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5 Great Reasons to Call the Deck Builders in Spring

June 1, 2017 By TORONTO CUSTOM DECKS

5 Great Reasons to Call the Toronto Deck Builders in Spring. Some people might tell you that fall or winter are the best times to start building a deck, but if you haven’t yet started, it’s not too late! If you get started right away, you can still have a new deck in place when the warm weather comes. And don’t worry, you won’t have to do the work yourself; give us a call and we’ll have our Toronto deck builders come and get started right away!

Deck Design Trends 2017 — Toronto Deck Builders

Here are Five Good Reasons Why Now is a Great Time to Build a New Deck

1. New Look

Give your home a new look this summer by adding a new deck now. There is a huge variety of different designs and materials on the market right now, so you have more choices than ever before. You might have a design in mind or we can help you choose the layout and materials that are just right for your home and the space available. When summer rolls around, your friends and neighbours will be impressed with how good your home looks with the new deck. A deck will also add value to your home if you’re planning to sell it in the near future!

2. Less Damage to Lawn

By building a deck when the snow has just melted and the grass is beginning to grow, our Toronto deck builders will be able to minimize the disruption of growing grass and not interfere with lawn care that will be required soon. If we get started right away, we might even be finished by the time you need to cut the grass for the first time.
We might have to remove some grass to facilitate deck installation but the sod can be stored easier while the weather is mild, meaning it will look nicer when it is replaced after the new deck is finished. Any grass that needs to be replanted will be growing well by the middle of the summer.

3. Work in Comfort

Our deck builders will be doing most of the work, but you will appreciate the mild Toronto weather when you come to watch us work, ask/answer questions about what we are doing and your new deck, and make decisions or changes needed during the building process. Our deck builders and the other people involved in the process will also appreciate getting the job done before it gets too hot!

4. Don’t Miss Barbeque Season

By starting on your deck now, our deck builders will have it done in plenty of time for those mid-summer barbeques. Imagine, when the hot weather arrives, being able to invite your friends, family and neighbours over for a party on your brand-new deck! Don’t wait too long and spend that weekend wishing you had a place for a party!

5. Beat the Rush

The peak season for deck-building in Toronto is just around the corner! If you call our deck builders now, we’ll be able to come and get started much faster than we will if you wait a few weeks. Our waiting lists are short now but they will be getting longer soon as the warm weather arrives and people decided they want to build a new deck or update an existing one.

Don’t Wait – Call Our Toronto Deck Builders Today!

Don’t wait until the warm weather has arrived and wish you had a new deck to eat meals, host get-togethers, or just to sit and enjoy a cool drink on. Get started early and make that dream a reality! If you call us now, our deck builders will make sure you’re enjoying those sunny days on your new deck, not wishing you were!

How to Ensure Your Custom Deck Achieves What You Have in Mind

May 13, 2017 By TORONTO CUSTOM DECKS

So, you are interested in adding a deck onto your house, but you’re not sure how that is going to work with the size of your yard and other things? No need to worry! No matter how big your yard is or what your needs are for a deck and the rest of your space, we’ll help you sort it out. Here are some important things to consider before you start building a deck.

What will your new deck look like?

There are more choices of materials and designs now than there ever were before. Maybe you’ve seen a deck that you loved or you have your own unique idea in mind. Even if you haven’t yet decided what you want your deck to look like, we can help you choose a design that you will love!

Make use of space under your deck:

Some deck owners use this space for storage, which can be open or enclosed, depending on your preferences. This is a good idea if you have things that you want to keep tucked away but not taking up space in your garage. It will also help your yard to look less cluttered when you’re sitting on your new deck!
Other deck owners choose to set up a shaded area under the deck for those hot/rainy Toronto days. A seating area under your deck can even be screened in, allowing you the comfort of sitting outside late into the evening without being bothered by bugs.

One of the great things about custom decks is that you choose what the space will be used for!

