Homeowner | Suburban Boston Decks and Porches blog

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?

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.

Should a Homeowner get his own Building Permit?

by bostondecksandporches | Oct 3, 2016 | Building Permit, Deck cost, Deck safety, Deck Structure, Homeowner | 0

The short answer is “No”. The long answer is also “No”. Really? Yeah,...

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….

Will Ice Damage your Deck this Winter?

by bostondecksandporches | Jan 31, 2016 | Deck care, Deck safety, Homeowner, Snow damage to decks | 2

I like ice, but not on my backyard deck. It can injure my family….Mother Nature builds ice daggers to puncture your deck. What can you do?

What is a Pergola and Why would your Deck want one?

by bostondecksandporches | Jan 1, 2016 | Deck Structure, Deck Terms, Homeowner, Low Maintenance, Pergola, Trellis | 1

A “pergola” is a flower? No. It’s the snooty word for a trellis….An elaborate pergola might have layers above the rafters — purlins and maybe laths…It may incorporate curves or other interesting shapes….Even romance.

Wood vs Low Maintenance Decking

by bostondecksandporches | Aug 30, 2015 | Deck maintenance, Decking, Homeowner, Low Maintenance, PVC decking, Synthetic Decking, Wood decking | 0

The trade-off between wood and artificial decking used to be Good Appearance vs. Low Maintenance. Not anymore….Artificial decking is looking better and better….

What is a Cantilever and Why would Your Deck want one?

by bostondecksandporches | Dec 27, 2014 | Deck cost, Deck Structure, Deck Terms, Homeowner, Joist | 0

Cantilevering deck joists allows you to build larger decks at lower cost. They are safe, but you must follow some special rules.

How Good is Cabot’s New Water-Based ATO Stain?

by bostondecksandporches | Nov 11, 2014 | Deck care, Deck maintenance, Homeowner, mahogany, Restoring decks, Treating decks, Wood decking | 3

A wave of state and federal regulations forced the paint and stain companies to reformulate their products….How do the new water based stains perform? The results are surprising…

Want to Convert your Deck to a Porch?

by bostondecksandporches | Aug 3, 2014 | Colonial porch, Deck footings, Deck Structure, Homeowner, Porch, Porch design, Porch Structure, Screened Porch | 0

Can I convert my back deck to a screened porch? Replace that hot bug magnet with a cool, sheltered outdoor room? Yes, you can — depending on a number of factors.

Front Porches — A Pictorial Essay

by bostondecksandporches | May 18, 2014 | Colonial porch, Front Entry, Front Porch, Homeowner, Porch, Porch design | 0

A front porch is your home’s face. It’s what everyone sees as they drive by. Does your home need some make-up? Or a full make-over?… Here are four categories of front porches.

Factors that determine the cost of a sunroom

by bostondecksandporches | Dec 8, 2013 | 3 Season Porch, Homeowner, Porch, Sunroom, Sunroom cost | 1

Your spouse has been talking incessantly about a friend’s new sunroom. It has an airy, wide open space and great style, but mostly, it has light….Six major factors drive the cost of a sunroom:…

Category: Homeowner