In this week’s blog we are going to start a new segment entitled “Project Wrap-Up”.  After every project is complete we will blog about it and give you a general idea of what the project detailed, how we preformed the job, any issues that we may have ran into during the job, and before and after pictures that will be coming to our Projects Portfolio page soon.

So we have just wrapped-up a new floating cedar deck with an existing enclosed screen on a porch in Golden Valley. The customer requested that we remove the screening, tear-up existing deck, replace deck with cedar, and then re-install the screening.

1. Our first task was to remove the existing screening without damaging it. We achieved this by carefully removing one section of the screening at a time. The screening was held up with screws that were screwed into the existing deck and also nailed into the fascia. This made it somewhat difficult to remove without ruining the fascia.
2. We tore up the existing decking and hauled it off. This was fairly simple since it was pretty old. We basically just pulled it out with our own hands.
3. We re-leveled the surface & started framing the deck which was very difficult because of concrete that was beneath the old decking. The concrete was cracked and significantly shifted which created an uneven surface.
4. While the deck was being framed with green treated wood, we also started staining both sides of the cedar decking boards. We always stain all sides of cedar board decking to keep moisture from causing the boards to warp.
5. We installed the pre-stained cedar decking boards making sure all our Deck Mate screws were in line with each other. We always use screws instead of nails to ensure that all boards a fastened securely and will not pop out later on down the road.
6. We re-installed the screening. We put the screening back in opposite of how we took it out in order to line everything up properly.

An issue that we ran into during this project was the heat; it was about 80 degrees on average out there. The problem with the heat is it’s just not that fun to work in, well we already know that. The real problem comes when it’s time to stain the decking boards and there is not enough shade in the area. If it’s too hot out during the staining process without ample shade, then the boards do not dry properly.  So a good tip is to try and do your staining early in the morning or make sure you have plenty of shade in the area while staining.

All-in-all, the porch turned out to look very nice and the client was pleased with the outcome. To look at some before and after shots, please check out our photo page. If you have any questions about this project or any future projects please let us know by contacting us.

For now, you can look at the Golden Valley Deck page here until the final page is launched.

10 Reasons why you need Life Insurance

1.)    You have a loan on a vehicle

2.)    You or your children have loans for college

3.)    You have credit card debt

4.)    You have personal loans

5.)    Your spouse relies on your income

6.)    You are saving for retirement

7.)    You have outstanding medical bills

8.)    You have young children

9.)    You have a mortgage

10.)  You have a second mortgage

Why is life Insurance Important?

Life Insurance won’t guarantee you’ll never face a tragic situation, just as wearing a seat belt won’t keep you from crashing your car. Whatever hopes and dreams you have for your loved ones can still be realized, even if the worst were to happen.

REAL EXAMPLES:

~Husband/father was driving home from work and lost control of his vehicle. He was killed instantly leaving wife to raise two kids, a $200,000 mortgage and loan for vehicle.

~The couple each had a $500,000 dollar life insurance policy to pay for his $15,000 funeral, $200,000 Mortgage, $20,000 Car loan and also covered expenses to raise children.

~A 19-year old was riding in a vehicle with a few friends. The driver wasn’t paying attention and ran a red light getting T-boned by an on coming vehicle killing the teenager instantly.

~Her parents carried a $100,000 policy which paid for her funeral, college debt and some medical expenses. Parents also missed work for 6 months which life insurance paid for.

~Mother/Wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was given 6 months to live. Family incurred $90,000 in medical bills and many trips to and from hospital. They spent the last two months traveling and shortly after she passed away leaving two children.

~Husband/Father received $250,000 in life insurance which was used to pay for funeral, medical bills, travel expenses and time missed from work.

American Family Insurance offers 25% discount with your home & auto insurance. We offer another discount on your auto insurance with a life insurance policy.  To find out your rate on your home, auto & life insurance go to my link under partnerships and click on American Family Insurance.

Office: 763-428-1004      Fax: 763-428-3063

In our last post for the optimist, we broke down some advantages of adding a composite, cedar, or ipê (ee-pay) deck to your home. Now for you glass half empty folks, we will list some disadvantages to each one to help you in your decision making process.

