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Replacing a Wood Deck with Composite
Homeowners looking to increase their outdoor living space might elect to install a deck. It can be elevated to offer a seamless transition from the interior to the exterior, or, dropped down. Depending on your home, you’ll have different options and this is where you’ll decide between a installing composite material or wood. The great thing about composite is its longevity, but its cost means that you’ll have to be quite careful with the planning and installation.
Having a deck means having a dedicated space to enjoy and entertain, and, because these are often elevated, and provide visual aesthetics. It makes a great space for outdoor living, particularly for cooking-out on the grill and enjoying refreshing, cool drinks. Some homeowners also add coverings, which can be made of different materials, while others opt to enclose their decks with screen. No matter the look you’re going for, you can add a substantial amount of living space onto your home.
The good news about decks is these is the return on investment. Decks are worthwhile when it comes to ROI because buyers are eager to use them, and, it’s reflected in the numbers. On average, decks retain up to 68 percent to 80.5 percent of investment value. Those are certainly impressive numbers, and, you’ll enjoy the versatility these provide. Even better news is the time it takes to install a deck, which is significantly less than other outdoor living projects.
Wood Decks vs Composite Decks
People choose composite decks because of their longevity, durability, and clean look. However, when cost is a big factor, wood is typically the choice because it is less expensive. An investment in a composite deck is a good one, particularly when you install it the right way. It’s quite important to note that composite decks should have small gaps between the boards to allow run-off as standing water will eventually seep into the material. If the boards are not gapped, they can develop mold, mildew, swell, and can fail.
Thermal expansion is always something to be aware of when dealing with plastics. Most climates temperatures fluctuate enough to cause an issue with how the decking is spaced from summer to winter. Composite decking is less stable than wood so it tends to grow and shrink across the length of the boards as it heats and cools. Proper spacing will allow some movement without buckling. —Decks.com
One of the biggest benefits to composite is that some manufacturers offer hidden fasteners, which provide a more elegant look, eliminating screw heads that are commonly seen in wood. There are manufacturers that also produce hollow deck boards, but these have open ends, which can be attractive to pests, and collect leaves, dirt, and other debris. To make these secure spaces, end caps are sold, but this increases the installation cost.
Replacing a Wood Deck with Composite
Just like wood, composite must be properly staged and installed to reduce labor and cost. Always be sure to check measurements at least twice to reduce wasted material. When you are ready to replace your wood deck with composite, you can reuse the framing and just replace the boards. If the framing is in good condition and you want to install composite, follow these steps:
- Remove the wood boards. In general, wood boards are fastened to the frame with screws through the boards, usually sixteen inches on-center. Use a drill-driver to unfasten the screws and pull the boards off one-by-one. You can then recycle the old wood boards or repurpose them.
- Clean and re-treat the frame. With the frame fully exposed, give it a good brushing with a broom to get rid of any cobwebs and dirt. Spray it down with a garden hose if necessary and let it dry. Then, treat the frame with water repellent and let dry for as long as directed by the manufacturer if needed.
- Measure and make the first cuts. Using a tape measure, find the width or length of the frame and add an extra 2″ inches. Then, cut the composite with a circular saw. Be sure to follow the old rule of thumb, “measure twice and cut once.”
- Install the first composite board. With the first board cut to 2″ inches longer than the framing, slide it under the flashing attached to your home. You can use a putty knife to lift the flashing in order to shimmy the board under it.
- Fasten the first composite board to the frame. With the first board in place, under the flashing, you can now install the hidden fasteners as recommended by the manufacturer. If the material doesn’t come with hidden fasteners, you’ll simply drive screws through the composite into the frame.
- Install the remaining boards individually. Depending on the manufacturer, the composite will have different fastening systems. Some hook boards together while others are fastened to the frame in another way. Follow the manufacturer’s installation guidelines and be sure to leave small gaps so water doesn’t pool on the composite.
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How to Choose the Right Residential Home Fence
It’s said fences make good neighbors and there’s a certain merit to this old cliché. If you want to fence your yard, it’s probably for one or more reasons. You might want privacy, it could be to block a street view, keep pets and children from roaming, or simply to add a visual border. Regardless of the reason, a new fence will be a significant expense and since you want to make the right decision for function, style, and to save money, you’ll need to know how to choose the right fence for your home.
How to Choose the Right Residential Home Fence
As mentioned, new fencing can serve more than one purpose, and, it’s one great way to enhance your landscape with a low maintenance feature. Nearly regardless of its primary use, you’ll get more out of it than just a property line barrier. In addition, you are adding a feature which will require occasional care to keep it looking its best. If you don’t attend to it periodically, it will become an eyesore and if it’s damaged by the weather elements over time or is subjected to heavy inclement weather, it could become the source of a code violation.
