Armadillo Deck https://armadillodeck.com Composite Decking - Designed for Beauty. Made for Life. Sun, 02 Jan 2022 15:16:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://armadillodeck.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/cropped-Armadillo-Favicon-32x32.png Armadillo Deck https://armadillodeck.com 32 32 What is Deck Fascia? https://armadillodeck.com/what-is-deck-fascia/ Mon, 13 Dec 2021 16:23:48 +0000 https://armadillodeck.com/?p=7051 A deck is more than just a deck. It is a place where you can entertain, relax, gather, and generally enjoy the outdoor space you call your own. It can be a place for bonfires, pool parties, and holiday dinners. It can be a place for spring planting, summer napping, and autumn reading. We understand all of the things a...

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A deck is more than just a deck. It is a place where you can entertain, relax, gather, and generally enjoy the outdoor space you call your own. It can be a place for bonfires, pool parties, and holiday dinners. It can be a place for spring planting, summer napping, and autumn reading. We understand all of the things a deck can be, so we know how important it is for yours to look exactly the way you envision.

And a big part of bringing that vision to life can be the deck fascia. 

 

What is Deck Fascia?

Deck fascia refers to the board of wood or other decking material that runs around the border of the deck. It is used to partially conceal the joists under your deck to create a polished look, elevating the overall visual appeal of your deck. It can also be used to create a stunning visual contrast if you choose to use a different color or stain for your deck fascia than your deck itself.

 

Do You Need to Use Deck Fascia? 

When used under a home’s roofline, fascia can provide a stable mount for your gutters and seals off attic space from weather and animals. However, deck fascia is typically only used for aesthetic purposes. It can elevate the look and feel of your deck, and your backyard space. It can make your deck appear more seamless, finished, and professional. But from a functional perspective, fascia is not essential. 

 

Choosing the Right Fascia for Your Deck

When it comes to choosing fascia, you should stick to the same material you are using for your deck. There are plenty of options for both wood fascia and composite decking fascia. As for color choice, we recommend either matching your deck fascia with your deck color or railing color, or using a complimentary color if you’d like to make the fascia stand out a little more. 

 

How Do You Install Deck Fascia Boards? 

Before you begin installation, you’ll want to measure the perimeter of your deck to determine how many boards you will need. Cut your boards so they fit perfectly around the base of the deck and attach them to the rim joists using an adhesive or fastener of your choosing. Miter the corners based on the angles you’ve established with your deck, then paint or stain the materials according to your preferences.

 

Armadillo Deck Fascia

At Armadillo Composite Decking, we offer fascia boards for every single one of our composite decking types and colors. Just head over to the deck products section of our website, choose from our Lifestyle or Essential options, and select the facia boards to match or contrast with your composite decking choice!

 

 

 

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Armadillo helps to make another wish come true. https://armadillodeck.com/armadillo-helps-make-another-wish-come-true/ Wed, 17 Nov 2021 13:42:33 +0000 https://armadillodeck.com/?p=7014 Our friends at Rick’s Custom Fencing and Decking asked if we could help grant a wish for a very special little girl. At Armadillo, we were happy to do so. Watch the video to see this amazing story.

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Our friends at Rick’s Custom Fencing and Decking asked if we could help grant a wish for a very special little girl. At Armadillo, we were happy to do so.

Watch the video to see this amazing story.

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Popular composite deck colors for a variety of settings https://armadillodeck.com/popular-composite-decking-colors/ Mon, 01 Nov 2021 21:47:29 +0000 https://armadillodeck.com/?p=6967 Composite decking is often meant to mimic real wood, so the most popular composite decking colors are warm and natural browns. However, being the most popular overall, doesn’t mean it is what you are looking for with your project. If you are trying to decide which color to choose for your composite deck, take a look at our blog post...

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Composite decking is often meant to mimic real wood, so the most popular composite decking colors are warm and natural browns. However, being the most popular overall, doesn’t mean it is what you are looking for with your project. If you are trying to decide which color to choose for your composite deck, take a look at our blog post on the topic. In the meantime, we’ll walk you through what we believe to be the best color choices for a variety of situations and settings.

Best Composite Decking Color for Sunny Backyards

Darker colors absorb more light than lighter colors which means they hold more heat energy. The more heat energy they hold, the hotter the surface becomes. So, if your deck is going to be exposed to a lot of sun, we would recommend using a light color so that the deck doesn’t become too hot to walk on for pets or when you are barefoot. 

Conversely, if your deck will be in a heavily shaded area, you may want to choose something darker to attract more sunlight.

armadillo popular composite decking colors foothills in sun

Best Composite Decking Color for Pool Areas

If you are building a deck in or around your pool area, you’ve already made a great choice in choosing composite decking over wood. Composite decking stands up better to moisture and will last much longer than a traditional wooden deck. But what color should you choose for your composite deck? 

