Is your deck a corner retreat and hideaway, or do you have an expansive, multi-level deck perfect for summer parties and outdoor entertaining?
Whether you’re planning a brand new deck, sprucing up a much-beloved decking system or replacing an older deck past its prime, decks continue to be popular with home owners and buyers. They can add privacy, a cozy corner, extra dining area and plenty of summer time enjoyment to a backyard or the landscape.
John Gemmi, owner of Gemmi Construction, Inc. in Buckingham Township, said decks continue to have a place in home improvement and renovation projects.
“When we do a deck, it’s typically tied into another project, for example a kitchen or some other project,” Gemmi explained.
Deck products and materials are the starting point for conversations.
“People want maintenance free and for this you are looking at composite materials for lower to no maintenance,” he said.
According to Dennis Gehman, composite decks offer great looks and exceptional durability, something most property owners prioritize.
Gehman is president of Gehman Design Remodeling in Harleysville, Montgomery County.
“Very few people [these days] are interested in a wood deck, though once in a while we’ll get those requests,” he said.
Jaimie Meehan, a Realtor at Melissa Healy Group at Keller Williams Real Estate in Doylestown, said home buyers are looking for exterior doors leading to the outdoors.
While this can be accomplished with a deck, it can also be created with a terrace patio or hardscaping materials, something many home buyers are also interested in seeing, she said.
Mostly made from PVC based products, newer composite decking materials have dramatically evolved over the past several years.
Gehman said materials and technology “changes by the minute” in order to keep pace with consumer demands for options.
Composite materials may include recycled plastic materials and wood fibers or “flour” to bind ingredients together.
Since manufacturing varies look for recycled content when shopping for brands.
Decks.com said most composite decking material is either “polyethylene (HDPE or LDPE) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is mixed either with wood fibers, rice hulls,” a blend of chemicals or other filling products.
While some decking material does not include any recycled materials other companies focus on reusing materials; some products contain as much as 95% recycled content, the website said.
“Most of today’s composites are mostly made from PVC-based products. What they’re doing is putting a veneer around the ‘board.’ Some do it on the top, some do it on all four sides,” Gehman explained.
This process, or a veneer treatment, provides a thin layer that gives manufactured boards and planks their finished color and look.
“They look beautiful and for the most part, they hold up,” he said.
Gehman said most recycled product, made up of continuous color and does not have veneer surfaces, can last up to a decade or longer without fading or showing signs of wear on the color.
“In 5 to 10 years, the recycled product looks the same as it did on Day 1,” he said, “while the PVC will begin to fade in that time.”
“Longer-lived these [composite] types of products can be durable for decades,” Gemmi added.
He said many clients may opt to change or replace an earlier composite because the look has dramatically improved over time, rather than because the deck or system is failing.
“And composite wood graining is very realistic, too,” he said, providing the look of wood without the maintenance and risk of breaking down.
Planks are only one part of a decking system.
Fascia boards (the vertical skirt on a rim board) allows for the material to cover or wrap around the deck.
“The stairs can be done with composites, too, and to give it the look of a high quality deck,” Gemmi said.
Railings, spindles if using them, as well as any decorative work to cover areas below the deck are additional components.
Because stairs and railings can be constructed with composites, today’s decks have a high quality and cohesive look, Gemmi explained.
“There are almost as many railing options as decking choices. Not all composite railings are created equal. Some have a great finish and fit, where you don’t see brackets, bolts and hardware. The tech gets better and better,” he said.
Because some consumers crave sleek, modern styles there are now railings that seem to “disappear and companies are coming up with newer ways to do this,” Gemmi said.
From cable railing systems to tempered glass panels, keep the overall look of your home’s architecture as well as the outdoor living spaces, gardens and landscape in mind when selecting style and materials options.
“We did a deck renovation with a beautiful pond [view] and the deck is over a walk out basement,” Gemmi explained.
“The railing is actually temperate glass panels fitted into the framework and handrails” Gemmi noted, giving the illusion of an open air space.
Gehman said earth tones continue to dominate most deck choices with darker browns and grays among his most frequent customer requests.
Deck stains and finishes can be thin enough to allow “wood grain” – either simulated with composite planks or natural wood – to show through. Deck stains also come in solid or opaque finishes, to provide a solid look.
Be aware darker colors will tend to absorb heat and may be hotter to the touch or on bare feet during bright sunny days. Because lighter tones tend to be reflective, they won’t heat up as fast or as much.
Improovy.com lists nine of the best deck paint and stain colors for 2023, ranging from light gray and sand to mid-tone grays and wood colors. Even dark gray and black are on the list.
Deck paint is maintenance and labor intensive, with its good looks lasting from 1 to 3 years, Improovy.com said.
If only wood will do, there are wood decking materials available including redwood, cedar, teak and Ipe ( (pronounced EEE pay) an exotic Brazilian hardwood.
“Real wood will need power washing, sanding or scraping and natural products for a finish like linseed oil, which you can use to refresh it” on an annual or regular basis, Gemmi said.
“Ipe is strong and durable, but it is less popular because it has a high carbon footprint,” he said.
Ipe is also known as Brazilian walnut and Ironwood.
Gemmi said increasing property owner concerns about mold and mildew and the regular maintenance and cleaning required to remove them from wooden decks have made wood a less frequently requested material among his clientele.
Second story decks or balconies can be a lovely addition to a primary bedroom suite.
Gemmi said when a second story balcony can be structurally supported, it can be a welcome private alcove addition.
“I call these ‘Juliet balconies,’” Gemmi said.
During William Shakespeare’s play about young Italian star-crossed lovers in Romeo and Juliet, the title characters profess their love for one another during a romantic balcony scene.
Consider railing styles and materials, purpose and view when considering a second story balcony. Since most second floor balconies are not under cover they have an open-air feel and look.
“These deck/balconies typically aren’t big, and they offer just enough space to enjoy a cup of morning coffee” and the view, Gemmi said.
When thinking about adding new surfaces outdoors including decks, patios, walkways and pavers, it’s important to think about how spaces will interact.
Gemmi recommends using decks in combination with patios and paver surfaces to “break it up a bit” and add more function to backyard areas and entertaining options.
“Remember, you’re creating outside rooms,” Gemmi said.
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