Ordering Materials for Deck Tiles

Before you order deck tile materials make sure that the design not only fits your needs but also lies within the realm of feasibility. If you’re a novice and plan to build the deck yourself, you may want to avoid complicated designs. Some details, such as the laminated curved railings this will take some extra time but shouldn’t pose any problems for a person skilled in t lie use of hand power tools.

This blog is intended as a deck or deck tile enthusiast’s dream ream blog rather than a manual of deck projects. None of the designs comes with a complete set of how-to instructions. Instead, the discussion focuses on two or three interesting

and unusual aspects of each. Specific instructions for these are provided in the “Construction Techniques” sections. Often, these techniques can be applied to a variety of different designs. Sections such as “Standard Footing, Posts, and Beams” and “Supporting a Deck ‘Nearly Flush to the Ground” describe procedures that you can follow regardless of the particular design you’ve chosen.

So, to a certain extent, you can also think of this book as a course in advanced deck-building. Don’t just flip through the pages until you find the deck you want. Take a little time to examine the specific construction techniques–the extra touches as well as the fundamental approaches.

A deck can be almost anything you want it to be, but the enjoyment you’ll get from it will depend largely on how much thought and energy you. put into it. So read, dream, learn,. . . and most of all, enjoy!

This is an excerpt from “DECK designs” by Steve Cory

Decking Tiles

Deck tiles can enhance your back yard or patio in several ways, it makes entertaining easy and provides a pleasant outdoor space that you and your friends can enjoy together: just give the deck a quick sweep, prepare some cool drinks, and fire up the grill as guests gather around. For more private times, it; offers a retreat where you can lounge during the day or toast the sunset, savoring the outdoors without venturing far from the  amenities of civilization. A deck improves the appearance and usefulness of’ your home and yard by providing a smooth transition I between the two. lf the cost worries you, keep in mind that a high quality interlocking deck tile is bound to increase your I home’s resale value. In the long run, this can cancel out the expense of building it and then some.

To ensure that it enhances your property both now and in the future, a deck must be thoughtfully designed and solidly constructed of pleasing ad durable materials. A poorly designed deck can cramp food preparation and dining space or create annoying traffic bottlenecks. An ill-advised choice of materials or design elements call clash with your house or yard. A poorly built deck shade from inferior lumber can ounce under foot, sink over time, and will rot in a few short years. Whether you intend to build the deck yourself contractor, it makes sense  to take plenty of time choosing a wood design and appropriate, high-quality materials, the first part of this blog will walk you through the design process, from general ideas to specific plans.

This is an excerpt from “DECK designs” by Steve Cory

Techniques of Decking

Deck Tile Considerations

Many of Parish’s designs are less complicated than they look. He often achieves an appearance of furniture-like detailing by adding simple pieces. However, such detail work requires precise cuts in order to look good. For this purpose, you should consider a quality power miter saw (chop saw) a necessity rather than a luxury.

Much of the distinctive look of Parish’s decks comes from his materials. After carefully selecting dark colored Con Heart boards that have no loose knots, he chooses the best pieces for the most visible elements of the deck.
His post design adds elegance without requiring a lot of work. By attaching 2x2s that run up the center of each face of a standard 4×4, he creates a classically fluted column. He also installs banding at the top of each post made of 2x2s and ripped 2x4s, although this detail requires careful cutting and fastening.

In his designs, Parish avoids butt joints in the decking, which tend to mar its unbroken appearance. This some¬times means dividing a large deck into smaller sections. He’s rarely found a good reason to make a deck surface that measures more than 20 feet (the longest standard decking length) in both directions. Though butt-jointed decking can look fine if you prefer a rustic look, avoid it if you want a more finished appearance.

Not only does Parish recommend regular staining to reduce the punishing effects of sunlight, he also urges customers to avoid damaging their decks with furniture and pots. For instance, by using simple trivets made from 2x2s to hold flowerpots off the deck, they can prevent water stains and scratches. (See “Trivet for Flowerpots,” page 207.)
If a deck has gone gray due to neglect, Parish cautions against using a high-pressure washer. These machines, which are sold in home centers and touted as cure-alls for wood surface problems, may actually do more harm than good. On softwoods such as redwood, they can remove the soft part of the grain, leaving a rough surface that can be made smooth again only through heavy sanding. Instead, he recommends a two-step solution: first, spray or sponge on a 50-50 mixture of household bleach and water, which will make the gray disappear almost immedi¬ately. Rinse and then brush the deck with a mixture of oxalic acid (wood bleach) and water. This will leave you with a deck that is nearly white. Apply stain, and the wood will look like new.

