Archadeck, the premier deck and porch builder in the United States, has been ranked among the top ten in the Qualified Remodeler list of the 2006 Top National Remodeling Firms. Archadeck placed 6th on the National List, which was announced in the September 2006 issue.

“It’s a very proud achievement for us that each year Archadeck is ranked so highly on the National’s list,” says Vicki Kiger, Director of Marketing and Advertising for Archadeck, a Richmond, Virginia, based company. “We make every effort to inform our potential customers of our achievement because it helps tremendously with credibility.”

The Qualified Remodeler National List is published annually to recognize remodeling firms for outstanding success in terms of sales volume. In the latest list, Archadeck had a 2004 volume of almost $43 million.

Archadeck has completed 60,000 projects nationwide and has over 80 offices in the U.S. and Canada, as well as an international presence in Japan. Their work has been featured in several publications including Fine Homebuilding, Idea Wise Decks & Patios, and Women’s Day Home Remodeling, among others.

“We make it a point to feature this ranking on our brochures, flyers, ads and other sales materials because we see it as another way to distinguish ourselves from our competition,” said Kiger.

“We have been in business 27 years and the fact that we are so highly ranked is a testament to the strength of our system and of our owners and operators, as well as the faith that our customers have in us as a company,” added Kiger.

Data for firms listed on the National List is provided by the companies and verified by accounting firms, certified public accountants, banks and suppliers.

Fairly new amenity popular for homeowners looking to stay outdoors

With the wind chill increasing as we enter the fall season, it might not be as comfortable enjoying your porch as it was during the summer months. However, Ed Repak, director of construction and drafting for Archadeck, the country’s leading deck specialists, says there is a trendy, inexpensive way to extend the life of your porch, which allows for full enjoyment of the colorful fall view, as well as cooler temperatures.

“What’s fairly new to the market is the Three Season Porch, also known as a sun room, which is an enclosed porch that acts as a wind barrier. It offers a comfortable extension of your home with the feeling of being outdoors,” Repak said. “It is appealing for those who want to make the space outside their house as comfortable as the rooms inside. Basically, the idea is to extend your home with minimum expense.”

The best thing about the Three Season Porch, Repak said, is that you can enjoy it for three full seasons – spring, summer and fall. According to Repak, most people upgrade their porches into Three Season Porches this time of year.

“It’s a very flexible system. It is unique in that it serves as a wind blocker and you also have solar gain. Although the Three Season Porch is not heated, on a sunny fall day, the temperature will still rise nicely to make it comfortable,” Repak said, adding that the porches have various uses, such as an extended living room or a place to relax in your hot tub at the end of the day. “The use of the porch is in the eye of the beholder. There are endless ways a homeowner can take advantage of it.”

The style and design for a Three Season Porch also ranges, Repak said, depending on the design and finish of the house, the homeowner’s personal tastes and the uses for the porch. For example, it can be built with windows and a kneewall at the bottom. The porch can also have large tempered glass windows, a railing, removable paneling, and the list goes on.

“You should first think about how you’re going to use your Three Season Porch before it’s installed,” Repak said. “A popular option that we recommend is custom panels, or pre-manufactured panels because it makes for a more efficient installation.”

If you think you may eventually want to have a Four Season Room with heating and cooling, you may want to save money in the long-run, suggests Repak by having the ceiling of the porch insulated and have removable windows installed. Lastly, make sure the contractor understands required state building codes before having your porch built.

“Three Season Porches increase the use of your porch through inclement weather and cool spring or fall days. It can even extend into the beginning of winter if you use a portable heater,” Repak added. “The possibilities are never ending.”

For more information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.archadeck.com.

About Archadeck

Archadeck, established in 1980, has built more than 60,000 projects across the country and is recognized as the largest deck builder in the United States. Their mission is to enhance the lives of customers by creating unique and innovative outdoor living environments. Qualified Remodeler magazine ranks Archadeck eighth on the 2005 Top National Remodeling Firms List. Archadeck projects have graced the covers of Gardens, Decks and Patios and Decks & Backyard Projects. The company has been featured in articles in HOME, Additions and Decks and Gardening and Deck Design, as well as on Home & Garden TV (HGTV).

Homeowners want the feel of being in their living rooms

With the summer season upon us, we all want to spend more time outdoors, but there is nothing like the comfort of being inside your home. One local decking expert says, why choose? Gazebos are a perfect way homeowners can capture the sun and warmth that comes with being outdoors while still enjoying the coziness that is felt within their own living room.

“Gazebos give a nice outdoor space,” said Ed Repak, director of construction and drafting for Archadeck, the country’s leading deck specialists. “With a gazebo, you have a totally different view of your backyard than you would from a screened porch.

“Gazebos are not quite as seasoned as other projects. It is not a spur of the moment type of thing,” Repak said. “It is usually planned over time.”

The sizes, shapes and styles of gazebos are changing with the times, too. Homeowners are choosing to add more amenities to make their gazebos convenient to their day-to-day needs, Repak said.

