Build Your Dream Deck

Designing your dream deck is always exciting, but with outdoor living spaces becoming increasingly complex and all of the latest 2021 trends to consider, it can be a bit intimidating.

The first step, before laying a single deck board or selecting any outdoor kitchen amenities, is to assess how you intend to use this outdoor living space. Consider what is most important to your family and begin brainstorming features that will fit your needs. Here are six things to keep in mind when putting together your dream space to help you create something lasting, beautiful, practical, and personal.

 

Complement the interior design of the house

Consider your dream deck as an extension of your home. This outdoor living space, when designed with care and attention, can be just as comfortable, beautiful, and functional as anything you’ve created indoors.

Keep in mind what features you don’t have in the main house that would be useful outside. For instance, if you’re a big cook who’s always wanted a pizza oven, an outdoor kitchen would be the perfect place to put one. Perhaps you don’t want to cook but want to add a fire feature that’s missing inside. You have a variety of options in this case, including fire pits, fireplaces, and even firewalls.

 

Increase the Area’s Usability

One of the most important things to think about when designing your dream deck is how to use the space comfortably all year. In the late autumn and early winter, a fire feature will undoubtedly keep you warm, but if you live in a colder climate, a single fire feature may not be enough.

As a result, many homeowners consider using multiple heating elements to combat even the coldest nights. You could include any of the following elements, depending on the severity of your climate:

 

• Infrared heaters are a type of heater that uses infrared light
• A wind-blocking structure
• Feature of fire (fire pit, fireplace, firewall, and the like)
• Structure with a roof
• Retractable partitions (glass or vinyl)

Obviously, these features come at different price points, but if money isn’t an issue, you can almost certainly design a deck that can be used all year, no matter how cold it gets.

 

Construct an Outdoor Living Room Area

Every person’s ideal deck is different, but many people find that the best way to maximize the space’s utility is to turn it into an outdoor living room. The rising popularity of televisions in these areas is one trend that supports this. Over half of last year’s projects, according to design and construction firms, including an entertainment component, and that number is expected to rise.

A TV can be installed on almost any deck, regardless of the layout or design. Is your outdoor living space, for example, without a roof? It’s no problem. Install a TV lift system that allows you to raise the television from a cabinet, a custom-built structure, or even the deck itself.

When not in use, a lift system allows you to simply nest the TV back into its cabinet or structure, freeing up space and giving your deck a clean, streamlined appearance.

 

Think about where you want to put your outdoor living space.

One important consideration that many people overlook is the actual location of the outdoor living space. Specifically, you want to make sure the area is as close as possible to the interior kitchen.

The kitchen is always the focal point of the gathering. The further you are from that room, the more difficult it will be to transport food back and forth, get plates and other necessities outside, do any prep work, and clean up.

Consider adapting a window or cutting in a door to make that outdoor living space more accessible and maximally useful if there isn’t already a direct door from your kitchen to the outdoor space.

 

Consider your design options carefully.

Every aspect of your dream deck should be chosen with practicality, usability, and aesthetics in mind, and a big part of that is making sure it blends in with the rest of the house’s design. Let’s say you have unique landscaping or interesting features in your yard. You can highlight those features through the outdoor living space with thoughtful design.

This can be done directly by including sitting areas in your landscaped yard, or more subtly by avoiding bulky railings that block views and discourage vistas. Consider removing the rails entirely if your deck is at or near ground level. They aren’t necessary for safety reasons, and they only serve to obstruct the lovely landscaping you’ve worked so hard to create. If you need rails because your deck is high up, choose a clear rail solution to keep the surrounding environment fully visible.

 

Make the Most of Your Time with a Smart Deck

If you already have a home automation system, integrating your deck into it will be simple and painless. You can control a number of systems directly from your smartphone or home automation system, or through programmable timers, by making your outdoor living space a smart deck. The following are some of these systems:

 

• Lighting
• Music
• Television
• Heating
• Features of gas

The convenience of this helps to ensure that your outdoor space is just as usable and comfortable as your interior spaces.

If 2021 is the year you finally take the plunge and build your dream deck, you’ll have a lot of options and decisions to make. However, with a little forethought and planning, you can turn any drab deck into a stunning space that you’ll love and enjoy for years to come!

 

Why Us?

Here at Alumiguard MFG, we aim to make the installation process as stress-free as possible. You will be working with certified and experienced staff that will handle your project from A to Z. We will sit together and decide everything related to the project, from the measurements, to design and locking systems. Our team of experts will arrive at your home at the designated time to perform the installation of your railings.

We service Toronto, North York, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, Hamilton & other areas across the GTA.

 

Why is choosing the right railing important? 

Your deck railing has a more important job than just looking good. It should also improve the safety of the deck by preventing falls and ensuring that children and pets are safe inside. Choosing a railing that is too low or has a gap that is too wide can be dangerous, so you should carefully consider these factors.

Researching your deck options now will also help you save money in the long run. Instead of choosing the first cheap railing kit you find and replacing it in a few years, you will be able to choose a high-quality railing option that you will use for decades.

 

Know Your Material Options 

The moment you choose a material to build your deck, you must select the right one from a wide range. Below is a brief overview of the most popular railing options and their unique advantages and disadvantages.

Stainless Steel Cable

If you don’t want the deck railing to block your view, consider using a cable railing. The thin cables are easy to install, which is why they have become a popular choice for interior design. You can even customize the look by adding beautiful hardwoods like Ipe to the top and bottom rails. The cable is made of 316L stainless steel, which is highly durable and weather resistant. This makes it an excellent choice for decking near water and in areas that experience severe storm seasons.

