Custom Decks

Deck Design for Pool Areas: The Main Considerations

May 2, 2017 By Custom Decks

Whether you create your own design without any outside help or you work with a local professional to come up with the perfect layout for your new decking, there are a few factors that you need to bear in mind if you want to ensure your plans are both practical and attractive. Take a look at the list we have compiled for you and if you need any help with the design, we are of course only a phone call away. Toronto residents who are looking for a firm to design and build pool decking for them can get in touch at any time to request a quotation.

The Main Points to Consider When Creating a New Deck Design

Take the following factors into account before you finalize your design and you will greatly increase the chances of getting it right first time.

Material Costs – Before you decide to have an Italian marble pool surround, you should check out the cost of the materials you will need to purchase. There are many different options when it comes to the materials from which you can make a pool deck but you need to consider the unit costs because some of them are a lot more expensive than others. If you find that you have gone way over budget, you may have to repeat the whole deck design process from the start.
Maintenance Costs – It is also important to think about how much it will cost to maintain your new deck in perfect condition over the years. Wood decking, for example, requires a lot more attention than concrete pavers. If you are keen to keep maintenance costs to a minimum, you might want to forget about wooden decking and focus on the easier to maintain alternatives that are freely available in Toronto.
The Sun – One of the factors that people frequently overlook when approaching deck design for the first time is where the sun will be at certain times of day and how this will affect the positioning of the deck and any shade they may decide to install. In some cases, it can be worth rethinking the location of your pool so that you can install decking in an area more conducive to sunbathing on warm summer days. On the other hand, if you burn easily and prefer to keep out of the sun as much as possible, you should focus on building your deck in an area that is already well shaded.
Size – The width of the deck that you install should reflect not only your aesthetic preferences but the number of people you expect to be using it on a regular basis. If you expect to be entertaining large numbers of people every weekend throughout the summer you should create a deck design that takes these expectations into account. On the other hand, if the only people using your pool and new deck will be you and your immediate family, a more compact design could be the best way to go. If you install a deck that takes up more space than is really necessary, you may well regret it in the future.

Unless you have a few years of experience in the industry and a working knowledge of the construction techniques involved, deck design is something that should probably be left to the professionals. If you would like to hire a local team that will take the time to listen to your requirements before creating a design that meets them all in full, please feel free to call or email us at any time.

Installing an Outdoor Kitchen in a Smaller Yard: How to Make it Work

April 25, 2017 By Custom Decks

Our writer giving tips how you can install Outdoor Kitchen vs Smaller Yard

Building an outdoor cooking area in your Toronto back yard may seem like a foolish idea if you have a limited amount of space to work with but even if you have a very small yard, you can still build a kitchen that is both beautiful and functional. To help you get started, we have put together some design ideas for you to consider. If you would like to have your new kitchen designed and built by a team of experienced professionals, please feel free to call and request a quotation at any time.

Designing a Compact Outdoor Kitchen for a Small Yard

The main thing to bear in mind when designing a smaller outdoor cooking area is that as long as you stay focused on the essentials, you are sure to end up with a practical, stylish kitchen that is perfect for preparing summer feasts when the weather is fine.

Opt for High Quality Materials – One of the advantages of smaller outdoor kitchens is that you can afford to specify higher quality materials because you will need less of them. You can order the best countertops on the market, the highest quality floor tiles, and the nicest bricks to build the base for the countertops and grill unit. Get together with your designer and go mad: you won’t regret specifying the best materials once your new outdoor kitchen has been completed and is ready to use.
Buy a Top-of the-Range Grill – Rather than spending money on loads of small appliances that will probably be of limited use once you actually start to use your new outdoor cooking space on a regular basis, invest the majority of the money you set aside for appliances on a top-of-the-range grill. A high quality grill will add far more value to your kitchen in terms of functionality than an expensive espresso machine, ice maker, or any other optional appliance is likely to do.
Use Indoor Food Preparation Area – If you are working with a very small space, you can use your indoor food preparation area instead of building a new one for your outdoor kitchen. To make it easier for you to go from inside to out, your new outdoor cooking area can be adjacent to your indoor kitchen.
Make Sure You Have Room for a Roof – Even if you are only planning to use temporary canvas roofing, make sure that you remember to leave space for it in your outdoor kitchen design. While you are only likely to use your new kitchen when the weather is fine you should be able to continue cooking in the event of a light shower, so making it completely open to the elements is a bad idea. One of the advantages of a smaller outdoor cooking area is that you can shield it from the elements more easily than a large, sprawling space: you can plan the layout of the countertop and storage units so that they help to shelter you from occasional spring showers and summer rainstorms.
Combine the Seating and Cooking Areas – If you don’t have room for a separate patio where you can eat your meals al fresco, put some seating in the kitchen area itself. You may have to use a slightly smaller table than if you located it in a separate area but it will save a lot of space, which is the main aim when working with very small yards.