Well, the answer is actually related to the previous section. In the pool area of your backyard, your family and guests will most likely be barefoot and bare feet do not mix well with a hot deck. To ensure that your pool-dwellers can exit the pool safely, we recommend using a light color for your deck in that area. 

armadillo popular composite decking colors campfire around pool

Best Composite Decking Color for a Woodsy, Campfire Vibe

If you have a backyard that is rich with foliage and tree-cover and want your deck to match that look and feel, we recommend using a rich and earthy brown like our Campfire Composite Decking. We didn’t just choose that name for fun; the color has dark brown and red undertones that truly embody the campfire experience and add a certain warmth to your yard.

armadillo popular composite decking colors campfire in woods

Best Composite Decking Color for an Exclusive, Luxury Vibe 

If you do a lot of entertaining and want to impress your guests with a deck that feels high-end, we recommend going with grays or gray-brown colors. Why? Gray represents sophistication and is often associated with formal events. Looking at our own colors, Smoke in our Lifestyle Collection or Coyote in our Essential Collection would be fantastic options. 

armadillo popular composite decking colors sophisticated smoke

Best Composite Decking Color for a Beachy, Vacation Vibe 

Our customers often describe what they want as a “backyard oasis.” A spot to relax and recharge. A place to get away from it all and just enjoy their home. Nothing screams oasis or relaxation quite like the beach, so if you are looking for a true “get-away” in your own backyard, we always recommend our White Sand. It definitely resembles the color of white sand beaches and when paired with other beachy colors like ocean blue, you can make your backyard really feel like a sandy shore. 

armadillo popular composite decking colors white sand oasis

 

Best Composite Decking Color for a Bohemian Vibe 

We’ve seen more and more people opt for a bohemian style when choosing furniture and decor for their decks. As such, we wanted to give our two cents on what composite decking colors would go best for this style. The Boho look is characterized by natural, earthy tones that are typically accented with bright, fun colors. With this in mind, any earthy browns would be great for a Boho deck. Our Bronco, Foothills and Sunset composite decking colors would all be great options. In addition, if you are planning to incorporate a lot of different colors and use things like rugs and tapestries on your deck, our White Sand may be a good option as well since it pairs well with everything and anything. 

armadillo popular composite decking colors foothills bohemian setting

Ready to shop for your perfect composite decking color?

Now that you have some color ideas in mind for your deck, it is time to start shopping! You can head over to our Where to Buy page to see where Armadillo Composite Decking is offered near you or visit our Composite Decking page to view all of our colors.

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Tips for choosing the right composite decking color https://armadillodeck.com/choosing-composite-decking-color/ Thu, 28 Oct 2021 22:47:43 +0000 https://armadillodeck.com/?p=6963 Composite decking comes in a variety of colors from dark grays and light whites, to warm browns and reds. Colors are typically chosen to match and blend well with more popular home colors. Here at Armadillo Composite Decking, we offer a number of beautiful composite decking colors that can help you turn your yard into a relaxing oasis. But knowing...

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Composite decking comes in a variety of colors from dark grays and light whites, to warm browns and reds. Colors are typically chosen to match and blend well with more popular home colors. Here at Armadillo Composite Decking, we offer a number of beautiful composite decking colors that can help you turn your yard into a relaxing oasis.

But knowing what colors are available and actually choosing a color for your composite deck are two very different things. Choosing the right color for your deck can be a paralyzing experience. You are putting a lot of time and effort into creating an incredible yard and you want to make sure everything is perfect. We completely understand that, which is why we’ve put together some helpful tips that you can use to guide you towards the right decision. 

1. Consider the color of your home.

Regardless of what colors you like or what theme you are going for, the color of your home isn’t something you can get away from (unless you plan on painting or re-siding your home at some point in the near future). So, when it comes to choosing a color for your composite deck, you should start by considering what colors go well with your home. We’ve actually found a fantastic tool called Coolors that can help you determine colors that may match your home and can help you pick complementary furniture and decor colors as well.

  1. Navigate to ​​https://coolors.co/
  2. Select “More” in the navigation and click “Pick palette from photo.” 
  3. You’ll be taken to a new page that says “Image picker.” Click the “Browse an image” button and upload a photo of your siding. 
  4. Click the arrow on the “Export” button and select “Open in generator.”
  5. You should now see a palette consisting of only the color of your siding. Hover over one of the five sections on the page and click on the “Lock” icon. This will lock that color in place. 
  6. Then hit the spacebar on your computer. You should see the page populate with 4 new colors that could pair nicely with the color of your home. 
  7. Continue cycling through and “Locking” colors that you like. In a short time, you will have five colors you like for the palette of your home. 