Advantages: weather resistance, low maintenance

Disadvantages: More expensive than other options

Aluminum 

Do you like the solemn look of wrought iron, but don’t want to deal with high prices or frequent maintenance? Aluminum railings can bring you high-end beauty at a more reasonable price. And because aluminum is less prone to rust and corrosion, you can save more maintenance costs. Although it is a strong metal, aluminum is actually very light and therefore easy to install. Be sure to use powder-coated aluminum railings to ensure longevity.

Advantages: classic appearance, easy to maintain, low price

Disadvantages: may not be suitable for your home design

Wood 

To match your wooden deck, you can choose wooden railings. Low cost and easy to install, wood is a popular choice for homes and large commercial decks. If it is made of durable wood, this option can last more than 25 years.

However, remember that wood requires regular maintenance to keep it in good condition. It should be sealed, stained, or painted every year or so.

Advantages: Inexpensive and affordable, look great with hardwood floors

Disadvantages: Requires more maintenance than other materials

Vinyl 

Vinyl railings are inexpensive, durable, and come in a variety of styles. That is why you will see it everywhere, from the porch to the ocean deck.

Unlike wood, vinyl does not need to be sealed or painted, so maintenance is easy. Vinyl column sleeves can also be used to cover and protect your existing wooden railings, helping you save replacement costs.

Advantages: UV-resistant, cost-effective, and easy to install.

Disadvantages: Does not provide darker colors.

Composite material 

Composite material combines the natural appearance of wood with the easy maintenance of options such as vinyl and aluminum. The composite railing is made of a durable plastic and wood fiber mix and will not warp or chip.

Pros: Looks like natural wood, easy to maintain.

Cons: Color tends to fade over time.

 

Things to consider when choosing railings 

Choosing the right railing for your deck is more than just choosing the material you like. Here are more tips to help you navigate the process.

 

1. Determine Your Budget 

The first step in any major investment in your home is determining your budget. Softwoods like pine are easily the most affordable railing materials, but they won’t be as durable as composites or vinyl. Considering the strength of aluminum, aluminum is also quite cheap. Hardwood and stainless steel cables tend to have the highest prices, but you might think these low-maintenance materials are worth paying a little more for.

 

2. Ensure Safety 

The recommended height of the platform railing is between 36 and 42 inches. This will prevent children (and adults who have had too much alcohol) from accidentally falling off the edge while allowing you to easily see it.

For the exact safety requirements, your railing must meet, contact your local building department.

 

3. Consider your style preferences 

While everyone should make sure their railing options are safe and within their budget, not everyone has the same style preferences. Before you start comparing prices, determine what your aesthetic is.

For example, do you want to be able to easily see through the railing or do you want your deck to feel more private? If your deck overlooks a scenic shoreline or beautiful garden, the cable railing can be made so thin that you won’t even notice its presence.

Color and shape are also important. Will black aluminum rails collide with your light-colored beach house, or will they match your Victorian house perfectly? Do you prefer a traditional turned railing design or a more modern geometry? Deck railings are more customizable than you think, giving you the flexibility to create the perfect layout.

 

Why Us?

Here at Alumiguard MFG, we aim to make the installation process as stress-free as possible. You will be working with certified and experienced staff that will handle your project from A to Z. We will sit together and decide everything related to the project, from the measurements, to design and locking systems. Our team of experts will arrive at your home at the designated time to perform the installation of your railings.

We service Toronto, North York, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Burlington, Mississauga, Whitby , Aurora & other areas across the GTA.

 

How to Keep Your Deck and Railings Safe this Winter

Winters in Canada are always known to be rough and with extreme conditions and this can damage everything around the house that is being hit by these weather conditions. One of the most affected areas is the deck and railings. Snow and rain are all accumulated there throughout all winter. Moisture seeps through causing rot and rust and wind as well can chip away paint.

Without the proper care and maintenance, they can lose their beauty and aesthetic vibe. Protecting the deck and railings after the hot summer and before the freezing winter will prevent you extra costly repairs and will keep them looking good and fresh all year around.

To prevent winter from doing its damage to this home feature you surely have invested a lot, take the following suggestions from this article.

 

Make any repairs ahead of time

If you see issues with your dack or railings you should repair them before the winter hits them so they can be stable and durable during the rough winter conditions. If you forget about them and don’t give them the maintenance they need, winter can aggravate these issues you stated before. In areas that experience heavy snowfall, railings that are priorly damaged can fall off from the weight of the snow, etc.

 

Clean the deck frequently during winter

As stated a little above, heavy snow can weigh up the railings and cause them to break or fall off. This is one of the reasons why cleaning the deck frequently is necessary. Try drying the deck from rainwater and clean the leaves and other debris to prevent moisture trapping there and causing mold, fungus, or algae from forming.

 

Apply a protective coat

After thoroughly cleaning the deck, it’s important to apply a protective water-repellent coat to prevent the damaging effects of winter. You have to consider sealing the surface from moisture that comes from ice, snow, or rain.

Another part that you can add this protective layer to is the railings. If they are made out of any metal material, they tend to rust and chip as a result of rough weather conditions. To avoid this, seal them too with finishes that are widely used in the market so you don’t have to worry about damage to them during wintertime.

 

Why Us?

Here at Alumiguard MFG, we aim to make the installation process as stress-free as possible. You will be working with certified and experienced staff that will handle your project from A to Z. We will sit together and decide everything related to the project, from the measurements, to design and locking systems. Our team of experts will arrive at your home at the designated time to perform the installation of your railings.

We service Toronto, North York, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham, Brampton, Mississauga, Oakville, Hamilton & other areas across the GTA.