Your Ultimate Outdoor Entertaining Space Maintenance Checklist

shutterstock_126924338With the enjoyable Labor Day festivities right around the corner, perhaps it’s time to evaluate your deck or porch and make repairs as necessary. Do you know what to look for? If not, Distinctive Deck Designs, your outdoor entertainment landscaping expert, has compiled the following handy checklist to assist you.

Spray it Down
Before you look for any faults or areas to improve on, you need to remove dirt and other debris from the surface, which will maximize overall visibility. We recommend power washing for both wooden and composite material decks, but be sure to adjust the pressure for each material to ensure you will not cause damage.

Look for Potential Injuries
Getting onto your hands and knees, look for any splinters, nails or screws that can potentially cause injuries to your children’s feet or your pet’s paws. Furthermore, be thorough and check that every plank is secure. While you are investigating each nail or screw, you can also spot areas with soft or rotting wood. If you find any, you will need to replace these planks altogether, since it could compromise the entire structure. Don’t know how to remove and install new planks? Consult a professional deck contractor to do the job for you!

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Which is a Better Fit for You: Composite or Natural Materials?

Recently decided that you want a backyard deck? Great! You came to the right place for Fairfax County deck builders, Mark Shriner and David Tingle! However, we have one important question to ask before we continue: would you like your deck to be constructed from composite or wooden materials? This can be a loaded question, because while you may simply desire an outdoor space to relax and entertain, you may need to know the differences in materials. Allow us to highlight the differences between natural and composite decking!

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Affordable Decorating Tips for Outdoor Living Spaces

As your Prince William County deck builders, we are proud to share our time and knowledge with the communities and homeowners we work alongside. Lately, we have noticed that Northern Virginia home sales have been slowly improving during 2014[1], and some new homeowners may have purchased properties featuring a deck or patio area. This extra square footage has a positive effect on a home’s equity, and we congratulate all new homeowners on their new acquisition!

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