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Who wants to think about pressing issues in the yard when they’re relaxing on a Saturday afternoon? No one. Unfortunately there are some landscaping issues that just won’t wait until you feel properly motivated. They require attention now and failure to get up off the couch and face the landscaping music may wind up costing you a lot more than a little inconvenience in the long run. In this post we’ll go over a few things you won’t want to put off dealing with when it comes to landscaping and why you should call a Toronto landscaping company as soon as you can.

When it’s Time to Call the Landscaping Company

There are a few landscaping jobs that can be handled with the right garden tool and a couple of hours of free time, and then there are those bigger ones that will require a professional landscaping company and which need to be addressed even if you think they’re no big deal. These include:

• Solving a drainage problem – When you look out your kitchen window you see what is becoming a familiar sight: an enormous puddle in the yard that seems to get bigger and last longer every time it rains. You might think it’s only water but a drainage problem can wind up destroying your lawn, causing root rot in your plants and creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The sooner you call in the landscaping company the easier the fix will be.
• Repairing a retaining wall – Maybe you’ve noticed that one of the retaining walls in the yard has cracked and is beginning to bulge. You’ve been putting off having it fixed because you think maybe it’s been there a long time and you just noticed it. Deep down though you know that if it had been there before you would have noticed, and if you allow it to fail completely you’re looking at either an expensive fix or the ruination of your backyard landscape design.
• Aerating the lawn – When most folks think of lawn care they think of having the landscaping company over to do some mowing, weeding, fertilizing or seeding. But as your lawn ages the underlying soil begins to compact and as it does it can rob grass roots of the ability to absorb water and nutrients. If your lawn is looking patchy and dull it may not be calling for fertilizer or re-seeding, it may be telling you it’s time to aerate.
• Building a cooler yard – This one’s a bit of a luxury, but think about it: you can have the most awesome outdoor kitchen ever designed but if there’s no shade who is going to be able to enjoy it on a sunny day? You’ve been thinking about building a pergola and running some vines up it but you’ve been procrastinating. The bottom line is that whether you have an outdoor kitchen or not shade goes a long way toward making your yard more user-friendly.

Taking care of the yard often gets relegated to the bottom of the priority list. In some cases that’s fine. In other cases however delaying needed landscaping work could lead to major expenses down the road and large sections of your property being taken out of service until repairs are made.

M.E. Contracting is a leading landscaping company in Toronto. Our customers come back to us time and again because we get the job done at a price that doesn’t break the bank. From complete backyard landscaping design schemes to hardscaping, softscaping, outdoor kitchens and general maintenance of your lawn, shrubs and trees we’re the landscaping company to call to make sure your home is always looking its best.

Having a beautiful garden with well-designed interlock and an elegant deck is not out of reach as it used to be.
Today, more and more home owners in Toronto and its surrounding areas are choosing to enjoy spending their free time in their backyard with family and friends.  Building a deck adds a natural and elegant look to your backyard. It is also a great solution for those who do not wish to spend hours on lawn cutting and plants watering.

Decks can come in all kinds of styles and designs. One of the most fashionable design ideas adopted by Torontonians nowadays is to use similar wood for the floor indoors and deck outdoors, extending the rooms to the outside. Adding patio furniture, barbecue and some landscaping creates an inviting environment that starts inside the house and continues to the garden.

Traditionally, decks were made from hard wood and treated wood such as cedar, teak and ipe. In recent years, other materials were introduced in the Canadian market such as composite materials, aluminum and plastic (azek). The material used to build your deck will affect the look and feel of your back yard as well as the maintenance required.

Decks are a relatively cost effective solution that requires low maintenance. It is a good practice to check once a year for cracks and peeling from knots. A light cleaning with a designated cleaning solution and cloth is usually enough. Staining should also be done every few years.

The cold and stormy weather in Toronto may cause some weather damages to your deck over the years. If you wish to keep it on the safe side, use a water-repellent preservative. You can then use a semi-transparent stain. Even if the deck has been maintained with a water-repellent preservative for many years, an oil-based semi-transparent stain will perform sufficiently.

Here are some good tips on how to maintain your deck:

1) Before starting any maintenance, move away furniture, plants, bbq, and any other objects from your deck.
2) Remove rubbish and dirt stuck between the boards.
3) Sweep the deck with a broom to get rid of leaves, dirt and dust
4) Wash the deck using a pressure washer or garden hose.
5) Apply a deck cleaning solution to the deck, rubbing the foam into the deck thoroughly. Allow the foam to sit on the deck for about 15-20 minutes.
6) Rinse the foam off the deck with a garden hose or pressure washer.
7) Re-apply the cleaner if needed

Building custom decks is what we’ve been doing at Toronto Custom Decks since we started in the business.  Having built hundreds of custom decks, we’ve learned a thing or two about the process, and would like to share some ideas. First, before you even think of calling a contractor to help you construct your new custom deck, you will need to do some homework.  As in most things, the more thought you put in up front, the happier you will be with the end result.

Function and Custom Decks
Function is integral to design, so before you decide what kind of wood, stain, variety of lumber or joisting methods you would like used in your custom decks,  ask yourself  two fundamental  questions: The first – what is the purpose of the deck? For example, if the deck is simply an area for your children to play, the end design will be quite different than if it will be a place to entertain guests. Will the deck be a showcase for your cooking or gardening skills? Will there be a year-round BBQ or substantial planters or a herb garden?  Would you like a quiet spot for reading, bird watching or just sitting? If that is the case, perhaps a pergola is a design element that you would like incorporated.
The second question that needs careful thought: What will be the location of the custom deck or will you have several custom decks surrounding your home?   Will the deck(s) be an extension of the home and abut against structural house walls — or will the deck be free standing? How your deck attaches to your home can effect its safety and durability.
Both free-standing and attached decks have pros and cons, and will need to take into consideration the geography and topography of your home. Is your house located on a grade, elevation or ravine? Will stairs need to be incorporated into the design?