Parish designs overhead structures, or pergolas, care¬fully to provide the desired amount of shade. He runs the top slats, usually 2x2s, in a north-to-south direction so that the sun can shine directly between them only at noon. In the Dallas area, he’s found that 2x2s laid 3 inches on center (spaced 1′/2 inches apart) provide full shade for an hour or two (in the morning on an east-facing deck and in the evening on a west-facing deck). For the rest of the day, the overhead structure will provide filtered shade of varying degree. This much planning may sound compli¬cated, but it will increase the utility of your deck and save work in the long run.

! Parish uses a lot of curves, not only on his decks and railings but sometimes on overhead structures as well. (See “Pagoda Platform,” page 208.) To the homeowner, curves can look daunting, like something better left to a professional. They also cost more in materials; you often need to start with a 2×12 and then waste nearly half of the board. But if you have a professional-grade saber saw and the patience to do things right, you can add impressive looking curves to your project.
Parish uses a router fitted with a roundover bit to create the finished look of his decks, usually following up with a sander. If you take some time beforehand to practice your routing on scrap material, you’ll find that you can get the near-furniture-quality results you see in his work. Unless you have a lot of experience with a belt sander, however, use this tool with great caution and only with fine grit sand¬paper. It removes wood very quickly and can leave gouges and other blemishes that can’t be repaired.

Design Consdirations for Deck Tiles

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

The old deck’s railing measured less than 2 feet from the hot tub, cramping guests as well as blocking their view. Because the tub is supported by a massive structure, moving it was out of the question. In addition, the home­owners liked having the tub nearer to the house than the dining area., simply because they did more soaking than outdoor dining.

Improving the View. On every deck that involves a railing, Marsh designs with the view in mind. In most cases, he has to consider several vantage points. Whether people are sitting on benches, looking out a kitchen or living-room window, or lounging in chairs, they prefer to look at the surroundings rather than the railings. To clear an obstructed view, Marsh often lowers all or part of the deck, as he did in this case. By dropping the deck area down three steps, Marsh was

able to increase its size as AN-ell as improve the view from the hot tub.

To further enhance the view. Marsh installed a tempered -glass panel in the railing where it comes closest to the tub level, allowing soakers to gaze at the countryside and S0111e greeneli-. This panel opens up the -view from the nearby bedroom window as well

Other Considerations. Marsh also placed a large planter next to the tub on the panoramic view side, dropping it down a step so as not to create an obstruction. hen filled with plants, it frames the view of’ the trees beyond

with a foreground of foliage.

The lower deck is large enough that a table with chairs can he set off to one side where they won’t hinder the view from the tub. Dropping this level down three steps from the tub’s lofty height

also served to nestle the dining area pleasantly among the tops of the trees.

The railing and benches are sided wit I h cedar shingles, the same material that covers the house. Lightly stained rather than painted, the shingles give c the deck a warm homey feel. However, too large an expanse of solid siding would make the railing seem massive. so Marsh added a 4-inch gap below the cap to open up the design.

As with most of his decks, Marsh installed low-voltage lighting at various points, especially on the step risers. Unless vou have security concerns. bright floodlights usually detract from a deck’s atmosphere. -Multiple soft lights provide adequate illumination without the glare. Marsh finds that his clients often like to set the lights on timers so that the deck automatically becomes a part of their house at night.

This is an excerpt from “DECK designs” by Steve Cory

Great tips For Deck Designs

The upper portions of most of Marsh’s designs contain a number of stylish features and finishing touches that you can incorporate into your deck if you work with care.

Marsh approaches each job with an open mind. Rather than limit himself to conventional formulas, he spends some time dreaming about the possibilities. As you plan your deck, you’ll naturally think in terms of mimicking those you see in your area. But compared with house building, it’s usually (but not always especially in Marsh’s unique situations) fairly easy and inexpensive to build a deck that incorporates unusual twists and turns. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination when installing your deck. some portions of his decks for specific purposes. For example, he avoids the conventional approach of screwing or bolting rail posts to the side of the deck. These will fail over time, especially in situations where extra strength is needed. In almost every deck that Marsh designs and builds, he uses posts that are bolted within the framing for a strong connection. (For a detail on an alternative way to reinforce rail posts, see “Sheltered but Open,” page 163.)

Marsh uses a variation of an unusual technique for making caps on a curved railing. He cuts the curves out of a piece of 2×12 (or two 1 x1 2s) but doesn’t throw away the waste. Instead, he uses the offcuts from one section as parts for others. This requires serious laminating: you must use glue that will stand up to the weather and join the pieces tightly to avoid ending up with a sloppy looking cap. This will save you a good deal of expensive material.