The type of fence you choose will not only play a key role in your home’s exterior design, but also provide one of the most important benefits of all homes; security. Privacy and security are two of the most common reasons Americans look to buy homes. A professionally installed fence gives every homeowner that true sense of home we all desire. Fencing, whether it be wood, chain link or wrought iron, will greatly affect your sense of home. —Improvement.com
Fence design and installation isn’t necessarily complicated, but it will be laborious, no matter what type of material you choose. Some will require more upkeep than others and there might be at least one material which isn’t allowed in your neighborhood or community. Here in Sarasota, there are many homeowners association communities, so, you might be limited on your choices. Additionally, if you are replacing a fence, the same type might be prohibited. So, let’s consider the basic factors on how to choose the right fence for your home:
- Determine its function. While it may not seem to be high-minded insight, there are homeowners who put wants before needs when choosing a new fence. With so many choices (wood, picket, chain link, vinyl, aluminum, wrought iron, bamboo, and farm fencing), it’s easy to select one based more on aesthetics than function. But, its use should be the first consideration on your list. Is it for privacy, to enhance a landscape, or to corral kids and pets?
- Think about resale value. Right alongside function is its value to your home, when it comes to resale. Sure, you might love the idea of putting-up a wrought iron fence or a white picket fence along your front lawn, but will it be a minus when it comes time to sell your property? Generally, a fence won’t be a deal killer, but, if it looks out-of-place, you might have to remove it later-on in the future. This won’t be as applicable to your backyard, but it will definitely be a factor if you put-in a fence on your front yard.
- Learn what maintenance is needed. Regardless of what material you choose, there will be period maintenance involved. For instance, a wrought iron fence will need to be painted from time to time, as will a white picket fence. Even if you choose a vinyl fence or a wood fence, you’ll have to power wash it now and again. Look into what maintenance is involved before you make a decision so you aren’t saddled with buyer’s remorse.
- Find out if what’s allowed in your community. If your house is in a homeowners association community, there could be rules prohibiting certain types of fence materials. In addition, you might also be limited with height restrictions, color, and location. Get in the know before you start putting up panels or digging holes in your yard.
- Know if there are any building permits required. Even if you aren’t limited by HOA rules, there’s still a possibility you’ll need a building permit from the locality in which you live to erect a fence on your property. You should also be sure to know where the property lines are and if there are any utilities buried where you intend to put-up your new fence.
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Old Fence Tear Down Instructions You can Use
Fences function in two ways: an aesthetic boundary to confine children and pets and to give homeowners privacy. When a fence begins to degrade and fall into a state of disrepair, it compromises those very functions and becomes a safety hazard as well as a potential code violation. Add to it the possibility of it collapsing onto a neighbor’s property, then a homeowner’s insurance property claim might become an unpleasant reality.
When fencing is damaged, as the result of natural outdoor element ware and tear or as the result of storm damage, it becomes necessary to take it down. The problem with this task, of course, is the sheer size of the structure, which can easily run for yards and yards. Once it is removed from the perimeter of the property, you’ll have to decide to replace it with another fence or patch up the perimeter and enjoy a more open space.
Old Fence Tear Down Instructions
When it comes time to tear down an old fence, you’ll have a big project on your hands. In other words, don’t make the mistake of believing that it’s just comprised of hammering and prying, then hauling away the panels to the local landfill. This will take at least one whole weekend and might well stretch into two to three weekends, depending on the size and the number of helping hands you can muster.
A wood fence is wonderful to give privacy to you property. It won’t last forever, however. The time will come when it’s necessary to remove that wood fence and replace it. Removing a wood fence isn’t a complex job but it does take plenty of labor. Be prepared for some back-breaking work! —Do It Yourself.com
Before you pull out the hammer and pry bar, be sure to take the time to learn if it is really on your property in its entirety. Even if it only partially runs over the property line, you’ll have to consult your neighbor. Once you know that it’s completely on your property, follow these steps:
- Call local utility providers. You should know precisely where any buried utilities are to avoid accidentally damaging them. This also includes being careful not to damage your sprinkler system, like utilities, damage will be costly and take time to replace.
- Gather your tools and gear. You’ll need to wear eye protection, heavy leather gloves, boots, a power driver or screwdriver, 2″ x 4″ wood pieces, claw hammers, pry bars, and shovels. In addition, you’ll need at least one set of helping hands, as well as a truck or trailer to haul away the old fencing.