Call today to find out how much it will cost to hire us to design and build your new outdoor kitchen, whatever the size of your Toronto back yard.

Our Deck Builders Explain the Importance of Adhering to Local Building Codes

May 30, 2016 By Custom Decks

Having a high quality deck built in your back yard can be a fantastic home improvement that allows you and your family to really make the most of the fine weather we often enjoy during the spring, summer, and fall in Toronto. However, if you are planning to construct a new deck in your back yard this year, you need to consider the local building codes at the design stage. Failure to do so could lead to problems in the future and unnecessary expense.

Why You Should Hire Deck Builders Who Are Familiar with Local Building Codes

You may be tempted to build your own deck or to hire a firm that charges significantly less than the competition but has little real world experience. However, following either of these paths could cause you unnecessary grief in the future.

Possibility of a Fine – If your deck is built contrary to local building codes it will not be possible to obtain a permit for the work and to have it inspected and passed as safe by the local municipality once it has been completed. Even if the deck in question is built correctly, you could be found to be in contravention of the local building code and required to pay a fine if you did not obtain a permit before the work started. Rather than run the risk of being financially penalized, you should hire a team of deck builders who know how to do everything by the book.
Interruption to Work – In the event that your builders should fail to follow local guidelines, it is possible that the local council will insist that all work is halted until any faults have been corrected. This could cost you a lot of time and money and is a situation you should avoid.
Removal of Your Deck – In a worst case scenario, if your deck is not designed and constructed in accordance will local building codes, you could be asked to remove it completely. This would obviously involve a major financial loss and unless you have a watertight contract with your deck builders, you may not be able to recover any of the money that you spent on the project.
Safety Concerns – A deck that is improperly designed or constructed may pose a safety risk to you and other members of your household. Regardless of whether you are penalized by the local authorities, this is a situation that you will of course wish to avoid at all costs. To avoid any such safety issues, only deal with reputable deck builders in Toronto who have a proven track record.
Durability Issues – If your deck is poorly constructed, there is a very good chance that it will deteriorate over the coming months and years, far more quickly than would otherwise have been the case. To protect your investment, insist that all plans are approved by the relevant authorities and that final payment is not made until the work has been signed off by local officials.

If you do not want to run the risk of contravening local building codes, you should hire the very best deck builders you can afford. With a track record second to none and a highly competitive pricing structure, we can design and build the perfect deck for your back yard at a reasonable cost and ensure that it complies with all relevant local regulations. Call today to discuss your requirements and to request an estimate for the work you would like to have done. We have helped many local businesses and homeowners in the past and would be delighted to design and build a new deck for you.

7 Common Ways in Which Custom Deck Projects Can Go Wrong

May 18, 2016 By Custom Decks

A brand new deck where you can enjoy eating outdoors, or simply relaxing in a pleasant environment when the fine weather arrives, sounds like a great idea and if the work is completed properly it could prove to be a major asset for years to come. Many Toronto homeowners have beautiful decks from which they derive much pleasure but you need to plan such a project carefully if you are to avoid making the mistakes that others have made in the past.

Mistakes to Avoid When Designing and Constructing Custom Decks

When you are planning your new deck, consider the following common mistakes and make sure that you do not follow in the footsteps of other unfortunate homeowners.