2. Identify the colors you naturally gravitate towards.

When it comes to design, we all have colors we tend to gravitate towards. For some it might be earthy tones like forest green, sandy white, or birch brown. For others it might be dark and sophisticated colors like ash gray or charcoal black. Think hard about what you usually like and talk to any other decision makers in your household as well to see what their thoughts are. Once you have made a list of your preferences, you can move forward, eliminating colors that might not work as you go through the rest of this list.

3. Determine a theme, look, or feel you want your composite deck to have.

What is the type of look you are going for with your new outdoor space? Do you want it to feel like a forest campground? A day at the beach? A poolside stay at a luxury hotel? Do you want it to feel cozy and inviting or luxurious and exclusive? Considering these things can help narrow down your list of possible deck colors and establish direction for the rest of your design.

If you are looking for a place to start, you can visit our Inspiration page now to get some ideas or head over to our Pinterest page, which is always a great place for design inspiration. 

4. Think about the color of your furniture and decor. 

If you already have outdoor furniture and decor and you don’t plan on investing in anything new, it is important to consider how the colors of your composite deck will pair with the colors of your decor. If you plan on buying new furnishings, you will still want to do a little research to see what is available in your price range before deciding on a deck color. This will ensure that you don’t end up with a deck color that doesn’t complement the type of furniture you have or would like to have for your deck.

5. Consider how much sun exposure your deck will get.

Dark colors absorb more heat than lighter colors because they absorb more light energy. The closer a color is to black the hotter it will be. That is why it is important to consider how much sun exposure your deck will get before deciding on a color. If your deck is going to be constantly bathed in sunlight, a dark-colored composite deck might not be the best choice for you. 

6. Use more than one color to enhance your design. 

There is no reason you can’t use multiple colors to create your dream deck. We’ve seen some incredible designs using alternating colors and they really make an impact. If you have an eye for design or will be working with someone who does, we definitely recommend looking into using more than one color board for your composite deck. 

7. Order a sample or two. 

Bronco

Campfire

Coyote

Foothills

Smoke

Sunset

Tortoise

Walnut

White Sand

At Armadillo Composite Decking we offer samples of our composite decking so that you can be 100% sure you have found the right color for you. Nothing will help you determine if a color is going to work for your house and your decor more quickly than an actual sample of the deck board that you can compare in real life. You can click below to order a sample now!

Order a Sample

You’ve decided on a color; it is time to start shopping!

Once you’ve decided on your composite decking color, it is time to start the buying process. You can head over to our Where to Buy page right now to see where Armadillo Composite Decking is offered in your area. If you are still having trouble with the decision making process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re always happy to help you create the deck of your dreams. 

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How to save when building a composite deck https://armadillodeck.com/save-when-building-composite-deck/ Mon, 13 Sep 2021 12:21:54 +0000 https://armadillodeck.com/?p=6854 A composite deck is an excellent investment for any homeowner looking to add outdoor living space. They are strong, durable, and can be built in almost any shape or size. However, a composite deck can cost tens of thousands of dollars, depending on its size and features. If you would like to stretch your deck-building budget as far as possible,...

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A composite deck is an excellent investment for any homeowner looking to add outdoor living space. They are strong, durable, and can be built in almost any shape or size. However, a composite deck can cost tens of thousands of dollars, depending on its size and features. If you would like to stretch your deck-building budget as far as possible, we have put together a list of seven ideas to lower your costs. However, we want to be very clear: there are no silver bullets or magic tricks here. A reduction in price means a decrease in features or benefits. Everyone has a budget when they’re building a composite deck. The key is to know which features are “need to have” and which are “nice to have.”  

Our seven tips to lower the cost of your composite deck

  1. Install the deck yourself
  2. Choose a simpler color or texture
  3. Choose a different brand
  4. Use a simple pattern for laying your decking boards
  5. Reduce the dimensions of  your composite deck
  6. Omit electric power and plumbing
  7. Schedule your installation in the offseason 

Install the deck yourself.

There’s an old saying that “Time is money.” This advice is particularly true when you are talking about building a deck. 

From a technical standpoint, building a deck is one of the simpler construction projects out there. So if you are generally handy and don’t mind hard work, it’s absolutely possible to build the deck yourself. If you are weak and hate getting sweaty, building the deck yourself is not a good choice. 

Hiring a professional contractor saves you a lot of time and gives you superior build quality. Conversely, if you choose to do the work yourself it will undoubtedly take far longer. However, you don’t have to pay yourself a wage, so your labor cost goes down to zero. On a typical deck build project, roughly half the project cost is labor, so you can save thousands of dollars by doing the work yourself. Just plan for the project to take weeks instead of days. 

