balancing feature of our lives. Our customers are enjoying decks as entertainment areas for their families and friends as well as sanctuaries from the bustle of daily life. Outdoor kitchens, hot tubs with privacy screening, and shaded pergolas that offer refuge from the afternoon sun are all very popular here. Our customers want a mixture of textures and colors with rock features melded into decking designs, for example. They crave decks and outdoor rooms that trend away from the listless square.

Bodega Deck by AlterEagle

They don’t want a “make work project,” but a low maintenance place to escape and enjoy. That is why we recommend Fiberon composite decking for its quality and one of the best warranties in the decking market, period. I don’t have to worry that my customers will be faced with problems in the future. I have used Fiberon decking for many years now and I built my own deck with it. The new tropical blended colors are my personal favorites. With the ease of installation and invisible phantom clip, it’s win/win for clients and builders. There is no sacrifice of beauty for sheer strength and functionality.

I design our decks to conform to the natural look of the surrounding landscape and to be practical in size for the owners’ needs and enjoyment. One of our recent Fiberon decks, the Bodega Bay Project, was featured in a national magazine article that is posted on our website: http://www.altereagle.com/Alter_Eagle_magazine2.html.

Fiberon Tropics Deck by AlterEagle

I listen to our customers’ dreams and try to balance the design to their wishes and budget, while also following local building codes strictly. We also discuss features such as designated area usage, surface levels and stairs, supporting structure, low voltage and solar lighting.

Every project is a new and exciting challenge. I just love my job and I love creating great spaces for my wonderful clients!

-Gordon
http://www.altereagle.com

Check back in for future Pro Spotlights and a chance to get to know more of our dedicated professionals.

This week’s video post is from Bobby Parks, owner of Peachtree Decks & Porches in Alpharetta, Georgia.  For more info on Bobby and his company, visit www.peachtreedecksandporches.com.

Thanks to Bobby Parks for his expertise and advice. Do you have any additional tips for preventing mold from growing on composite decking? Add them to the comments below.

Follow these ten easy care and maintenance steps to keep your composite deck looking great throughout the year:

Horizon Composite Decking in Ipe

10.  Never use shovels or sharp edges to remove snow and ice from your deck.

9.  Place a vinyl-backed splatter guard mat underneath your grill.

8.  For oil and grease stains, speedy clean up is the best. The longer the oil or grease sits on the surface the most likely it is to soak into composite wood fibers.

7.  Use extreme caution with pressure washers when cleaning your deck. Use at pressures less than 1,500 psi at 12” above the deck surface.

6.  Keep debris out of gaps between the decking boards so rain showers can remove pollen

5.   Clean any mold spots when deck is completely dry with eco-friendly commercially available cleaners like Corte-Clean, ConcrobiumXT Eco-Wash or other commercial deck cleaners designer specifically for your type of decking.  Strictly follow manufacturers’ instructions.

4.  Clean your deck periodically, at least twice a year, to remove pollen, leaves and debris that promote mild growth.

3.  Maintain a deck that is dry and clean. Dislodge accumulated dirt with a broom or by using soap, water and a scrub brush, scrubbing in the direction of the grain pattern.

2.  Improve drainage or grade soil to eliminate standing water under decks. Direct downspouts, downspout extensions and splashguards away from decks.

1.  Ensure adequate ventilation under and between decking boards to prevent mold growth.

Refer to the Fiberon Care and Maintenance document for more information.

Do you have maintenance tips of your own? Leave them in the comments below!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that hiring can be one of the toughest things to manage. Hiring “warm bodies” may fill a short-term need, but can cost you valuable production time in the long term.

now hiring by TheTruthAbout...

Here are tips that I’ve found work for finding the best help:

• Dissect the resume:  Assume that all resumes have been tailored to fit the position that’s being applied for. Read between the lines and know that just because someone has experience with “all aspects of carpentry,” that doesn’t mean that they have specific experience in the area that you need help.
• Details of past projects:  “Helped manage multiple projects” doesn’t necessarily mean the applicant was a supervisor or project manager. Ask for specifics on how they managed the projects. Being able to provide details helps clarify what exactly their previous position entailed.
• Always check references:  Just because an applicant was with a company for several years doesn’t mean they were a top performer. A lukewarm reference can tell you as much about an applicant as an enthusiastic reference.
• Short-term and long-term goals: If they just need work but are still looking for their perfect career, they may not be what you need at that time. If they are looking for a company where they can learn and advance, they may be more invested in their job.