Disadvantages of Composite

1. Only wood will truly give you the true look of a wood deck
2. Will scratch or stain. Immediately clean with warm water and soap if there is a spill.
3. Hot grease from the grill could melt a panel
4. It will fade over time. A tan line effect could happen if you have rugs on your deck. We also recommend choosing a darker color than you want to counter act the fade.
5. Not completely maintenance free. It needs to be cleaned to maintain a fresh look
6. It expands when heated and contracts when cooled so be sure your installer is accounting for this fluctuation by applying a gap between boards.
7. More expensive than a natural wood deck

Disadvantages of Cedar

1. Requires a power wash and stain at least once every 3 years
2. It may crack, splinter or warp
3. Softwoods deteriorate quicker than hardwoods
4. Can mold if it is not well maintained
5. The upfront cost is cheaper but over time it cost more to maintain
6. Cedar is not as flexible as composite decks limiting the ability for custom curves
7. There aren’t as many color variances in comparison to a composite deck

Disadvantages of Ipê

1. Hard to work with because of its weight and lack of flexibility
2. Expensive. Cost is about the same as your high end composite decks
3. Availability can be an issue since it is imported from South America
4. Requires additional labor. (pre-drilling of fasteners)

We hope we have helped you in making an educated decision on what kind of material to use for your new deck. If you would like more information on deck designs feel free to contact us. Our next blog will be on windows. If there is a topic you would like for us to blog on leave a comment request and who knows the next blog could be just for you.

Summer is just around the corner (at least we hope) and what better way to enjoy it than with a new deck. There are plenty of benefits to adding a deck to your home including future resale value & some family fun and enjoyment. However, before the fun begins you will need to decide what kind of deck is right for you. We have gathered info on the 3 most popular decking choices used today; Composite decking, Cedar, & Ipê (ee-pay) hardwoods.

Benefits of Composite Wood

1. Composite is low-maintenance
2. No weather sealing or staining
3. Can be molded to create desired curves and arches
4. Cost more upfront but cost to maintain is low
5. Typically last 10-20 years
6. Splinter free
7. No need to paint and comes in a variety of grays and earth tones
8. Made to look like many exotic wood grains 

Composite wood material is a mixture of natural wood scraps (sawdust, pulp fibers, bamboo, straw etc.) and virgin or waste plastics. It is viewed by some as a renewable resource because it’s made out of materials that would normally be thrown away. Trex is probably the most well known and been around the longest. For more info check out the following www.TREX.com.

Benefits of Cedar Wood

1. High resistance to UV rays, moisture and insects
2. Range of color from cinnamon to silver gray, if stained the colors vary even more.
3. Strong enough to protect deck fastenings from corrosion
4. Along with its beauty it also gives off an appealing scent
5. Light yet durable and easy to work with
6. Biodegradable and environmentally friendly
7. Accepts stains well
8. Has a proven track record throughout history

Cedar is softwood and a popular natural wood used for decking because of its high resistance to elements and insects. Besides being durable its rustic charm makes it considered to be one of the most appealing to the eye. Cedar can be stained in a number of different colors, and purchased in a number of different grades. (smooth vs. knots). Here is a great site for cedar decking information www.cedar-deck.org.

Benefits of Ipê  Wood

1. High resistance to decay can last up to 25 years
2. Scratch resistant and about twice as hard as oak
3. Fire resistance rating similar to concrete
4. Low maintenance, can be left unsealed or sealed to capture the natural color
5. Wood characteristics allow boards to resist twisting, bowing, and cracks
6. Biodegradable and environmentally friendly
7. Resistant to termites and other insects
8. Used for boardwalks in NY including Coney Island docks

Ipê (ee-pay) is a durable Brazilian hardwood. Although not well know, Ipê decking is a great alternative to those looking for a low maintenance deck with real wood.  Like xerox to the copier, Ipê is commonly referred to as “Iron Wood” who is a major distributor of Ipê decking materials.  www.ipedeckingsource.com

As you can see you have many choices when it comes to decking, we hope this information helps and please feel free to ask any us any questions in the comments and answer the poll question to the right.  Finally if all this deck talk has you ready to add one to your house let us know, we ‘d be happy to provide you a free estimate on your project.