Because of the tremendous views that many of his clients enjoy, Marsh thinks hard about which way people will face. Whenever possible, he orients a bench so that a person sitting on it won’t have to twist around to take in the scenery. This sometimes requires altering the shape of the deck so that occupants won’t be forced to stare at the house. The bench shown in “Square Corner with a Twist,” pages 174-177, for instance, makes it easy for sitters to choose the view or to gather in a group.

Though Marsh speaks jokingly of being “at one with the wood,” he takes lumber selection very seriously. He spends plenty of time both choosing material at the lumberyard and deciding at the job site which pieces will go where. For every part that will be touched when the deck is finished, such as handrails, he reserves the best quality stock. For pieces that need to remain stable railing caps, for instance he uses only certified kiln dried material. Pieces that will be bent into curves, on the other hand, call for green lumber with a vertical grain. If you’re unsure about selecting the right lumber for a particular application, ask for help at the lumberyard.

Although you probably won’t need to resort to Marsh’s more serious engineering efforts, note how he reinforces to enhance the appearance of moldings, Marsh often finishes them using a router equipped with a roundover or chamfer bit. He’ll often stop the roundover or chamfer short of the edge of the board to add a distinctive look. (See “Soaking and Dining Areas with Shingled Siding,” page 173, and “Square Corner with a Twist,” page 177.)

To bend curved horizontal rail members and fascia pieces, Marsh uses another unconventional technique. Because some boards, for one reason or another, bend more readily than others and some curves are tighter than others, he treats each piece individually. He starts with a green piece of one-by lumber and planes it down until it bends enough for the curve in question. This means that some pieces will be a bit thicker than others, but because several pieces will be joined to make laminated rail or fascia members, the total thicknesses of the members end up identical.

Marsh’s planter design is more elaborate than most. It calls for a galvanized metal liner with a downspout. He orders the liners from a sheet metal shop and builds simple boxes around them. He then positions them care­fully so that no structural members will be regularly soaked by the runoff from rainfall or over watering.

This is an excerpt from “DECK designs” by Steve Cory

Deck Tile Blends with Surroundings of New Homes

Deck Tiles Negotiation

Christine dived head first into the project because she made a special deal with Daniel who had built the previous deck tiles on the old home. Christine agreed to help with the new landscaping if she could hire a builder to handle the construction of the deck tile. After doing lengthy Internet research on composite deck tile products and taking a look at other homeowner’s deck tile, Christine found Eco Arbor Designs. The Moores selected Eco Arbor Designs’ Tongue-and- Groove planks and the Eco Arbor Designs decking system in cedar for their backyard haven. Each Eco Arbor Designs’ plank features consistent color quality to minimize variations from plank to plank and contains special additives to guard against harmful U.V. weathering and ensure maximum color with minimal fade. “I researched a number of composite deck tiling manufacturers, but many of the cedar colors offered had too much orange in them. The Eco Arbor Designs’ cedar was the perfect shade of brown and I fell in love with the Tongue and-Groove look,” said Christine. The Eco Arbor Designs Interlocking Decking System, made from a patented formulation of pure plastic resins and the highest quality oak wood flour, offer a fastener-free, slip-resistant surface that marries maintenance with elaborate design elements. In addition, each Eco Arbor Designs wooden tile contains highly reflective, inorganic color pigments to ensure each tile is always comfortable to touch, regardless of sun intensity or air temperature. The Interlocking Decking System goes above and beyond the norm of deck tiling designs. Similar to Eco Arbor Designs, the Interlocking Decking System is made from a patented formulation of pure plastic resins and high quality wood floor. It’s designed to match the beauty of wood while also being an attractive replacement to wood, vinyl and other composite railing systems.

Each tile is straight and free of knots, splinters or curves. With the deck tile materials selected, the next step was to hire the right builder. With a recommendation from 84 Lumber, Christine contacted Tom Paris of A+ Deck tile Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware and told him what she wanted. While Paris had worked with Eco Arbor Designs deck tiling products in the past, this was his first opportunity to install the railing. Because Christine was insistent on having the decorative handrail match the rest of the deck tile instead of installing a white vinyl railing, she gladly provided Paris with information about the Hardwood Decking System, which she printed directly from the company’s Web site. “Eco Arbor Designs is a great deck tiling product to work with,” said Paris. “The interlocking system of the Tongue-and-Groove Planks gives the finished deck tile a very clean and classy look. And it is more durable that other composite deck tiling products.”

