Archadeck Of Raleigh-Durham Has The Answers To Your Top Outdoor Living Questions
Are you ready to embark on getting the outdoor living space you’ve always dreamed of? Or do you have questions about what you are getting yourself into? Our blog is filled with informative and enjoyable posts that will help inspire and educate you before, during,and after the completion of your anticipated outdoor living project!
Q: Can I build my outdoor living project in phases rather than all at once?
Answer: Yes, we are a custom outdoor living builder and can build your first phase with additional phases in mind as well.If you're building a large, multi-space project that could include a deck, patio, porch or more, a phased building approach may be ideal for several reasons. Spreading the financial investment over time is a popular benefit of phased building. Additionally, having time to live in a portion of your new space for a while, to learn more about how you will use it, can help you confirm the best decisions for subsequent phases.
Read more @ Pros & Cons of Building Your Raleigh Dream Outdoor Living Space in Phases
Q: What are my options for creating privacy in my outdoor living space?
Answer: Popular outdoor living space elements that can help provide privacy include custom privacy walls, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, porch enclosures, and pergolas. Many unique and functional accessories can double as privacy features when strategically designed. With a custom builder like us, you can get subtle backyard privacy that keeps your aesthetic goals intact.
Learn more @ Archadeck’s Outdoor Living Spaces: Create Your Own Private Oasis
Q: What type of decking stays coolest in direct sun?
Answer: Our team conducted an experiment comparing six different decking boards. AZEK cellular PVC decking won for both heating up less and cooling down quickest after sun exposure. Regardless of which type of decking you install, picking a lighter color will have the most impact on keeping temperatures down.
Check out the data @ What Type of Decking Stays Coolest in Direct Sun
Q: What is the best size for a screened-in porch?
Answer: It is crucial to have an idea of how you will use your screened porch before deciding on the size that is “best” for you. Typically, a 14x16’ porch can accommodate either a conversation area or a dining set – but not both. However, the same footprint could fit two small lounge chairs (or a loveseat) and a 2-person dining set. If you want a standard dining set and a U-shaped lounge area, a bigger space will be better. We recommend going with at least 14x20’ porch to accommodate room for both eating and lounging.
Learn more at: Visualize the Right Size for Your Porch or Three-Season Room
Q: Is composite decking worth it?
Answer: Yes, in most cases, the benefits of low-maintenance, highly-durable composite decking pays off financially. If you're planning on staying in your home for several years to come, the saved maintenance costs in time and money are worth it. Composite is also beneficial in terms of performance. It won't splinter and is mold, mildew, and insect resistant. Today's composite decking will last for decades.
Q: Does composite decking get hot?
Answer: Early versions of composite decking could get quite hot in direct sunlight. However, the newest iterations – including AZEK, the brand we use – absorb and retain less heat than their wooden counterparts. As with all materials, you'll want to choose lighter shades of composite decking for areas without much shade cover.
Read more @ What Type of Decking Stays Coolest in Direct Sun?
Q: Can composite decking be painted?
Answer:Our featured brand, TimberTech® by AZEK, does not recommend using any type of paint on composite decking as it cannot guarantee the paint’s performance on its product. Fortunately, TimberTech® by AZEK offers a variety of composite decking colors. Our team is happy to help you choose the right color for your project.
Q: Can you stain composite decking?
Answer: Most synthetic decking is capped with polymer or PVC. This barrier blocks out moisture, which is crucial to the longevity of composite decking. The barrier also means that the stain cannot penetrate the interior composite material. Therefore, composite decking does not need to be stained to seal or protect it. This is one of its primary low-maintenance benefits.
Learn more about composite decking @ Archadeck Frequently Asked Questions: Composite Decking
Q: What is re-decking?
Answer: Re-decking is the process of renovating a deck by using the existing substructure and replacing the decking boards, railing, and steps. It is only possible if the substructure is sound and up to code.
Learn more @ What Is Redecking?
Q: How do I get HOA approval for my new porch, deck, or patio?
Answer: Every HOA is different. Your HOA bylaws will state the process and timeline for architectural review. An HOA usually requires that you fill out an application describing the project you are proposing and submit a detailed description of the building plans. This may include a request for details such as materials, colors, and sketches. We will help you complete the application and can provide the building plans and any additional details that the HOA requires.
Q: What is an impervious surface limit?
Answer: Impervious limits are monitored by local Stormwater Management Offices and vary by locale. An "impervious surface limit" is the amount of surface area on your property that can be covered by a material that significantly reduces the natural drainage of water into the soil. Land covered by materials such as concrete, stone, wood, or asphalt counts as an impervious surface area.
Read more @ How Impervious Surface Limits Can Affect Your Outdoor Living Project
Q: Can I put a TV on my screened-in porch?
Answer: Yes, you can put a TV on your screen-in porch.However, since TVs are electronic and therefore susceptible to weather, we recommend choosing an area as far from the window screens or porch edge as possible. Placing the TV in a more shaded area of the porch will also help to avoid glare from the sunlight. Popular locations for a porch TV are on the home’s exterior wall or an outdoor fireplace.
Q: Can I have a deck built in my backyard during winter?
Answer: Yes, Archadeck builds beautiful outdoor living structures all year round! Although outdoor living construction is a popular spring endeavor, Raleigh-Durham’s moderate winters allow us to build all year long. A major advantage of winter construction is completing your project before the return of spring. With this timing, you’ll be ready to enjoy your new deck or porch as soon as the season changes.
Learn more @ Can I Build A Deck in the Winter?
Q: How Long Should I Wait to Stain My New Wood Deck?
Answer: Pressure-treated wood has been through a process that applies preservatives to the wood, saturating it with water. It is important to wait for the wood to dry before sealing a new deck, but at the same time, you don’t want to wait too long. Drying can take several months. We recommend beginning to test the wood around 90 days after your project is completed, but this is just a general suggestion. As a reminder, Archadeck does not provide sealing, staining, and painting. That is done by a separate provider after our project is complete and the pressure-treated wood has had time to dry. We are happy to recommend trusted providers.
Answers to all your outdoor living space questions or concerns are as close as a click or phone call away! Archadeck of Raleigh-Durham is here to address inquiries when you are considering updating an existing outdoor space or adding a new one. Call us today at (919) 446-5585 or contact us online.
We look forward to working with you!