Consider the location of your deck:

You might think that the back yard is the only possible location for a deck, and it is the most popular choice. However, many Toronto homeowners are now putting custom decks on the sides of their houses or on the front. You choose the location that’s best for you and we’ll help make it work.

Think about what you want the view from your custom deck to look like:

You probably have an idea in your head about what you want to look at or what you want others to see while they’re sitting on your deck. Keeping this in mind while designing your new deck will help make your dream a reality!

Consider the size of your deck based on your needs and the space available:

You might want a small deck just big enough for your family and your barbeque, a huge deck to host big parties on or something in between. We build custom decks in all shapes and sizes, so no matter what your needs are, we can meet them.

List your “Must Haves” and “Nice to Haves” for your deck and your outdoor space:

Have some plants or other features of your yard that you don’t want to change? No problem, let us know and we’ll make sure we find a way to keep them. Want to upgrade your outdoor space at the same time as you add a new deck? We can help with that too!
By getting everything down on paper, it will be easier for you and our builders to design your custom deck to fit your every desire.

Custom Decks are Specially Designed to Fit Your Needs

That’s right! All of our custom decks are specially designed based on the space available, how large of a deck is desired, and what you want to do with your deck space and other outdoor space. We can help you decide on the style and size of your deck as well as how to make the best use of your outdoor space.

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.

Getting Your Outdoor Kitchen Ready for the Warmer Weather: Maintenance Tips

April 5, 2017 By TORONTO CUSTOM DECKS

It is very easy to forget all about your outdoor cooking area in autumn and winter as there are so few days in Toronto when the weather is warm enough to make preparing and eating a meal outside an attractive proposition at this time of year. What this means is that when the weather finally starts to warm up, your outdoor kitchen can be in a bit of a sorry state. To avoid this being an issue, you should follow a regular maintenance schedule, as set out below. Some tasks need doing every time you cook, whereas others may only need attending to once every few years.

How to Keep Your Outdoor Kitchen in Good Working Order

Follow the suggestions below and you will find that your kitchen is primed and ready to use when the sun starts to show its face again.

Clean and Check Your Grill Regularly – Whenever you are using your grill on a regular basis, you should be cleaning it on a regular basis too but even in the colder months of the year when you seldom use it, you should give it the once over every couple of weeks. It is almost certainly the most important appliance in your outdoor kitchen and should be treated as such. In addition to cleaning the surface of the grill once it is not too hot to the touch (but still warm) you should check the condition of the burners, hoses and valves every now and then.

Have Your Counter tops Sealed – This is especially important if you chose granite for your kitchen work surfaces, as so many people in this part of the world do. Granite is a good choice for kitchens both inside and out, owing to the fact it is very resistant to heat. However, it can easily be damaged by the UV rays to which it will be subjected in an outdoor kitchen, which is why it should be sealed. The work should be performed by a professional but there’s no need to panic as it only needs doing every 3 to 5 years so it won’t cost you a fortune!

Power Clean Your Stone Surfaces – Whether you opted for engineered or natural stone in your outdoor cooking area, an annual cleaning with a power washer will ensure that it stays looking good for many years to come. One thing to bear in mind when you are using a pressure washer to clean engineered stone is not to exceed the manufacturer’s recommendations as far as the maximum pressure you use is concerned.

Disconnect Your Appliances – To avoid wasting energy when your outdoor kitchen is standing unused and to avoid the possibility of gas or electric lines being accidentally damaged, disconnect your appliances until spring: unplug any electrical equipment and turn off the gas supply to your grill.

Store or Cover Outdoor Furniture Over Winter – Most people have a few chairs and a table in their Toronto outdoor kitchen if nothing else. If you want to make sure that your kitchen furniture is still in good condition once it is time to start cooking outside again, it is a good idea to store in in a dry place during the winter months. If you do not have anywhere suitable to store it, you can cover it instead: use tarpaulin, canvas or vinyl sheeting and try to make sure that it is completely protected from the elements.