Christine worked closely with Paris on the design of the 795 square foot deck tiles.  The deck tile has a custom, one-of-a-kind design—picture frame molding pattern with an area bumped out for the grill. As a final aesthetic touch, Paris spaced the balusters in groups of two instead of simply installing each one the same distance apart from each other. “No two deck tile is the same,”

Said Paris. “From the pattern of the balusters to the flared out steps, the deck tile was designed to complement the home. I design and build every deck tile as if it was part during the construction of the deck tile, there was a small snag. The balusters were damaged.

When the sales rep for Eco Arbor Designs, learned about the faulty product he made a personal visit to the Moores. He confirmed that the balusters were damaged and immediately made arrangements to have new ones delivered. “I was quite impressed that Doug came out to take a look at the damaged balusters, “said Christine. “It’s nice to know that there are still companies that care about the quality of their products.”

If You Build It, They Will Come

Today, the Moores and their two dogs enjoy quiet evenings on their deck tile surrounded by the natural beauty of the wilderness. “We’ve already done lots of entertaining on the deck tile and are out enjoying it every night. Out of all of the features and amenities of our new house, Iam the most proud of our deck tile,” said Christine.for free information about Eco Arbor Designs, visit www.EcoArborDesigns.com.

Homeowners Discover the Amazing Benefits of Deck Tiles

One of the best features of living near the coast is the view. For Lawrence and Rose Eco Arbor retiring near the ocean was a priority. Their home in Hampsted, North Carolina is located on a bluff on Virginia Creek just off the Intercoastal Waterway directly across from the ocean and their

1,000 square foot deck provides the perfect setting for enjoying the sound and

waterway views. “Instead of guardrails around the deck, we have benches so nothing blocks our view,” said Lawrence. Weathered Look The sea salt spray, humidity and heavy rains associated

with living near the ocean can wreak havoc on natural wood. After 12 years in their home, the Eco Arbor were faced with this dilemma and replaced the existing deck because of deterioration caused by natural elements. “Not only had the existing deck deteriorated, but there was also

lots of mildew growth,” said Rose. “When we started looking at materials to replace the deck, a reliable composite deck tiles material was a main concern.” After doing lengthy research on

the Internet and talking with some local lumber sales reps, the Eco Arbor found Eco Arbor Designs.

Deck Tile in All its Glory

“The Eco Arbor took a look at just about every product out there,” said J. Paul Abrams,

sales rep with Stock Building Supply. “The couple was very educated on the product and

knew what features they expected from the deck tiles material.” No More Spills The Eco Arbor selected Eco Arbor Designs 5/4 deck planks in Grey for their new deck. Each Eco Arbor Designs plank contains highly reflective, inorganic color pigments to ensure each board is always

comfortable to touch, regardless of sun intensity or air temperature. In addition, the Eco Arbor Designs 5/4 plank features a finely brushed, slip-resistant texture, creating a distinctive look with fine detail and bold shadow lines. Eco Arbor Designs planks are Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA) compliant for non-slip walking surfaces. “Because we spend so much time on our deck, we wanted a product that was not only easy to maintain, but also slip resistant,” added Rose. “Our

new deck doesn’t have the mildew buildup and it’s not slippery—even after a heavy

rain.” Worry-Free Maintenance Wood decks require constant maintenance for optimal

appearance. Hours of sanding, sealing, painting and re-staining are necessary for maintaining

the beauty and performance of a wood deck. Even with these hours of manpower, wood

decks are still prone to damage and mildew. In comparison, Eco Arbor Designs deck tiles products are made from a patented formulation of pure plastic resins and the highest quality

oak wood flour. The result of this specially engineered blend is a deck tiles plank with

incredible aesthetics that is easy to install and maintain compared to wood. When it came to building the deck, the Eco Arbor selected contractor, Lorenzo Cavalletti, owner of ,

Inc. in Castle Hayne, N.C., whose company is known for residential and commercial

remodeling and renovations.

“The Eco Arbor deck was only the second time I had the chance to work with Eco Arbor Designs, but I prefer it over others,” said Horsboll. “The product is very easy to work with and it has a very attractive finish.” Consistent quality is engineered into every Eco Arbor Designs 5/4 deck plank.

Each board is straight and has no knots, splinters or curves. It will not rot or warp and insects

simply cannot damage it. Unlike other wood composite products, Eco Arbor Designs 5/4 deck

planks offer superior rigidity and strength to prevent weeping and bowing and spans 16-inches on center. A Welcome Eco Arbor Designs Addition After the deck was completed, the Eco Arbor were so impressed with the finished project, they ordered additional materials to replace their

walkway. “We have a walkway that goes all the way down to the water which we also replaced with the Eco Arbor Designs product,” said Lawrence. “We now have more time to spend enjoying our deck than we have to spend caring for it.”

For free information about

Eco Arbor Designs, visit

www.Eco Arbor Designs.com or call 1-

888-335-8453