Failing to Produce a Detailed Plan – Whether you would like to tackle the work yourself or you hire a local firm to build your new deck, the very first thing you will need is a comprehensive plan. A deck may not sound like a major project when compared to a home addition but if you do not have a detailed design from which to work, there is very little chance that the project will be a success.
Failure to Obtain a Permit – Custom decks that are more than 60cm off the ground require a building permit from the local authorities. If you do not apply for, and receive, such a permit, you may be asked to dismantle your deck should it be discovered by local officials at any point in the future.
Hiring an Inexperienced Team – If you are paying for professional help, make sure that you hire a firm with the knowledge and experience to build a high quality deck in your Toronto backyard. Less experienced contractors may charge slightly less but can end up costing you much more in the long term.
Using Concrete Footings – Unless they are several feet below grade, concrete footings are susceptible to freeze/thaw damage in the cold winters we experience here. This damage can cause custom decks to move or sink over time, which is obviously undesirable.
Failure to Plan the Position of Furniture and Cooking Appliances – If you want to use your new deck to cook and eat meals outside in the warm weather, you will need to consider the placement of tables, seating, and BBQ equipment at the design stage. Failure to do so could result in you having to make undesirable compromises once the project is well underway.
Not Considering the Position of the Sun – If you want to make the most of your new deck, you will need to consider siding at the planning stage, to shade it from the heat of the midday sun. The position of the sun during the hottest part of the day will determine the height and position of any siding that you incorporate into your final design.
Hiring Uninsured Contractors – Any reputable firm that builds custom decks in the area should have a generous public liability policy that covers the cost of any damage they may inadvertently cause to your property or any injuries that may be sustained by their staff or clients. If you hire an uninsured contractor, you could be faced with massive repair costs or expensive lawsuits in the event that something should go seriously wrong during the construction of your new deck.

To make sure that you avoid all the above mistakes and any others that may be waiting to catch you unawares, work with ME Contracting, the local experts in custom decks. We have successfully completed many projects in the city and would love the opportunity to build your new deck.

The Perils of DIY Deck Design

April 24, 2016 By Custom Decks

The backyard deck is not only the most popular type of addition people will make to their home, it’s also one many homeowners mistake for a nice DIY project. With countless websites and TV programs promoting this idea it’s no surprise that people would take backyard deck design into their own hands. But they shouldn’t. People die in deck collapses on an all-too-frequent basis and almost all decks that collapse were either designed and/or built by non-professionals.

Backyard Decks: Design Professionals are Crucial to Long Term Reliability

There are a lot of things that can go wrong with decks. Design is where most of those problems begin. You increase the risk of experiencing problems if you take things into your own hands. Here are some of the most common mistakes DIY deck designers make.

Poorly attaching the deck to the house – The ledger board through which the deck is attached to the house needs to be firmly bolted in place; never nailed. It will have to support the weight of people, furniture, planters, a grill and more. Failure to design and implement a proper method to secure the deck to the house is the most common cause of deck collapses.

Designing a deck that’s not up to code – There are some folks who don’t see the value in checking in with City Hall before they design their new deck. Many of them are unpleasantly surprised when the inspector drops by on a neighbor’s tip and discovers a slew of code violations. You may be given a chance to fix them or you may be told to demolish the deck.

Designing an ugly deck – Let’s be honest: most DIY decks are ugly. There’s a reason (lots of them actually) why people go to school to study design. It’s not easy to do it well. Why risk having the new addition to your house be as plain as white bread or a complete aesthetic mismatch? Let the professionals handle it and wind up with a deck you’ll be proud of.

Designing a deck that busts the budget – Folks staying up late working on their dream decks design typically aren’t aware what materials cost. As a result their plans will call for top-shelf materials when middle shelf would have better suited their needs. Professional designers know the price of things and won’t set you up for a budgetary meltdown.

The Real Value of Professional Deck Design

Sometimes for relatively short money you can enlist a professional who will design a deck for you that will look great, satisfy all building codes and adhere to your budget. If you enlist a contractor to build your deck that same contractor may design the deck for free or at a greatly reduced rate as part of a package. Whichever path you choose a professional designer will typically provide you with:

An overhead elevation of the property showing the massing and position of the deck.
Detailed plans of all vital connections and components like stairs, railings and more.
Several detailed renderings showing what the finished deck will look like.
A list of all necessary materials.
An estimated build time.

Toronto Custom Decks design backyard solutions that you can use with total confidence for as long as you own your home. DIY designers sometimes forget that when it comes to backyard decks design – especially elevated platforms – lives are at stake. That’s something we don’t ever lose sight of. If this is the year you’ve decided you’re going to take the plunge and add a deck to your house, call the trusted professionals at Toronto Custom Decks. You won’t be sorry.