- Unfasten any gates. Begin with unfastening the gates. Place 2″ x 4″ wood pieces under the gate to support it and then unfasten the hinges from the gate with a power driver or a screwdriver. Thereafter, remove the hinges from the opening. It’s a good idea to place all the metal hardware in a plastic bag, as well as any nails to avoid future lawnmower projectiles and stepping hazards.
- Remove the fence panels. Unlike the way it was assembled, you won’t be able to pull off entire sections, but will have to tear it down vertical panel by panel. If you try to take off whole sections, you’ll have too large of sections to handle at one time. Use the claw hammer and/or pry bar to remove each vertical panel and pull out any nails and place them in a bag.
- Tear apart the frame. Once all the vertical panels are removed, the horizontal frame will be exposed, still connected to the support posts. Pull the horizontal frame away from the posts using a claw hammer and/or pry bar. As with the vertical panels, remove all nails from the wood and place them in a bag.
- Dig up the posts. Though the previous steps are time consuming, neither is as labor intensive as digging up the support posts. Start by digging around the posts, one by one, to expose the base, which is typically concrete. Dig until the entire base is exposed and then work the post out of the ground and backfill the hole.
If you’re going to replace the old fence with a similar new one, leave the holes unfilled to save a little bit of time. After all, you don’t want to dig more holes to sink support posts into when putting up a replacement fence.
Dilapidated Fencing Disposal
Now the entire fence is torn down, you’ll be faced with the task of disposing of it. Because the wood is treated with chemicals to make it withstand the outside elements, it should not be used as firewood. Stack the wood onto a truck bed or flat trailer and take it to the local landfill. If you don’t have a truck or trailer, hire a junk removal service to take it away.
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How to Turn a Plain Deck into an Outdoor Entertainment Space
Now that the weather is turning cool here in beautiful Sarasota, it’s time to enjoy the outdoors and entertain. You’d love to have a dedicated and functional space to wow guests but you’re seemingly stuck with an old, plain deck. Well, you can transform it into a great space without spending much money or having to make major changes. You can take a trick designers use, often minimizing to maximize, a paradox that delivers wonderful results.
What these professionals do is to make strategic changes that are eye-catching and functional. When you break it all down, you’ll find that there’s nothing magical about what they produce. It’s a matter of getting the most out of everything, keeping it simple, which delivers on the philosophy of less is more. If you have trouble coming up with ideas, just get a bit of inspiration from sources you most like and duplicate them. A bit of important advice is to choose a style or theme that continues or compliments your home’s interior — a big change from the inside to the outside will look nothing less than disjointed.
How to Revive a Deck
Before you start your deck makeover, you should get it a face lift. Begin by clearing it off completely (you’ll need to do this anyway) to have plenty of room to work with and to start with a blank slate. If you’ve ever considered expanding your deck, this is definitely the time to do so. You can add more square footage by going further out laterally or by going up with an elevated area. The latter option helps to create separate spaces for different purposes.
Decks, patios, sunrooms and porches have always been popular with home buyers, but real estate agents say that too often those spaces are neglected or not used to their best advantage. Yet outdoor improvements like a deck can significantly enhance your home’s value and appeal. In fact, at the time of resale, a deck will recoup, on average, about 73 percent of the original cost of building it, according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report. —Review Journal
Sweep it off, using a broom and/or a leaf blower, then, hose it down from top to bottom. Let it dry off and then make any repairs that are needed, replacing any planks or rotting rails. This is also a good time to take a look underneath for any pests. When the repairs are done, you can then move-on to refreshing it. Brush on a fresh coat of waterproof stain and allow it to dry as long as recommended by the manufacturer.
How to Turn a Plain Deck into an Outdoor Entertainment Space
The problem many homeowners have with their decks is not having a workable plan. They build these outdoor spaces without fully knowing what will be included and where things will go. But now that your deck is fully revitalized, you can begin to turn it into an outdoor entertainment space by doing the following:
- Add circular seating. One way to make your deck feel more welcoming is to put-in seating. Arrange it in a circle so it feels more like a family room and allows guests to sit and chat. You can even put a fire pit in the center with serving space. To make it more comfortable, put pillows on the seating.
- Erect an umbrella or pergola. Each one of these adds style but also plenty of function. They are ideal for repelling the sun while still delivering on aesthetics. You can spread vines over the top and sides of the pergola or set an umbrella in the middle of a table.