If you want to strike a compromise between cost and timing, have a contractor install the substructure. They can dig holes, put in posts, pour the footings, and hang all the joists. You can take the easier task of laying down the decking boards. 

Choose a simpler color or texture.

Most composite deck manufacturers offer a range of products at a range of price points. The more premium options are beautiful, with subtle variations in color and texture. They look as good as, and often better than, natural wood. Take a look at some of the more affordable products and patterns. You may find a simple gray or brown that looks great and costs up to 25 to 40% less than a premium offering. 

Also, consider hollow composite decking or composite decking with a grooved underside. These boards are specifically designed to be lighter, and because they use less material, they are often priced slightly less.

Choose a different brand.

There are dozens of companies in North America that manufacture composite decking, but most consumers can only name one: TREX. In fact, for many homeowners, TREX has become like “Kleenex” or “Xerox,”; a term for composite decking in general. However, several other companies make excellent composite decking, and many of them (including us, Armadillo Deck) are just as good as the best-known decking brands but cost less. 

Use a simple pattern for laying your decking boards.

This tip is so simple that it is easy to overlook. We love the look of diagonal decking, inlays with a contrasting color, and composite decking laid in a herringbone pattern, but every cut requires more time and measuring. By applying your composite decking parallel to or perpendicular to your home and doing all of your cuts in one pass along the edge, you can save some time and money.

Reduce the dimensions of  your composite deck.

This tip is obvious, but a lot of you may think resist it at first. However, take a long look at how you intend to use your deck and how much space that requires. If you don’t entertain large groups of people, you probably don’t need a deck that accommodates thirty people. If you like to dine alfresco with a handful of good friends, a smaller deck can deliver priceless memories at a much lower price point. 

Omit electric power and plumbing.

Lighting can significantly enhance the appearance of your deck and extend the amount of time that you can use it each day. However, running electricity and installing lighting fixtures, even low-voltage ones, is often a job for a skilled electrician. And if you were considering an outdoor kitchen complete with hot and cold water, consider that you’re going to need a plumber. And both electricity and plumbing often require digging a trench and cutting into your foundation. These are very expensive and can significantly drive up the cost of your deck.

Today, it is possible to buy solar lights that will provide illumination well into the evening, without the need for dedicated electrical service.

Schedule your installation in the offseason. 

If you are patient, you may be able to reduce the cost of professional installation by scheduling your deck project in the off-season. In the late spring, everyone wants to build a deck. If you can wait until fall (or winter, if you live further south), contractors will have more availability and more flexibility on labor costs.

Now that you know how to save when building a composite deck, it’s time to get started on your project. We hope this blog post has given you some helpful tips and ideas for saving money while installing a new composite deck. 

Armadillo Lifestyle Decking is designed for beauty and made for life. 

View available colors

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How to install hidden deck fasteners https://armadillodeck.com/how-to-install-hidden-deck-fasteners/ Fri, 23 Jul 2021 14:32:18 +0000 https://armadillodeck.com/?p=6705 When you’re installing a new composite deck, you want guests to notice its beautiful color and finish, not a bunch of ugly screws. That’s where hidden deck fasteners come in. They secure your decking to the substructure from the sides, so the faces of your deck boards remain beautiful. While there are products that work with solid edge deck boards,...

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When you’re installing a new composite deck, you want guests to notice its beautiful color and finish, not a bunch of ugly screws. That’s where hidden deck fasteners come in. They secure your decking to the substructure from the sides, so the faces of your deck boards remain beautiful. While there are products that work with solid edge deck boards, most hidden deck fastener systems are designed for use with grooved edge deck boards, so that’s what we’ll cover in this post.

Equipment you’ll need

  • Grooved edge deck boards
  • Starter clips
  • Hidden fasteners
  • Tool belt or bucket to hold extra fasteners
  • Cordless drill/driver

Calculating materials

  • Composite Decking: Estimating the number of deck boards depends on the size of your deck and the design you chose. Pro tip: round up by about 10%. Trust us, you don’t want to be one or two boards short. You can use our decking materials calculator [link to follow] to determine how many boards you’ll need.
  • Starter Clips: You’ll need enough starter clips for the length of your composite deck. TurboClip recommends six clips per every 16 feet of deck, so a package of 12 starter clips is enough to cover 32 linear feet.
  • Hidden Deck Clips: Fasteners are packaged to cover a specific surface area. Calculate your deck’s area by multiplying length times width to get the square footage. A 10’x10’ deck is 100 square feet, and a 20’x40’ deck is 800 square feet. Again, we want to make sure we order an additional 10%, so we don’t run short.
  • Screws / Fasteners: Some hidden fastener systems like TurboClip include both clips and screws. We’ve mentioned TurboClip Universal Hidden Deck Fasteners, but Trex also offers clips with an integrated fastener. If your clips don’t include screws, you’ll need to multiply the number of joists by the number of decking boards. For instance, multiplying 12 joists by our 51 deck boards equals 612 fasteners. Adding 10%, we should make sure we have 673 screws.