Outdoor Kitchen Myths You Might Have Heard

April 9, 2016 By Custom Decks

Although the idea of outdoor food prep is as old as human’s home design of the past few hundred years made it an increasingly indoor experience, save for the occasional barbecue. The outdoor kitchen reverses this trend and in the process elevates the often forgotten backyard into a hub of activity. All that said backyard kitchens have attracted their fair share of misunderstanding and myths and in this post we’ll address some of the more common ones.

5 Myths That Have Grown up Around the Outdoor Kitchen

A backyard kitchen is fun, exciting and beautiful. It can help you fall back in love with your house. However, in spite of (or maybe because of) the popularity of outdoor kitchens in Toronto and elsewhere a laundry list of myths have arisen around them; some perhaps understandable. Others, not so much. Here are some of the most commonly heard myths surrounding outdoor kitchens today.

Myth: An outdoor kitchen is the perfect DIY project – No. It’s not. A properly concepted outdoor kitchen will likely include a gas grill, running water and a tasteful, comprehensive lighting scheme. Unless you’re a certified Gas Safe technician, a plumber or an electrician you shouldn’t be attempting to handle any of those aspects of construction yourself. Especially outdoors, where the proper fitting of gas lines and wiring becomes even more crucial.

Myth: You don’t need to spend extra on weatherproof appliances – Yes, you do. Trying to cut corners budget-wise by installing indoor appliances outdoors is setting the countdown to failure in motion. You just have to hope that when the wiring in the refrigerator goes (and it will if you have an indoor fridge outdoors) that someone you love doesn’t get electrocuted. Every appliance you install in your new kitchen needs to be built specifically for the outdoors.

Myth: Outdoor kitchens are only useful on sunny summer days – If that’s your only goal when building it then this might be true. But if you want to use your backyard kitchen most of the year and you’ve hired an experienced professional to design it they’ll make sure to add features like a heated floor, strategically placed wind-breaking walls and a retractable roof that will allow you to entertain in your new space in all but the most extreme weather.

Myth: Outdoor kitchens are only for the rich – Outdoor kitchens are like anything else; how much you spend is up to you. You can spend $2,000 on a fine gas grille or you can drop $15-20,000 on the fanciest, leading-edge grille technology available. Same with everything else; you can have a slate floor or a marble floor, hot and cold running water or just cold. How much you invest will be entirely up to you. But you don’t have to drop $100,000 to get quality.

Myth: Your utility bills will go through the roof – Why would they do that? When you and your guests are outdoors there’s no need to have as many things running indoors. When you’re using the outdoor grill you’re not using the indoor stove. When you’re using the outdoor sound system you’re probably not using the indoor sound system. Is it possible that your utility bills may increase a bit if you start entertaining a lot? Sure. But that will be a function of entertaining more, not a function of having an outdoor kitchen.

The al fresco kitchen is many things alright, including the target of myths and tall tales floated by who knows who. Before you give too much weight to stories and myths you may have heard call the backyard experts at Toronto Custom Decks. We’ll show you how to achieve the outdoor kitchen of your dreams at a price you can afford.

7 Ideas for Custom Decks that are Sure to Inspire

March 29, 2016 By Custom Decks

Buying a property is a big investment, so it’s no wonder we want to be proud of our homes and keep them looking great. Your garden is often the first thing guests will see and it’s here you have a huge opportunity to set a good first impression. Do you want your outdoors to look clean and looked after, or would you prefer to showcase something a little more unique?

Custom Decks Can Give Your Outdoors a Unique Identity

Toronto experiences cold winters and hot summers, which is why your deck needs to be resilient to harsh weather while looking great to be enjoyed through the summer months. Many high quality materials can be used to create custom decks that will give your garden an awe-inspiring facelift.

