Deck Builder directory and forum

We are proud to introduce the first ever deck builder directory and forum dedicated to helping other deck builders grow their business. The deck builder forum is created and maintained by licensed professionals. There are a number of features on the website. The first is a directory that will be available to potential clients that are looking for a deck builder. If you are a deck building professional than you can submit your information to the deck forum to be considered for inclusion to the directory. The online deck forum is a place designed for deck professionals that want to share the latest tips on decking materials and installation methods. There are significant changes that have taken place over the last ten to fifteen years. The biggest is the quality of the lumber that is now being used to build decks. In the past they were able to harvest trees that were much older and had a tighter wood grain. This made for a longer lasting, more durable decking material. The second factor that has changed the deck industry is the way the lumber is treated. Most materials used to frame a deck will be made from pine that has been treated to resist decay. Over the last few years there has been a movement to make the treated lumber more environmentally friendly. This has lead to a product that doesn't hold up nearly as well as it used to. Some of the biggest things that I push for as a deck builder are using composite decking materials as well as the use of steel framing members to support the deck. Some of the materials that are available today are expected to last for up to 50 years. If you are able to extend the lifespan on your deck that much, it's worth spending a little more up front.

Deck Builders Forum

One of the most important things that any deck builder looking to gain online exposure for their business can focus on is participating in online forums. By participating in our deck builders forum you can create much more relavent links to your desired keyword. Another thing to focus on for promoting your deck building company is to list your business in deck building directories. By listing your deck company in the right directories you can provide google with consistant information regarding the details of your business. We are looking to be your first destination when you are looking for deck builders in your area. If we can provide a complete source of all the contractors that are completely focused on building decks then we can provide the best launchpad for finding a good deck builder. Deck Builders Overland Park

Cedar Decking Grades

One thing that is important to consider when building a cedar deck is the grade of lumber the deck builder will be using. There are two basic types of cedar that will typically be used in decking applications.

Members of the Western Red Cedar Association have created a guide to distinguish the variations in cedar decking.

Architect Clear

This is the ultimate in cedar decking in both performance and visual satisfaction. Usually this will need to be special orded from the lumber yard.

Custom Clear

Very durable and clean. Typically used in high end residential woodworking projects.

Architect Knotty

Few knotts can create a charming or rustic look.

Custom Knotty

Hole free knotty manufactured to high standards to provide a more economical option for cedar decking.

Clear Cedar Decking

Knotty Cedar Decking

On average, there is about a $4 per sf price increase to go with the clear cedar instead of the knotty cedar. Aside from looking better, clear cedar will also outlast knotty cedar. A quality Kansas City Deck Builder should be able to keep their labor consistant no matter what type of cedar you choose for your project.

Hidden Fastner Decking Systems

One of my favorite upgrades to incorporate on any deck we build, is the addition of a hidden fastner system. For many, seeing a row of screws every 16" is something that they have just gotten use to. You have to screw the deck down somehow, Right? When I tell people about the various screwless fastner systems available, many people are foreign to the idea. Any of the top Olathe Deck Builders will tell you, A deck with no screws is the way to go.

There are several types of systems we use to achieve the desired look of clean decking. Some systems mount from the side of the decking and some mount from underneath the deck. Many factors such as the height of the deck and the type of decking you use will determine which system is best for your new deck. We recommend Fastenmaster.

KC Deck and Patio

Overland Park Deck Builder

Evergrain Decks

Evergrain Decking has a deep, lasting, wood-like grain and has a beautiful natural look created by multiple grain pattern. It is available in seven natural colors. The Vibrance Decking Collection features color highlights that emulate the textures and natural color variations of real wood. This brand also offers coordinating extruded skirting without color highlights that provides a professional finished look. Because it does not require painting or staining, Epoch Evergrain’s low maintenance decking material saves time and money.

As an Overland Park Deck Builder, we install a lot of composite decks in the Kansas City area. We are yet to have any complaints or claims with this product. There are many similar composite decking materials that do have many issues that are widely available through various forums around the web.


Here is a picture that we took in September of 2011, This is by an Olathe Deck builder, KC Deck and Patio.



KC Deck and Patio 913 432 5015
http://www.kcdeckandpatio.com

Vast Composite Pavers

Composite Paver
Overview

VAST® Composite Pavers are breaking the traditional mentality that landscape pavers must be made from concrete or clay. Made from up to 95% recycled materials, patented VAST Composite Pavers are the first socially responsible paver alternatives in the industry.

Composite Paver
3"x6" Redwood Paver
11.8"x11.8" Grid

Applications

Driveways Parking Lots Patios

Sidewalks Pool Areas Rooftop Patios

Highlights

• Highly engineered composite material made from up to 95% recycled materials
• Contributes more LEED™ credits in Green Building projects—more than all other traditional pavers
• One-third the weight of concrete pavers
• Innovative grid system dramatically reduces labor expense and improves installation quality
• Excellent slip resistance in both wet and dry conditions and meets OSHA and ADA requirements for accessible, flat areas
• Easy to work with (e.g. cuts with wood saws) and allows for design flexibility
• Available in a variety of fade-resistant, natural colors
• Currently available in 3"x6" (11.8"x11.8" grids)
• Backed by a 10-year limited warranty and a LIFETIME warranty against cracking

For installation in Olathe and Overland Park Ks

Visit our suppliers website for more information and pricing: http://www.elements-of-green.com/VAST-Pavers.html

KC Deck and Patio
http://www.kcdeckandpatio.com

Sustainable Decking Options from Natural Home

How to stay green on your Decking Project

DON'T contribute to deforestation by building a deck made of wood harvested from old-growth forests.