Try our new Composite Decking Materials Calculator.

use the calculator

Install the starter clips

Starter clips are different from the other hidden deck fasteners. They are usually C-shaped and made from stainless steel to resist the elements. The clip base is longer than the top and features a hole to accommodate a fastener — an exterior grade Phillips or Torx screw.

Start on the open edge of the deck facing toward the home.  Align the edge of the clip with the edge of the joist. Doing this will position the hole in the center of the joist. Drive in the fastener until it’s flush with the starter clip. Use about six starter clips for deck boards that are 16 feet long. (They’re inexpensive, so if you want to add more, that’s fine too.)

Slide in your first decking board

Your composite deck board has grooves on both sides to accept the hidden fasteners. Slide your deck board against the starter clip. Be firm, but don’t use too much force, or you might bend your clip. A good tap with your open palm should do nicely.

Slide the hidden fastener into the groove on the deck board

Now comes the fun part. Start from the outer edge of your deck and work toward your house. Slide the fastener into the groove on the near side of your deck board. Make sure that the fastener is centered on the joist. Good fasteners (like TurboClip) will come with pre-loaded screws. Some systems require you to insert a separate screw. Make sure you’re using exterior-grade screws, so they don’t become rusted and brittle over time.

Drive the screw

Using your cordless drill/driver, drive the screw into the joist. We recommend “cordless” because wrangling an orange extension cord around decking, joists, and legs will get very frustrating very quickly. You want to drive the screw until it’s flush with the clip. The clip will be loose if the screw is too high; if you drive too far, the clip won’t sit flush. Take your time on the first few, and in no time, you’ll be driving like a pro.

Snap off the remaining clip of fasteners

If you’re using TurboClip hidden deck fasteners, you have a “stick” of 16 connected clips. After driving the screw, simply snap off the remaining fasteners and move on to the next joist. (Pro tip: Make sure the fasteners don’t twist as you snap off the strip.) This connected-clip design ends up saving an enormous amount of time because you’re not fumbling for clips and screws. TurboClip estimates that using their product can reduce your install time by as much as 60%. If you’re not using TurboClip, grab a hidden fastener and move to the next joist.

Repeat across the joists

Work your way across the joists, being careful to center the fastener on the joist, and remember to drive your fastener properly ensuring it doesn’t twist. With your first row of hidden fasteners installed, you need to repeat this process for each decking board. Fortunately, the process goes pretty quickly and smoothly. We suggest having an assistant sliding the decking boards onto the joists.

Cover the exposed joist end with fascia board

You’re done with installing hidden deck clips, but you’ll want to complete your deck by covering the starter clips (and exposed rim joist) with a fascia board in a matching (or contrasting) color.

Where does your project begin? With Armadillo grooved deck boards.

View grooved composite deck boards

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How to build a better deck: 7 strategies and ideas https://armadillodeck.com/7-strategies-and-ideas-to-build-a-deck/ Thu, 22 Jul 2021 19:55:38 +0000 https://armadillodeck.com/?p=6774 Not surprisingly, we love decks. A deck is a great place to entertain guests on warm summer evenings or grill out during the spring and fall. However, if you don’t yet have a deck or aren’t satisfied with your current deck, it may be time for an upgrade. In this post, we suggest seven strategies that can help you build...

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Not surprisingly, we love decks. A deck is a great place to entertain guests on warm summer evenings or grill out during the spring and fall. However, if you don’t yet have a deck or aren’t satisfied with your current deck, it may be time for an upgrade. In this post, we suggest seven strategies that can help you build a better deck.

Create an elevated deck 

An elevated deck might be three feet off the ground or thirteen. Elevated decks are visually dramatic and provide more usable space than ground-level decks. This design gives homeowners more room for entertaining friends and family in their outdoor living areas while also offering additional square footage for storing bikes, lawn equipment, and gardening supplies. An elevated deck should always include a railing (more on that below) to prevent children, pets, and inattentive guests from injury. 