Cedar Decking – This is among the most durable of materials used to create outdoor decks and its beauty makes it a popular choice for a wide range of uses across virtually any style, be it contemporary or stylised to a specific time period.
Composite Decks – Though this can appear to be a larger initial investment than some other materials, its high durability makes it worth it in the long run. Composite decks are made from a mixture of wood and plastic purposely to reduce the amount of maintenance required.
Ipe Decking – Also known as Brazilian walnut, this material is native to South America and even has a fire rating. This beautiful material naturally repels pests and mold, making it an investment you’ll enjoy for years to come.
PVC Decking – If you prefer your custom decks to have an organic look, this might not be the deck for you. However, it is fully recyclable and puts up superior resistance to weathering. It’s also extremely low maintenance for those of us who would rather not have to look after the garden on a constant basis, and there’s no need to worry about the kids picking up any painful splinters!
Trex Decking – This is an example of a composite material that promises high durability while looking great. The little amount of maintenance required makes it a popular choice, needing to be cleaned only one or two times a year to remain looking almost brand new. Choose this material for your custom decks and you’ll have a unique garden that requires very little upkeep.
Deck Design – Aside from the material you choose to give your garden an aesthetic boost, you also need to consider how exactly you want it to look. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have much of an eye for design yourself; Toronto is home to high quality deck designers that will happily offer you their expert advice.
Complete Solutions – Our final idea offering to make custom decks look as impressive as possible is to look for combined solutions that add many other elements of outdoor landscaping into the mix. Reputable companies that specialise in outdoor design never make two gardens look identical. So, if you want something really stylish, you might want to explore full landscaping solutions.

Your garden is a place for you to enjoy the hot summer weather, but it’s also crucial that it can stand up to the harsh weather during the winter months. This article explored a far from exhaustive list of ideas for custom decks which are designed to achieve both of those purposes. If you’re looking for an experienced and professional company, visit Torontocustomdecks.ca to explore a variety of outdoor ideas that could turn your garden into your own unique paradise.

Discuss These 5 Things with Your Decking Company BEFORE You Part With Any Money

March 15, 2016 By Custom Decks

Building a new deck is an exciting prospect. You can expect your entire domestic experience to change for the better and you’ll also enjoy the added market value the new deck will bestow upon your house. Most of the benefits of a new deck however, are dependent on the quality of the deck you have installed. If you’re not careful in your selection of the decking company you could wind up with an eyesore or something the building inspector orders you to pull down. In this post we’ll look at 5 things you should discuss with any prospective deck contractor before handing over money.

Making Sure You Wind up With a First Class Decking Company

There are a lot of companies out there today that claim to be masters of the modern deck but many of them will simply not hold up under close examination. Before you sign a contract and fork over the deposit it’s in your interest to get as clear a picture as possible about who will be building your deck.

Are you licensed? – Contractors in Toronto and various surrounding towns must be licensed. Different towns have different requirements so you’ll want to check on that before talking to the contractor. If it turns out they’re not licensed you should probably take a pass. There are plenty of fully licensed contractors out there so there’s no need to endanger your project.
Do you carry liability insurance? – No liability insurance no deal. It’s as simple as that. If you hire a decking company that is not covered for liability and someone gets hurt on the jobsite the financial onus could land squarely on your shoulders. It’s just not worth it. If they claim to have liability coverage ask them nicely for proof. If they can’t prove it, don’t take the chance.
How many decks have you built? – You very well may want to make this question #1. If this is their first deck it’s probably a good idea to take a pass. You want an experienced builder on the job because deck collapses are no laughing matter and usually occur because a novice builder forgot something important. Again, it’s just not worth taking the chance.
Will you provide references? – Like liability insurance this one is black and white. No references no deal. End of story. If the decking company does provide you with phone numbers and the like make sure you follow up. If the other customers will allow you, you should stop by and take a look at the quality of the design and workmanship as well.
Will you put your price in writing? – You may feel like you can work with a contractor and be willing to take them at their word that the price is the price. But that’s no way to operate really. You could, and in all likelihood will, wind up getting burned. Insist on having the price and all the specifics down in black and white before handing over any cash.

It rarely if ever pays to take a contractor at their word when it comes to large scale projects like a backyard deck. There’s too much time, money and heartache involved if they mess things up. If you’re in the market for a new deck for your home call the backyard professionals at Toronto Custom Decks and let us help. We’re fully licensed and insured and will gladly provide you with proof, as well as copious references. Once you get to know more about us we’re confident you’ll see there’s no more qualified decking company in the GTA to bring your backyard dream to life.