Custom Decks – Visualization is key
We have found that the design of custom decks come into focus  once our customers have spent some time imagining and visualizing themselves and their family using the structure. They naturally develop a list of the functional elements that will be part of their custom decks — stairs, pergola, BBQ area, planters, hot-tub etc.  At that point they are ready to move to the next step in designing their custom decks.

Custom Decks – Design Meets Budget
Create a folder of pictures of your favorite custom decks and a wish list. Then carefully grade your list ranking each item for importance. The “A’s” being absolutely necessary; the “B’s” as beneficial and the “C’s” as “could happen if there is room in the budget.”  As in any undertaking, we’ve found that custom decks are often a compromise between your budget and your wish list. A raised, wraparound deck with a pergola and winding stairs in a good-quality natural wood will cost considerably more than a simple pine deck that acts almost like a wooden patio.

Custom Decks Are Our Specialty

At Toronto Custom decks we are committed to crafting your ideas into beautiful, functional custom decks. We build custom decks ranging from simple and functional to a multifaceted series of custom decks. You will be quietly pleased and proud of the results no matter what your budget or requirements. Why? It’s because craftsmanship and superior execution of your design is our specialty and where Toronto Custom Decks excels. Call us today at 416-238-2589 to discuss how our expertise in building custom decks can help you.

Cedar decks are synonymous with cottage life, the great Canadian escape and relaxing summer afternoons.  If you’re thinking about sitting on your deck with cold drink, whiling away the afternoon, chances are you’re picturing yourself on a cedar deck, with its distinctive fragrance and visual appeal.
At Toronto Custom Decks we find that many of our customers want us to build them a cedar deck.

What makes Cedar Decks Special?

Here are some points that make cedar decks special and may persuade you to select cedar decking material.

Advantages of Cedar:

•    Visually attractive (If left without staining turns an attractive silver grey)
•    Resistant to rot
•    Weathers well/durable/long life
•    Doesn’t readily absorb moisture— and, since moisture is what creates twisting and splitting, cedar decking tends to lie flat and straight.
•    Distinctive fragrance

Cedar Decks – Cost

Cedar decks do cost more than simply using pressure treated lumber, since the cost of the wood itself is on average about twice the cost of pressure treated lumber. Still, it is important to note that Cedar is not used as a structural component in construction since it is not as strong as pressure treated lumber. It would only be used only the decorative portions of a deck.
Cedar Decks – A Favorite with Builders.
Many knowledgeable deck builders choose cedar as their favorite material to work with. It is resilient yet light weight and provides a durable surface with a long life. It is an attractive wood that will complement any brick or stone work. If the natural look of wood is important to you, and you value the aesthetics of a beautiful deck, use cedar.
Cedar Decks – Toronto Custom Decks Can Help.
As you contemplate your decision: what material should I use?  Cedar, pressure treated pine or a wood composite, Toronto Custom Decks can be of assistance.  We build cedar decks ranging from a simple and functional patio deck to a multifaceted series of custom cedar decks. Call us today at 416-238-2589 to discuss how our expertise in building cedar decks can help you.

Good deck design can add thousands of dollars worth of additional value to your home. That’s a known fact. And it is one of the reasons why good deck design is important. However, what is often not publicized is the fact that poor deck design will usually end up costing you the same amount as good design. Sadly though, your home will not reap the benefit if you haven’t put some careful thought into design. So what is good deck design?  For us at Toronto Custom Decks, the hallmark of good deck design is functionality and safety. Does the deck accomplish the task it was built for? Is it built to or exceeding code? Will it stand up over time and be absolutely safe for use by friends and family? If it does this well, and the deck has been built with craftsmanship and attention to detail, then you have a well-designed deck that will add value to your home.

Poor Deck Design
What good design is not: unnecessary bells and whistles, steps leading nowhere, a landing area that is too small, a balcony that has no view, a cramped BBQ area abutting your neighbors’ pool…

Here are several points to consider when considering your deck design:

1.    Make sure your deck design incorporates and the whole garden. (For example, effectively address changes in level and grade.)

2.    Take advantage of the sun. (For example, orient sitting and BBQ areas to take advantage of the afternoon sun.)

3.    Choose quality building materials from sustainable sources.

4.    Situate children’s play area close enough to the back door so you can keep an eye on them.

5.    Provide plenty of seating, especially if you plan to entertain.

6.    Layout water spigots so that it is easy to water your planters and garden, and consider traffic patterns and walkways.

Deck Design is what we do

At Toronto Custom Decks, deck design is the bread and butter of our business.  We’ve been assisting home-owners in deck design since we started in business some XXXX years ago. We’ve learned over the years the added enjoyment and satisfaction you gain from quality deck design is much more than just the dollars it adds to the value of your home.  It’s the times you were able to watch your toddlers build castles in their own sandbox;  sitting quietly under your pergola watching the Blue Jays feed at dawn or having your entire family over for a BBQ under the stars.

We are committed to crafting your ideas into beautiful, functional custom decks. If you have a deck design in mind, we can assist in making your vision a beautiful reality. If you are looking for ideas for a design that will work within your budget and tastefully complement your home, we are able to provide guidance.  Why? Because deck design is our specialty.  Call Toronto Custom Decks today at 416-238-2589 to discuss how our expertise in designing custom decks can help you.