DO consider using sustainably harvested wood certified by the Forest Steward- ship Council or recycled decking.

Adding a deck can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors and add another room without building walls. Unfortunately, much of the wood used to construct these additions comes from harmful logging practices that destroy the very nature we want to enjoy. For an eco-friendly alternative, consider wood that’s been responsibly harvested and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)—or look into non-wood decking made from recycled plastic.

FSC-certified wood comes from a forest that’s being managed according to sustainable and environmentally conscious guidelines set forth by the FSC, considered the global standard setter for responsible forestry practices. Distributors must also be certified by the FSC before they can sell FSC-certified wood.

However, there’s growing concern about U.S. lumber companies that are certified to sell FSC wood but never actually stock it. “People are being fooled,” says Larry Percivalle, sales and marketing director for EarthSource Forest Prod ucts (ESFP), a certified-wood supplier that specializes in deck woods. “Customers see the FSC logo on company letterhead and assume the products are certified.” Other companies may claim different certification, hoping that when customers see the word “certified” they’ll think the wood is sustainable. According to Percivalle, “the FSC certification is the only one that’s credible.”

You can find FSC-certified suppliers on the organization’s website, but the only way to know for certain if a store carries certified lumber is to ask. Then, check your invoice. “A customer in voice should show a line item that says ‘FSC ­certified,’” says Dan Harrington of EcoTimber a certified wood company specializing in interior floors. “If the invoice doesn’t show those words, the wood isn’t certified.”

Deck it out

For wood to perform its best outdoors, it has to be water and bug resistant. Pressure-treated wood—usually pine—has always been the easiest product to find that meets these prerequisites. The pressure-treatment industry has phased out CCA-treated wood (containing copper, chromium, and arsenic)—in favor of arsenic-free treatments such as ACQ (ammonium copper quaternary), but safety concerns remain.

Most hardwood decking products are naturally resistant to dry rot and insects because of the wood’s density and the oil present in it. Redwood and cedar are the most common types grown and harvested in the United States, though it’s very ­difficult to find FSC-certified cedar these days, says Percivalle.

FSC-certified tropical hardwoods are the wood of choice for many green building professionals and environmentalists. “If you can find FSC-certified tropical hardwood decking—which is selectively cut—you’re helping create an economic value for a standing forest in the Amazon, thereby preventing it from being cleared for agriculture or for cattle grazing,” Harrington says. Michael Washburn, Ph.D., FSC’s VP of forestry and marketing, says, “When local people see value in forests being forests, they keep the ecosystem in place.” Washburn adds that while the availability of FSC-certified hardwoods is still limited, it’s growing quickly.
Request a bid from an Olathe Deck Builder

Ipê is a tropical hardwood that’s become a popular decking material over the last few years and is grown and harvested in South America. Harrington cautions, however, that ipê may not be the best choice. “Ipê is rarely available certified, and the noncertified wood is coming from the clear cutting of pristine Amazonian jungle.”

One wood that’s just starting to make its way into U.S. markets is tauari (pronounced “toe-are-ee”), also called Brazilian oak. It may not be widely available to consumers yet, but both Har rington and Percivalle tout its durable performance and creamy, light-brown beauty as a great alternative to ipê. Tauari retails for significantly less than ipê, which has gone up in price by 15 percent since 2003, according to Percivalle. As of press time, one-by-six-certified ipê decking from EarthSource sells for about $2.70 a linear foot compared to $1.75 a foot for tauari. The same size redwood board runs roughly $1.80 a foot.

Other tropical woods such as massaranduba, Santa Maria, and machiche are harder to find FSC certified but are also good choices. Remember, shipping costs can be substantial and hardwoods can be difficult to work with.

Recycled plastic or composite decking is also an option (see “Lumber Without Logging,” this page). While some consider this a more environmentally sound alternative than wood, there are concerns. As with other decisions, the best choice is the one you can live with.

If sacrificing trees for a backyard wooden deck isn’t on your agenda, consider building with plastic or composite (half plastic, half wood dust) materials. Some—but not all—manufacturers make products from wood scraps gathered at mills and recycled plastics such as milk-jug containers and plastic grocery bags. Others use virgin plastics such as vinyl.

Nonwood advantages:

• Doesn’t splinter or rot
• Doesn’t need to be sealed or painted
• Colors won’t fade
• Reuses plastic scrap and wood byproducts
• Has good traction

Nonwood disadvantages:

• Some doubt has been cast on plastic composite woods. Trex, a successful mock-wood decking manufacturing company, is being sued as part of a class-action lawsuit asserting that the company’s product doesn’t live up to its advertising promises. The complaint alleges Trex products actually do rot, splinter, and degrade. Trex maintains the accusations are untrue.
• Unlike real wood, the boards don’t biodegrade.

What's on deck?

Tips for sealing decks:

To retain the wood’s natural color, you need to seal your deck yearly.
Here’s how to choose a sealant.

Conventional sealers: Most mainstream home improvement stores sell oil- and water-based polyurethane. Oil-based polyurethanes contain high levels of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that compromise indoor air quality. Water-based products have far fewer VOCs, but they also use petrochemical additives (such as hardeners) that contribute to environmental pollution.

Healthier alternatives: Plant-oil preservatives such as tung and linseed oil are also effective and healthy. These must be applied to the deck once a year to be effective.

Au Naturel: A deck made of certified sustainable hardwood can last decades longer than one built with softer, sappier wood—even with no sealant or stain put on it.

http://www.kcdeckandpatio.com

KC Deck and Patio is an Overland Park deck builder specializing in composite decks in the Kansas City area.