Build a floating deck

A floating deck is a deck that isn’t attached to a building, so they appear to “float” above the lawn. Floating decks are great for outdoor living spaces. They’re simple, attractive, and relatively easy to build, but they also require very little maintenance when they’re built with composite decking. Because they aren’t attached to your home or permanently set into the ground, the permitting process is often more straightforward. In many municipalities, a permit is not required for a floating deck. (HINT: always check with your city before you build. Here’s a great post on the topic.) Floating decks can provide a much-needed platform for outdoor dining, patio furniture, or a grilling area. Because it’s freestanding, a floating deck can be set at an angle or positioned near another outdoor feature, such as a shady maple tree or a secluded corner of your lot.

Build a deck that wraps around the house

So many homeowners have told us that they’ve always dreamed of adding a deck that wraps around the house and provides outdoor space on all four sides. A wraparound deck will give you more living space and allow you to enjoy the outdoors no matter what direction you are looking. A wraparound deck is visually appealing but requires careful planning to blend harmoniously with your home. Wraparound decks also require more labor, so the installation costs are often higher. 

Use different colors of decking 

When it comes to enhancing your living space, you may spend a lot of time thinking about the color of paint for your walls or how to choose the perfect furniture. However, when it comes to decks and patios, people often confine themselves to “Brown or gray?” Combining multiple colors is simple and adds a great deal of personality to your deck. For multi-level decks, try related colors on each level. Or, edge your deck with a contrasting color. For example, if you build your main deck area with Armadillo Coyote, use Smoke or Walnut around the edges.   

Add a unique deck railing 

One of the first things people notice when they see a deck is the railing, so we recommend selecting one that aligns with the architecture and style of your home. There are many types of railings available for purchase, from traditional rails to ornate patterns. Painted aluminum balustrades are affordable, simple to install, and look great. Stainless steel cable is becoming quite popular; it’s strong, wears well, and is so sleek that it’s almost unnoticeable.

For an even more finished look, use post sleeves, skirts, and caps that match the color of your deck.  

When you add solar-powered or low-voltage LED lights to your railing posts, your deck looks even more dramatic when the sun goes down. 

If you’re looking for a touch that will really stand out, consider adding metalwork elements such as urns or scrolls. These can be found at most hardware stores and come in various finishes like copper, bronze, or wrought iron. Once installed, these features will add an elegant decorative element and make it possible to create dramatic effects quickly and easily.

Build an outdoor kitchen on your deck

What are the benefits of having an outdoor kitchen on your deck? It can be a place for all of your family and friends to gather during warm-weather parties. Plus, it’s just another way to enjoy being outdoors! Outdoor kitchens are particularly well-suited to those who love outdoor entertaining. Ideally, your outdoor kitchen will feature a cooking area (with a large gas or propane grill), a refrigerator for cold drinks, fruits, vegetables, and a good-sized counter or island for serving. 

Decorate with plants and flowers

Is your existing deck a bit of a “plain Jane?” Do you want to make it seem like you are living in the great outdoors? It’s time for some plants and flowers! Decking out (pun intended) your outdoor space can be super fun, but it also has many benefits. Plants not only add color and life to your deck they also improve air quality by cleaning up pollutants. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis, so we’re all breathing easier! Plus, adding greenery can help cool off an outdoor space on hot days. Because plants and flowers are living things, they require ongoing care (such as plant food, water, and protection from insects) to look their best. Talk to your local greenhouse or garden center about plants best suited to your geographic area and your lot. They’ll help you factor in the amount of sun, shade, and moisture to find the perfect plants to enhance your deck.

Summary: 7 strategies and ideas to build a better deck

  • Build a floating deck
  • Build a deck that wraps around the house
  • Create an elevated deck 
  • Use different colors of wood 
  • Build an outdoor kitchen on your deck
  • Add a unique deck railing 
  • Decorate with plants and flowers

The good news is that you don’t need a complicated project to enjoy spending time on your deck with family and friends! We hope these few tips give you some inspiration as you plan out how to spend more time outdoors on your composite deck. 

If you are interested in learning more about building and outdoor living, be sure to check out our inspiration gallery with plenty of deck design ideas. You can also find all the information on materials needed, ideas for different decks, and much more on our website.

Which one of these ideas do you like best? Let us know on the Armadillo deck Facebook page!

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Which is better: composite decking or wood decking? https://armadillodeck.com/which-is-better-composite-or-wood/ Tue, 25 May 2021 16:49:03 +0000 https://armadillodeck.com/?p=6687 Decks are a great way to increase the value of your home, and they also provide a nice outdoor space that you can use for entertaining. But if you’re thinking about building or buying a deck, there’s one major decision that needs to be made: a wood deck or a composite deck? Let’s take a look at some of the...

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Decks are a great way to increase the value of your home, and they also provide a nice outdoor space that you can use for entertaining. But if you’re thinking about building or buying a deck, there’s one major decision that needs to be made: a wood deck or a composite deck? Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of both options before making your final decision.

What do we mean by wood decking?