If you would like more tips on how to maintain your outdoor cooking area, or you don’t yet have one and would like to find out how much it would cost to build one, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Tips to Help You Maximize Yard Space with Your Deck Design

March 29, 2017 By TORONTO CUSTOM DECKS

A timber deck is a great place to spend time in the summer months, entertaining guests, enjoying an al fresco meal, or simply chilling out while surfing the net on your tablet. For those with small backyards, installing a deck big enough to be usable may seem like an impractical proposition that is never going to work but if you hire an experienced contractor such as ourselves, you will be surprised at just what can be achieved with a clever design. Below, you will find four suggestions on how you can make the most of the space at your disposal when building a deck in a small backyard. Some of these suggestions may be more appropriate for your property than others and if you need any help deciding how to design your new deck, please do not hesitate to call or email us with your questions. We have designed and installed numerous timber and composite decks in and around Toronto and would be delighted to help you with yours.

Deck Design Tips for Small Yards

Whether you work with a team of professionals or attempt to perform the installation work on your own, the following design tips should help to ensure that you make the most of the space you have available in your backyard.

Raised Decking

One of the simplest ways to maximize the space you can use for a deck installation in a small Toronto backyard is by utilizing a raised deck design that creates another level in your yard, almost like an outdoor attic. You can still have plants underneath such a deck but they would have to be shade-loving species of course. If your backyard is currently dominated by a lawn, you might need to go for one of the other three suggestions instead but if you have a concrete Mediterranean-style patio, this could be the ideal decking solution for your property.

Multi-Level Deck

If the above suggestion still won’t give you enough room to work with, you might like to consider a multi-level deck design. This type of decking can start as a rooftop space (over the garage is a good place for a rooftop deck level), with stairs leading down to one or more lower levels. If you go with this idea, remember that you will need 3 ft guard rails for all levels that are more than 2 ft off the ground.

Bump Outs

This design idea works best in backyards where an irregular space is available, such as a yard that contains a number of mature trees. Bump outs are great space savers that can be used to accommodate your grill and other outdoor appliances.

Utilize Natural Shade

This deck design idea can be combined with bump outs to maximize the size of a deck in a small yard with trees. Instead of taking up valuable space by placing large umbrellas around your decking, you can use a design that goes around the trees in your garden and utilizes the shade they already provide.

All of the above ideas can be combined if you have a very small space available and would like to install a deck that gives you enough room to relax outdoors in the summer months with friends and family. If you would like a professional opinion on which deck design ideas are most suitable for your home, please do not hesitate to call us during business hours or send us an email whenever you wish. If you would like us to design and install your new deck, we will prepare a quotation for you to evaluate.

How to Ensure Your Outdoor Kitchen Fits in With the Rest of Your Landscape

February 17, 2017 By TORONTO CUSTOM DECKS

Toronto has finally caught on to the concept of the outdoor kitchen – a great way to make the most of your yard during the warmer months. These installations offer much more than the traditional outdoor barbecue. There’s no need to invite the neighbours over, and you can prepare whatever you feel like, without just being limited to the grill. Not only that, an outdoor kitchen is good for use from the spring, right through to the fall. Whether you want to serve up a simple salad, to a full Sunday dinner, it’s a household addition you can really get the most out of.

How Do I Make Sure My Outdoor Kitchen Fits In?

For those who haven’t seen an outdoor kitchen before, it’s easy to imagine some clumsily put-together arrangement of appliances and fixtures, ruining an otherwise perfectly good lawn or garden. With a little preparation and attention to detail, however, that shouldn’t be the case. Take a look around some of the nicer examples in Toronto and you’ll see how it can complement and become an integral part of your outdoor space. Here are some tips on how to get it right:

