Suburban Boston Decks and Porches Blog

RELAXED, INFORMATIVE ARTICLES WRITTEN FOR HOMEOWNERS AND CONTRACTORS

Builders & Homeowners

Eight Tips for Maintaining Your Mahogany Deck

by bostondecksandporches | May 2, 2010 | Deck care, Deck maintenance, Decking, Homeowner, Ipe, mahogany, Restoring decks, Treating decks, Wood decking | 62

Mahogany is a great wood for outdoor decks, be it Cambara mahogany from South America or Meranti...

Will Snow Damage my Deck this winter? Tips for clearing snow from your deck

by bostondecksandporches | Jan 11, 2011 | Deck attachment, Deck care, Deck maintenance, Deck safety, Deck Structure, Homeowner, mahogany, Pressure Treated Wood, PVC decking, Snow damage to decks, Synthetic Decking, Wood decking | 17

Must I shovel the snow off my deck? Actually, you don’t….Don’t shovel your deck to avoid collapse….Don’t shovel your deck to protect the wood….Do clear the snow to provide an exit path….If you do shovel your deck, here are some TIPS:

SYNTHETIC DECKS: No Maintenance, Low Maintenance, Mo’ Maintenance – What care will your synthetic deck need?

by bostondecksandporches | Aug 23, 2010 | Deck care, Deck maintenance, Decking, Homeowner, Low Maintenance, Plastic decking, PVC decking, Synthetic Decking | 8

Synthetic decking manufacturers promise “Low Maintenance” — but what does “low” mean? Will you have to scrub your deck once a month or just hose it off once a year?…There are 4 threats to your deck…In summary, you have two choices..

The 5 factors you need to know that determine a deck’s cost

by bostondecksandporches | Jul 3, 2010 | Deck cost, Homeowner, Low cost wood, Pressure Treated Wood, PVC decking, Synthetic Decking, Wood decking | 9

That new deck will cost WHAT? Deck costs can surprise you….Five major factors affect the price of a deck….So instead of paying $1,500 for rails, you’re suddenly paying $6,000. Ouch!…But some companies actually do more….What does a deck cost?…the most professional answer is published by….

What is a “freestanding deck” and Why would you want one?

by bostondecksandporches | Feb 13, 2014 | Deck attachment, Deck footings, Deck Structure, Deck Terms, Technical | 6

What is a “freestanding” deck? Some freestanding decks stand alone in the yard, but many are right next to a house. What makes a deck truly freestanding is that it is self-supporting….But, why would someone want her deck freestanding?…

Is your deck ready for Winter?

by bostondecksandporches | Nov 15, 2010 | Deck attachment, Deck care, Deck maintenance, Deck safety, Deck Structure, Homeowner | 4

Winter is coming, could your deck collapse from the weight of snow? Are you concerned about the safety of your deck?…Compare the design load of your deck to the actual weight of snow…

Low Maintenance Wood for your deck? Really?

by bostondecksandporches | Apr 8, 2010 | Deck care, Deck maintenance, Decking, Homeowner, Ipe, Low Maintenance, Treating decks, Wood decking | 4

So, you love wood, real wood, but hate the maintenance. Wood is warm and rich; ….It is strong and natural and authentic. It is not trying desperately to look like something it isn’t….How about wood that needs no maintenance?…

How Safe is Your Deck?

by bostondecksandporches | Jun 6, 2010 | Deck attachment, Deck footings, Deck safety, Deck Structure, Homeowner | 3

How safe is your deck? Every year residential decks fail and collapse, killing or injuring homeowners, their family and friends….Two primary causes of catastrophic deck failure are improper attachment to the house and inadequate footings….you can easily remedy this yourself….But correcting inadequate footing requires a professional….

Technical

What is Post and Beam and Why would your Deck care?

by bostondecksandporches | Jan 16, 2019 | Deck Connections, Deck Design, Deck Structure, Technical | 0

Building decks with Post and Beam frames have advantages over alternative structures: they are stronger, simpler, more efficient, and offer greater design flexibility. Let me explain….

A Tale of Two Decks

by bostondecksandporches | Jan 2, 2018 | Deck Design, Deck Structure, Homeowner, Technical | 0

One deck survived a tree crashing onto it. Another deck collapsed to the ground when hit by a smaller tree. Why?

Just how Hot will your Deck get?

by bostondecksandporches | Aug 30, 2017 | Decking, Plastic decking, PVC decking, Synthetic Decking, Technical, Wood decking | 0

People ask how hot will their deck get this summer. I measured 63 synthetic deck samples in 16 product groups, with some surprising results….How hot a deck feels is a function of its surface temperature and its thermal conductivity.

How Long will your Deck Last?

by bostondecksandporches | Apr 30, 2017 | Cedar, Deck Structure, Homeowner, Ipe, Low Maintenance, mahogany, Pressure Treated Wood, PVC decking, Synthetic Decking, Technical, Wood decking | 1

If your deck’s frame was built properly, it should last decades. But what about the deck flooring? PT, fir, cedar, mahogany, ipe, and plastic synthetics age differently, and fail differently.

Why Hasn’t Your Deck Collapsed?

by bostondecksandporches | Mar 18, 2016 | Deck safety, Deck Structure, Homeowner, Pressure Treated Wood, Sponsored Content, Technical | 0

If your deck violates the building code, why has it not fallen down? There are several reasons, let’s look at them….

What is a Cathedral Ceiling and Why would your Porch or Sunroom want one?

by bostondecksandporches | Dec 14, 2014 | 3 Season Porch, Porch, Porch design, Porch Structure, Screened Porch, Sunroom, Sunroom cost, Technical | 0

Cathedral ceilings need not be limited to churches. Even if you are not religious, you can raise your porch ceiling for the glory of… air and space and light….And cost? That’s the best secret.