There are many different kinds of wood, but if you walk into your local lumber yard (or Lowe’s or Home Depot) looking for decking, you’re probably going to be choosing between pressure-treated southern pine or western red cedar. With pressure-treated lumber, chemicals are forced into the wood under tremendous pressure. These chemicals protect the wood from insects and decay. (They also make it much heavier than a regular pine board of the same dimensions. Western red cedar is known for its natural resistance to decay and insect attacks. Ipe hardwood is even more durable — and even more expensive.

What do we mean by composite decking?

Several manufacturers produce composite decking. The best-known brand is probably Trex, but TimberTech and Fiberon are also well-known. All composite decking manufacturers, including Armadillo, use a similar process and similar components. Recycled plastic is mixed with wood particles (like very fine sawdust) and shaped into boards that are “wrapped” in a tough plastic shell. They are colored and textured to look and feel like stained wood, without the downsides, such as decay, insects, and splinters.

Which costs less?

Generally, pressure-treated softwood lumber costs less than a comparable board made of western cedar or composite. For example, a 12-foot pressure-treated board costs between $15 and $20. A 12-foot cedar board is $40 to $50, and a 12-foot composite board will cost between $25 and $60, depending on the product and manufacturer. However, with wood, you have other costs for staining and sealing. Between the material costs and the labor required, wood decking becomes less of a bargain. Unfortunately, those are recurring costs: every year or two, you will need to re-stain and re-seal. Over time, composite decking is usually less expensive.

Winner: composite decking

Which looks better?

Appearance is subjective. Wood decking sometimes has small knots or imperfections, while composite decking is more uniform. Most mid-to-high-end composite decking is very similar in color and texture to stained wood, and it can be hard to tell the difference.

Winner: tie

Which lasts longer?

Wood warps, rots, and splits. Also, insects and various rodents eat it. If it’s not maintained correctly and gets a lot of sun, it can produce horrifically large splinters. Most wood decks last about ten years, 15 if you’re lucky and diligent about maintenance. Composite decking often has a lifetime warranty and regularly lasts for 25 years or more. While composite decking resists rotting, splitting, and warping, it does fade in the sun over time.

Winner: composite decking

Which is easier to maintain?

There’s no question here: composite decking requires far less maintenance than wood decking. A quick wash-down once or twice a year is all it needs — and it’s a breeze if you have a pressure washer. (If you have a house, you need a pressure washer. It’s the most wonderful cleaning tool since the loofah.) Wood decking needs to be washed too, but it often needs to be sanded, stained, and sealed. With composite decking, you’ll spend more of your time enjoying your deck, not maintaining it.

Winner: composite decking

Overall winner: composite decking

Yes, we’re a composite decking company. But talk to any builder or contractor, and they’ll tell you the same thing. While wood might cost less initially, it requires more maintenance — which means recurring material costs and recurring labor. Composite decking costs a bit more initially, but it requires far less time and money to maintain.

Wood decking Composite decking
Cost (initial)
Cost (long-term)
Appearance
Durability
Maintenance
Bottom line Lower initial cost but costly and difficult to maintain Higher initial cost, inexpensive and simple to maintain

How many boards do you need?

It’s easy to know with our new Materials Calculator!

Try it now

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The three things you need to have BEFORE you build your deck https://armadillodeck.com/three-things-need-build-new-deck/ Mon, 26 Apr 2021 12:47:47 +0000 http://armadillodeck.com/?p=6640 You’ve pored over magazines, bought or borrowed a zillion books, and you have an Instagram feed filled with beautiful photos of decks. You’ve even created a detailed plan with all the components and measurements clearly spelled out. You’re ready to get started, right? Wrong. Before you build your deck, you need to check three things: building permits, rules from your...

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You’ve pored over magazines, bought or borrowed a zillion books, and you have an Instagram feed filled with beautiful photos of decks. You’ve even created a detailed plan with all the components and measurements clearly spelled out. You’re ready to get started, right? Wrong. Before you build your deck, you need to check three things: building permits, rules from your homeowner association, and underground utilities.

Building permits from your local authority

Before you build your deck, you need to make sure that your deck plan fits your local building codes. Every municipality has specific building codes, and almost every one of them has specific building requirements for decks. The American Woodworking Council has an excellent guide that takes the guesswork out of building a sturdy deck. Use this as a guide for planning your deck, and it will make the approval process from your city that much easier. You also might want to read this excellent article from Fine Homebuilding that covers creating a code-compliant deck. It probably won’t surprise you that local governments move at their own pace, so allow plenty of time to submit your plans and receive the go-ahead.

