This year is the year that you will host the barbeque of your dreams. You’re finally ready, but that dilapidated old deck on the back of your house must go. You have never been more prepared for summer seasons chilling with a cold drink and a hot grill on a lounger overlooking the kids or the dog running with gleeful abandon in your backyard.  

You can see this blissful scenario so clearly in your mind. However, right now, all you can see with your eyes is rotting wood, loose floorboards, rickety railings, and joists that are pulling away from your house. Where do you even begin to transform what’s in front of you to the deck design you will genuinely enjoy? 

At Dupont Construction and Remodeling, we specialize in bringing your grandest deck design vision to reality. Call us today to set up a free estimate, and keep on reading for a complete list of planning and design tips for the deck of your dreams.

Timing is Everything

Ah, winter in the Northland. When the snow is falling, and the ice is building up on the roads and sidewalks, it’s all we can do to stay warm and toasty inside.  Summer sunsets on the deck are a dim and distant memory in the frigid January temps.  

Believe it or not, winter is, in fact, the best time to begin plotting out your deck remodel. Take advantage of extra planning time and get a jump on the busy outdoor construction season.  Here’s what we mean.

Plan and Design when it’s Cold, Build when it’s Warm

The cold months are the best time to begin brainstorming what you want in your new deck.  What maintenance free colors and railing colors will look best with your house? Will you need to do a complete gut-job and start from scratch, or will a few strategic repairs and cosmetic upgrades do the trick? 

Maybe it’s time to switch material from wood to synthetic for a beautiful, low maintenance look that lasts and lasts.

These are all decisions you can make while the snow is blowing, and you have a hot cup of cocoa in your hands. At Dupont Construction and Remodeling, our consultants can serve you year-round.

Our team of experienced design professionals will help guide your design strategy, and help you cost out and choose the materials and blueprints that will fit your style and budget.

We can lock in an estimate for you before the outdoor building season begins, and help you take advantage of any seasonal specials we may offer. We can also schedule your deck facelift or replacement ahead of season so that when we get busy, you have priority.

You can breathe easy knowing your remodel will be finished in plenty of time for you to enjoy the fruits of all your early planning! 

Upgrade to Low Maintenance Materials and Relax Worry-Free on Your New Deck

With a wide variety of deck materials on the market today, there has never been a better time to plan a remodel or even a complete deck replacement. Here are a few popular deck material options to help guide your decision-making process.

Composites: These products use a blend of wood and synthetic ingredients and come with a host of benefits:

• Low-maintenance
• A prestained, wood look that lasts
• Mildew-resistant plastic seal on plank edges

At Dupont, we are proud to offer Trex, Azek, and TimberTech brands of composite decking materials.

Wood: Offering a natural look and feel, we have several natural wood products available:

• Cedar and redwood, two naturally pest-resistant wood options
• Pressure treated lumber

PVC: Our PVC decks have a Lifetime warranty and a 5 year Labor warranty, as well as a host of benefits, including no Blistering, Cracking, Cupping, or Rotting.

Consider the age of your deck when deciding whether to go with a facelift vs. a total deck replacement. Wood decking installed before 2004 is likely to have been treated with chromated copper arsenate, a toxic chemical. 

Proceed with caution and be sure to call a professional like Dupont Construction and Remodeling for assistance. We want you, your family, and your pets remain chemical-free during your deck remodeling process.

Budgeting for Your Deck: Make a List

When you are planning to build your own deck, not only do you have to consider a choice in decking material (as mentioned above), you also need to factor in the extras. Be sure to add the following to your budget list:

• Railings: Fancy or standard? We offer a range of foundational railing styles that meet current building codes and functional to a designer’s dream, think cocktail counter, cable rails, grill bump-outs.
• Hardware: Nails or screws? Ceramic coated or not? The quality of the hardware you choose helps determine the longevity of your deck.  
• Paint, Stain, Protection: If you choose composite decking, your finish is already taken care of, however, if you go with a natural wood option, you will need to choose stain, paint, or protective coating to finish out your deck.
• Permits: Be sure to check with your city on permitting requirements for building or remodeling your deck. Permitting fees are not usually prohibitive to your overall project, but you want to be in good standing with your community as you build. We follow all construction codes to the letter in any deck remodel or replacement project.

The above factors should be weighed heavily. When you call Dupont, you don’t have to worry about all of the hassles mentioned above. You just have to watch then enjoy.

Finally, it’s best to determine how much you have available to spend on your deck, pull together a general idea of your design wishes, and then let us guide your decision process as you go. 

Our free estimate service removes the guesswork for you and allows you to refine and focus your vision.  

At Dupont Construction and Remodeling, we stand by our service, expertise, and experience.  We are a small business dedicated to building great relationships. We are family owned, and we serve families with homes. We know how important it is to feel relaxed, safe, and proud of your house for years to come.

Call us today and let us bring that sense of home pride to life with your new or remodeled deck!