“Our customers are now making them a little more functional and usable by adding ceiling fans, bringing in television cable lines and adding a hot tub,” Repak said. “On the other hand, some homeowners like to keep their gazebos relatively simple. It all goes along with what they like and the style of their house.”

Before making that big decision on a gazebo, Repak recommends you know how you’re going to use it, what size and shape you are looking for, and the style that will be most appealing to your personal taste.

More homeowners get better use out of gazebos that are built as an attachment to their decks, because of their proximity, Repak said. Typically, gazebos that are built in the middle of the yard do not get used as much, because they just aren’t as convenient as one attached to the house.

“Frequently, an elongated one works better than an octagon-shaped one. It breaks it up into zones so you can put furniture in it like you would in your living space,” Repak explained, adding that many customers also choose to have their gazebos screened to keep mosquitoes and other insects away.

Lastly, before making a decision on the kind of gazebo you want, make sure you choose the right company to build it, Repak said.

“You want somebody who knows how to structure it properly so that it’s going to last,” Repak said. “We give customers great design ideas for their gazebos. They turn out to be another home close to home. In addition, we can match the shingles on the house to help the gazebo appear as though it was original to the home.”

For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.archadeck.com.

Archadeck, established in 1980, has built more than 60,000 projects across the country and is recognized as the largest deck builder in the United States. Their mission is to enhance the lives of customers by creating unique and innovative outdoor living environments. Qualified Remodeler magazine ranks Archadeck eighth on the 2005 Top National Remodeling Firms List. Archadeck projects have graced the covers of Gardens, Decks and Patios and Decks & Backyard Projects. The company has been featured in articles in HOME, Additions and Decks and Gardening and Deck Design, as well as on Home & Garden TV (HGTV).

Barry Klemons, Archadeck of Charlotte and Tim Stephens, Archadeck of West Central Ohio, were recently honored at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry’s (NARI) Evening of Excellence™ ceremony in San Francisco on March 18, 2006.

This annual event recognizes national Achievement Award winners. Mr. Klemons, owner of Archadeck of Charlotte, was honored with the 2006 Professionalism Award, presented for outstanding achievement by an individual who serves to promote and enhance the professional remodeling industry.

Mr. Stephens, owner of Archadeck of West Central Ohio, was honored with the Henry Spies Superstar Award, presented to the individual who achieved the highest score in the country on the NARI Certified Remodeler exam during 2005.

NARI is a trade association dedicated to the remodeling industry. There are more than 7,000 members across the United States.

Both Mr. Klemons and Mr. Stephens are part of Archadeck, the nation’s largest deck builder. Archadeck has been in business since 1980 and has built more than 60,000 projects across the U.S. and Canada.

For more information, contact Archadeck at 888-OUR-DECK, or visit www.archadeck.com.

About Archadeck

Archadeck, established in 1980, has built more than 60,000 projects across the country and is recognized as the largest deck builder in the United States. Qualified Remodeler magazine ranks Archadeck eighth on the 2005 Top National Remodeling Firms List. Archadeck projects have graced the covers of Gardens, Decks and Patios and Decks & Backyard Projects. The company has been featured in articles in HOME, Additions and Decks and Gardening and Deck Design as well as on Home & Garden TV (HGTV).

Homeowners increasingly turning to beautiful but durable wood

Richmond, Virginia --- It may have a funny name but homeowners aren’t being frivolous when they choose Ipe for their new decks. A combination of beauty and practicality have turned Ipe (pronounced e-pay) into the hottest deck wood around.

"When people see it they just fall in love with it," said Ed Repak, Director of Construction & Drafting for Archadeck, the nation’s largest deck builder. "But by choosing Ipe they are thinking with both their heads and their hearts."

Ipe is a very dense hard wood from South America that resists cupping, splintering and twisting. Also called ironwood, Ipe will not shrink like pressure treated lumber and should last over 25 years.

"Many homeowners we talk to are initially interested in composite materials and don’t know much about Ipe," Repak said. "But when we start talking about it, they become very interested in it."

In many markets across the U.S., Ipe has started outselling composites and other woods, particularly in more expensive neighborhoods. The installed cost for Ipe can run about the same as high-end composites. The material in some cases costs less, but the density of the wood requires some additional labor, such as pre-drilling for fasteners.

While Ipe requires sealant on the end cuts, most homeowners also choose to seal the entire wood to maintain its rich natural color. If left unsealed, Ipe weathers to a silver-gray, Repak said.

"One of the advantages of Ipe is that even if the homeowner has not maintained the wood for some time, they can go back, do some sanding and apply a coat of oil and the wood responds beautifully," Repak said.

For more information, contact Archadeck at 888-OUR-DECK, or visit www.archadeck.com.

About Archadeck

Archadeck, established in 1980, has built more than 60,000 projects across the country and is recognized as the largest deck builder in the United States. Qualified Remodeler magazine ranks Archadeck eighth on the 2005 Top National Remodeling Firms List. Archadeck projects have graced the covers of Gardens, Decks and Patios and Decks & Backyard Projects. The company has been featured in articles in HOME, Additions and Decks and Gardening and Deck Design as well as on Home & Garden TV (HGTV).