Hopefully these tips can help you weed through the many applicants you get to find the best crew members you can. If you have any tips that have worked for you, please share them in the comments section below.

Hello, my name is Bayn Wood and I am president of Autumnwood Construction Inc., a Detroit metro-area deck and patio construction company.

deck building by robinhamman

Being in the deck building business, we encounter the do-it-yourself-er quite a bit. In the last month we have seen a composite deck built by a new homebuilder that looked like the framing crew nailed it off. We gave a recent quote for a pending lawsuit where a homeowner built his own deck, sold his house and stated to the buyer that it was built to code and the building inspector had approved the deck construction. In reality, the deck needed to be torn down because it was not only out of code, but posed a major danger to anyone on it. We also visited a new construction home for a quote on building a backyard deck. As I pulled into the driveway I noticed a very nice covered front porch that had high-end composite railings. These railings were sagging in between the railing posts. After closer inspection, I noticed there were not any squash blocks installed and that the bottom rail was installed upside down (by the homeowner).

All costly errors.

You may say that there are plenty of decks built by homeowners that have been built well, and that may be true, but what are you getting yourself into when you take on a deck building project?

Here are a few areas to consider before you decide to “do it yourself:”

1. The deck design: Are you hoping for a dream deck that flows into the landscape, or a square big-box special?
2. Building to code: Plans and permits are needed, and there are several construction codes to follow regarding the soil you’re working on, load bearing, frost code depth, safety codes, etc.
3. Materials: What is the best choice for my new deck? What should I base my decision on? What accessories are available?

In my opinion deck building is a trade, just like an electrician, plumber, or pipe fitter.

To have a special “outdoor living” dream deck space, you should consider a deck building specialist.

Can you think of another reason to hire a pro, or are you a homeowner who has successfully built his or her own dream deck? Share your experiences or comments below!

_MG_3750 by Richard.Asia

Here is a list of the top five ways to get leads for your business:

1. The #1 way you can generate leads is REFERRALS! Word of mouth and reputation is crucial. A good referral is essentially free advertising. You might even consider showing your customers your referral process.
2. Local consumer home shows are another way to generate qualified leads. The average booth can produce around 20 leads with a closing rate at about 30%. Keep in mind, this ratio is subjective and dependent on presentation of the product displayed. And be sure to have a few different products on hand to show you are well versed in decking. Success from a show can also depend on the show’s location and length.
3. You can also use the web to help with lead generation. You should consider hiring a specialist to help you optimize for Search Engines, link to manufacturers on your website and use multimedia, like video. A good website will usually show a wide variety of pictures and designs of deck and rail.
4. Local advertising is still a great way to create leads. Radio, newspapers and local magazines are a fantastic way to get into local consumer’s homes. When advertising in such media, you should consider running specials. For example, “NO tax”, “Free upgrade to hidden fasteners” or “free water features.”
5. Explore using popular social media channels. Look for people in your area and monitor the most popular conversations. Join the conversation and use this as an opportunity to demonstrate your expertise. You might also use social media for exclusive promotions to attract a new customer base.

What about you? Is there a way to generate leads I left out? If so, share your secret in the comments below.

Catacorner deck frame by Ctd 2005

Start by doing some planning with pencil and paper. Then find a deck design tool. On the Fiberon website is the Deck Designer, which allows you to get basic 2D or 3D layouts of your deck plan. You can print a list of all the materials you will need to build your platform and footings, making your trip to your local lumberyard easy and fast, as well as all the locations near you where you can buy Fiberon composite decking.

Most composite decking manufacturers provide instructional videos and installation instructions on their website, which will give you the lowdown on how to build your composite deck. Once you’ve designed your deck, make sure you have the tools and materials you need, as well as instructions for installing your deck. Now you should be ready to go.

If you’ve done your homework beforehand, building your composite deck (hopefully with Fiberon) won’t require much more than a little time and patience.

Send us pictures of your Fiberon decking and we’ll post them to our Facebook Page.