- Give it color with plants. Plants nicely integrate into the outdoor environment and can be a wonderful way to divide spaces while adding color. Think long term when you buy plants and about which attract pests.
- Install lighting. To get the most out of your new outdoor entertaining space, install plenty of lighting. This not only creates a more sophisticated look, but also, allows you to use your deck well after the sun sets. You choose a style that provides a nice accent to the space.
- Incorporate outdoor fabrics. You can use outdoor fabrics to add even more color but also to divide spaces and/or hide certain things, like storage.
- Dress-up the rail with function and style. Railings are primarily for safety, but that doesn’t mean that they have to be boring. You can install glass panels to add style and provide a little protection from the wind.
Another useful addition is a multi-purpose table. You can build one for next to nothing, by cutting it into a triangle shape and fastening it to the top of two perpendicular rails. Then, you’ll have working space when it’s needed, a bar, or for many other purposes. Put a mini refrigerator under it to store drinks that are cold and ready to serve.
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How to Choose a Fire Pit
With the weather changing there’s no better time than to enjoy the outdoors, day or night. It’s a great time to entertain guests, taking in the delight of the wonderful breeze coming off the Gulf of Mexico, winding its way through the shores to inland Sarasota.
Now is the time to get your backyard ready and looking its best. Aesthetics and function will be the center focus of creating an outdoor oasis, complete with one of the most versatile features of any home, the fire pit. It can serve more than one function, from a heat source, to an aesthetic, to a cooking appliance, to a place to gather around and roast marshmallows.
Fortunately, fire pits come in all shapes and sizes, which presents a predicament in choosing the right one. They come in portable models, made of copper and cast iron, as well as stone fire pits, which are often built in a particular spot. Generally, those hardscape features are surrounded by seating, which too, can be portable or fixed in position.
Where You should Put Your Fire Pit
When deciding what type of fire pit you’d like to add to your outdoor living space, you definitely ought to factor location into the equation. It must be a level location and one that’s at least seven feet away from combustibles, such as wood, plants, and even structures like your home, your pergola, or pool house. Other factors you must consider is prevailing wind direction and the local fire codes as to where it can be placed, how large it can be, and what you are allowed and not allowed to burn inside it.
[Fall] is here and that means backyard parties, get-togethers, bbq’s and relaxing evenings outside. Only one thing can make any of these events even better and that is a fire pit. Outdoor fire pits can be used as a gathering spot for socializing with guests at a party or a place to simply de-stress after a long day at work. Very few patio adornments are as multi-dimensional as fire pits. —Garden.com
In addition to these factors, you’ll also need to take into account how it will most be used and seating arrangement. Some of your guests will opt to sit closer to enjoy the heat while other will choose to sit a bit further away to avoid smoke. Be sure to leave plenty of space for people to walk, because too little space presents a safety hazard. Spacing between seats is likewise important, giving people elbow room so not to be too cramped, seated too close to one another.
How to Choose a Fire Pit
The type of fire pit you choose will ultimately come down to your budget, for a simple solution, chimineas are a nice, inexpensive choice. Free-standing fire pits are typically larger and a bit more expensive than chimineas, but come in a great variety of sizes and constructed material, from aluminum, to stainless steel, to copper, to stone and metal. They also vary in shape, usually circular or square, while a few will be other shapes. These are the most popular choices available:
- Electric fire pits are no-fuss models, generally costing more than chimineas and free-standing models, and are ideal for people who like to flip a switch to turn the flames on or off. These are a great choice for homeowners who don’t want to deal with lingering coals and cleaning-up ashes. These are made with weather resistant materials, like other models, and have a long lifespan.
- Gas fire pits cost about as much as electric models and also come in a wide variety of materials, shapes, and sizes. The shapes and aesthetics are quite diverse, square, round, octangular, rectangular, and so on. Some are fitted with stone or brick, while others made to look more modern.
- Outdoor fireplaces are at the top of the luxury list, offering stunning aesthetics with plenty of function. These can be pre-made or built from the ground up and are the most costly of models. Akin to these models are fire pit tables, which are great for entertaining because they are specifically designed to accommodate plates and glasses.
Choosing the Right Fire Pit
As stated, this will come down to budget, as well as how much time and effort you’re willing to put into the project. You can choose a portable model, one that’s free-standing, or build one in a particular place. You should choose one that fits your outdoor theme and fits your desired use. In addition, consider size and space requirements, as well as seating arrangement and capacity.
When you have your fire pit set up, always keep a garden hose and a fire extinguisher nearby. Clean it regularly to avoid any unpleasant surprises, you might accidentally cook something unexpected.
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