Think of it as Part of Your Home – If you set about building with the idea that it’s a glorified barbecue grill, that’s what you’ll end up with. A barbecue is something that people can usually put away once the season is over. A kitchen isn’t. Think of it as a part of your home that you will be using instead of your indoor kitchen as much as possible.
Make it Comfortable – They say that a kitchen is the heart of every home. It’s not only a functional space, but a space to live in, relax and enjoy yourself. Don’t overlook crucial elements such as comfortable seating, adequate space to eat and entertainment.
Consider the Aesthetics – No two outdoor spaces are identical, but in general, yards and gardens are places where we can find trees, grass, plants, stones and rocks. While contrasting can work when done with extreme care, your project is much more likely to succeed if you use similar materials to those in your yard – woods, stones, similar shades and designs.
Plan from the Ground Upwards – Look at the space available to you and then visualize your kitchen within that space. Whatever flooring you opt for, you will need to leave ample space for movement between kitchen units, appliances, eating areas and so on. The open nature of your yard can be deceptive when it comes to planning what to do with certain spaces. Working from the ground upwards eliminates the risk of trying to fit too much into that space.
Consider Your Neighbours Along with Your Own Home – Just as you might choose to build your kitchen away from the house in order to avoid smoke or noise from filtering back into your home, you’ll also need to bear in mind the proximity to your neighbours’ properties. It goes without saying that the further away it is from noise and bustle, the more successful your installation will be.

There’s more to an outdoor kitchen than providing a fun area for you and your family to cook, eat and relax. One of the main reasons so many of the better properties in Toronto are opting for these installations is the value they add to the house. Your kitchen is already most likely the most important room in your home when it comes to determining value. Having two kitchens is more and more seen as a big draw for buyers, and valuations are reflecting that.

5 Deck Design Errors that People Often make When Building their Own Decks

February 16, 2017 By TORONTO CUSTOM DECKS

Deciding to build a deck on your property is often something of a no-brainer – the best properties in Toronto all seem to feature some beautiful type of deck design. Yet simply copying another property’s deck is usually a recipe for failure. A deck, if done well, should look and feel like an integral part of your space – not simply an add-on. Furthermore, it’s a place that you’ll be hoping to spend a decent amount of time and should, therefore, reflect your family’s tastes and the purpose for which it is being built. For these reasons, you might decide to carry out their own deck design before building it yourself.

What Do I Need to Consider When Coming Up with My Deck Design?

Regardless of your DIY skillset, coming up with any kind of building design can be fraught with complications – especially if you’ve never done it before. As with most projects, deck design has its own list of common problems and complications that can arise. In order to make sure you avoid these pitfalls, it’s worth your while learning about what could and can go wrong with your deck project. The best time to do that is before you start to make the designs, and that’s why we’re listing them here:

Make Sure You Can Get Planning Permission – Sounds obvious, right? Yet still, every year perfectly good decks get torn up all over Toronto, simply because permission was never sought for their construction. If you don’t want to risk throwing thousands of dollars down the drain for nothing, make sure you get permission as soon as possible.
Use Galvanized Steel – If you’re unused to working with outdoor structures, it’s easy to overlook this point. It might seem at first that any old steel fixings will do, but remember that these nails and screws will have to stand up to the elements all day, every day. Galvanized steel fixings have good protection from corrosion, unlike regular steel. Using fixing that aren’t galvanized means they can be damaged to the extent that your entire deck could be in need of serious repairs within a couple of years.
Mark Out Where Your Boards Will Go – A common mistake of first-timers is that they try to lay out each board to be level and parallel with the one before it. Mark out where your boards should go before you start laying them, in order to avoid complications.
Know the Location of Your Gas and Water Pipes – It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to get carried away at the planning stage. Don’t let that happen to you. It’s better to spend the time working them in and around your design, than having to make changes once the project is underway.
Don’t Try to Scrimp on Timber – It’s tempting to try to keep costs down by opting for lower grade timber or softwoods instead of hardwood. While they might look great when you buy them, they are less likely to stand up to the wear and tear of a deck, and you could be looking at needing a replacement in as little as a couple of years.

If you approach your deck design as if you were building a full extension, or even a new structure, you should be fine. Trying to cut corners at any stage is simply asking for trouble. At the design stage, bear in mind the points listed here and you stand a much better chance of enjoying your new deck for a long time. Take your time and don’t try to rush – it’s worth it in the long run!