Approval from your homeowners’ association

Many neighborhoods, especially those developed by a single builder, are part of a homeowners association. Homeowner Associations (HOAs) have specific rules that govern what you can and cannot do on your property, so you absolutely need to review their bylaws (often called a covenant) governing decks and other outdoor living spaces. You may want a three-level deck in your front lawn, but chances are good that your neighbors don’t, and the rules from your HOA will dictate your building plans. For more information on deck building and HOAs, check out this great article.

Clearly marked underground utilities

Picture this: you’re digging the footings (holes that hold your deck posts) with a two-person, gas-powered auger. It’s drilling into the earth like a hot knife through butter when suddenly, it wraps around a buried electrical cable, strips the insulation, and sends electricity through the large metal tool that you and a buddy are holding.

The way to avoid this kind of costly and dangerous mistake is to have utilities clearly marked before you build your deck. All kinds of utilities could be buried beneath your lawn: phone lines, water lines, sewer lines, gas lines, and the electric lines we discussed earlier.

Fortunately, there’s a simple way to identify all of these. Just call 811. 811 is a national service for identifying and marking underground utilities. Details about the service are available at 811.com.

You will need to provide them with some essential details:

  • the address of where you plan to dig (they will also want to know the county that you’re in and the nearest cross street)
  • the type of project you’re completing
  • the exact area on the property where you’re planning to dig

It’s best to make this call at least a week before you begin your project, so there’s time for the various utilities to mark their lines.

Summary

When you’re itching to build a new deck, the last thing you want to do is wait for approval from several other organizations, but doing so will actually save you time, money, and heartache.

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Lumber costs are skyrocketing, but there’s some good news. https://armadillodeck.com/lumber-costs-are-skyrocketing/ Mon, 05 Apr 2021 17:00:27 +0000 http://armadillodeck.com/?p=6602 Softwood lumber prices have doubled. If you were planning to build a new wooden deck this year, you might want to grab a chair or maybe even lay down. That’s because lumber prices have more than doubled in the last year. That’s right — lumber costs have risen by more than 100%. The cost hike isn’t confined to a single...

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Softwood lumber prices have doubled.

If you were planning to build a new wooden deck this year, you might want to grab a chair or maybe even lay down. That’s because lumber prices have more than doubled in the last year. That’s right — lumber costs have risen by more than 100%. The cost hike isn’t confined to a single area, either. Builders and homeowners all over the country are feeling the pain of higher lumber costs. So if you are planning to build a new deck using pressure-treated lumber, you can plan to spend twice as much for softwood lumber, or you could reduce the size of your new deck by 50%. Or you could look for alternative building materials.

Why is lumber so expensive?

Are lumber mills just trying to double their profits? Of course not. Several different factors are negatively affecting the price of softwood lumber.

Demand for single-family homes is up — a lot.

COVID can take some of the blame here. Homebuilders in most markets see strong demand for single-family dwellings. Since Americans couldn’t go anywhere or do anything, they spent a lot of time at home, and some of them decided they wanted new homes. In fact, housing starts are up 30% percent this year. And all those new homes are built with lumber.

Production was down.

Lumber mills and dealers miscalculated in 2020, thinking that an uncertain economy would mean more cautious consumers and less demand. So they scaled back on the amount of lumber they produced. Another factor limiting production? You guessed it, COVID-19. To maintain social distancing, mills couldn’t have as many workers in the same area at the same time, which severely limited production.

We’re stuck at home but still spending.

Blame COVID one more time. Because Americans are spending so much time at home, sales of furniture and large appliances are up, and those large, heavy items are shipped on pallets made of softwood lumber. And lots of homeowners want to remodel their homes — or add a deck.

What this means for your deck project.

If you want a new deck, you’re not alone. Homeowners all over the country are taking on home improvement projects. So we’re all competing for the same finite amount of lumber. But there is an upside to skyrocketing softwood lumber costs: other building materials are more price competitive. Actually, while softwood lumber might have a lower initial cost, it’s no bargain in the long-term. Alternatives, like composite decking or PVC decking, are an even better value. While these materials have seen some price increases, they’re nothing like what’s happening with softwood lumber.

If you’re putting new decking on an existing structure, you won’t feel the pinch of rising lumber cost as much. However, if you’re adding or replacing your foundation posts and joists, you can expect them to cost a lot more, assuming they’re in stock.

An alternative to softwood lumber.

At Armadillo, we make composite decking. We know the advantages and disadvantages of lumber, and there are plenty of reasons to avoid softwood lumber. It warps, it splits, and it cracks. It creates some horrific splinters. And it requires far more maintenance and upkeep than alternative decking materials. So if you were planning to do a new wooden deck, there’s good news: composite decking (like Armadillo Lifestyle) is looking better all the time.

Explore the colors and styles of Armadillo Composite Decking.

View colors

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