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(ARA) - When spring rolls around, home improvement projects tend to move to the great outdoors, where nice weather, ideal planting conditions and longer days offer infinite opportunities for exterior home enhancements. The typical backyard deck is a perfect example of an often-overlooked place that offers a new frontier for homeowners who want to create an inviting outdoor living space. “The backyard deck is no longer just a place to park the grill and a couple of lawn chairs,” explains Kelly Jones, president of Deckorators, Inc., a leading manufacturer of maintenance free deck railing components. “With the growing interest of homeowners in outdoor living environments, the traditional deck has become an important extension of the home’s living space and a great asset to the home itself.”
Don and Patricia Ward of Naperville, Ill. recently renovated the deck on their suburban home by replacing the two inch wide vertical wooden pickets that were originally used with Colonial-style aluminum balusters in a rich, black color.
“We spent a lot of time and effort making every room in our house a statement of who we are with paint and furnishings and all the customizations. And then one day we were sitting out on the deck where we actually spend a lot of time, and I started noticing that our deck was a cookie cutter of every other deck I could see. It bothered me, and so we started looking for options that would make that change.”
At just three years old, the Wards’ deck was in great shape structurally, so after a fresh power wash, they removed the wooden pickets along all three sides of the deck and stairway, and replaced them with new balusters.
“The reaction from our neighbors has been fun to see,” says Patricia. “Our deck looks so much better than the rest of them. Our neighbors have asked, and I’ve told them about the deck accessories that are out there, and we’re seeing more and more changes. The variety is really great. Different neighbors have different tastes, and we’re seeing some of everything. It makes all our homes more special.”
According to Mary Kay Woodworth, an Atlanta-based exterior design consultant and gardening columnist for Georgia Gardening magazine, “The new buzzword in the landscape design industry today is ‘hardscapes,’ which includes patios, decks, stonework, and the creation of areas designed for relaxing and entertaining. Updating a deck is a great idea, and it’s an easy way to get more enjoyment out of your garden or yard,” She says.
For lakefront properties or other landscapes where sweeping views beg to be maximized, Deckorators recently introduced the industry’s first beveled glass baluster. The four inch wide glass balusters are made of an ultra-strong safety glass and are available in Clear View, Autumn View and Dusk View tints. Installation on the glass balusters is as simple as all the other baluster products, and Jones says it’s definitely a fun project for the weekend do-it-yourselfer.
“Decks continue to be an incredibly popular selling point for both new and used homes,” says Terry Dempsey, Jr., general manager of DeckExpo, the deck building industry’s premier event, which attracted hundreds of deck builders to the Tampa Convention Center in February for a sneak peak at new design ideas, accessories and new décor for the deck builder and homeowner.
No matter what your style, new options for renovating your existing deck are out there. So consider your next outdoor project a chance to express yourself and deck-orate your deck!
Courtesy of ARA Content
