Owning a wood deck can add to your home’s outdoor beauty. With its warm and welcoming space, it could be used as the stage for fun outdoor activities. Wood decks have many perks to them, but being exposed to different weather climates can hinder them from being inviting. Learning how to properly take care of your wood deck can help avoid it from becoming weathered and damaged. These helpful tips will help to keep your wood deck in tip-top shape.
Wood Deck Cleaning Tips
The summertime brings lots of outdoor events, but also warm, dry weather. Now is a great time to do an inspection around your wood deck. Pay close attention to any planters, downspouts, or anything close to sources of water. When inspecting your deck:
Taking care of your wood deck will help it to look brand new again. Before making any repairs to your wood deck, be sure to properly wash it with a pressure washer to remove any wood fibers or dirt from it. If you are interested in getting a deck installed in your backyard or have any questions about your wood deck, please don’t hesitate to contact us or you can fill out a free quote. Miles Bradley Building and Remodeling enjoys seeing our customers satisfied.
Cedar is one of the most widely used materials for outdoor structures like; Decks, Pavilion, Pergolas, and Gazebos. All of which are custom-made by Miles Bradley builders. When considering wood decks for a home, Cedar Decks are a very popular choice in Michigan and Illinois. That natural beautiful wood gives you the look and feels that many other materials just can’t compare. Cedar does not absorb moisture as fast as other woods, which helps to prevent future damage such as twisting and splitting. A life span of a cedar deck is usually around 15 to 20 years if treated properly.
Because cedar is durable and reliable material it’s used in other exterior products as well, such as siding, fencing, shingles, saunas, sheds, outside windows, and doors. The only downside to cedar is it should be stained and treated at least once every couple of years. The four best grades of cedar are architect clear, custom clear, architect knotty, and custom knotty.
Having a cedar pergola or pavilion installed in your yard adds certain benefits for the homeowner. One of the first features a pergola or a pavilion adds to your yard is privacy. These structures offer a great place to enjoy the outdoors without the prying eyes of the neighbors as an added bonus.
Pergolas and pavilions provide shade and protection from harsh weather. Pergolas also add value to your home. Attractive landscaping to a home can add almost 20% to the overall value of your home.
Any one of our custom-built cedar structures will really improve the view and beauty of your yard while providing a great area to entertain guests. At Miles Bradley, we have decades of experience with working with and installing cedar decks and pergolas as well as pavilions, three-season rooms, and gazebos.
A cedar deck can give your yard the look of beautiful natural wood and last your family for decades to be sure. However, the cost may be a consideration when having one built. The price for building a Trex Deck for example may be cheaper depending on the current prices. There is a way to save on the cost of building a deck and still use cedar. The following is a recently built deck with pressure-treated decking. It has cedar rails and cedar fascia with black aluminum balusters. That combination is cheaper than Trex. So, if you have a huge deck to replace, that combo of material is price competitive.
Finally, please Contact Miles Bradley today for a quote on a new cedar deck installation. Or, feel free to give us a call at 248-478-8660 in the Detroit area or 847-920-7601 in the Chicago area, you will be glad you did!
Make Your Deck Look Amazing!
We’ve got some ideas from Pinterest, magazines, and even some clients we’ve had in the past to put together a list of cool ways you can spruce your deck up!
Accessorize!
Fun little nook for entertaining guests
Of course, the best way to get your deck to look and feel great is to add places to lounge and host guests on. Chairs, tables, patio furniture, a grill, and other places to hang out are key to enjoying your deck. Once you have these items in place, you can fully enjoy your deck and the summer weather. Make sure when purchasing outdoor furniture that you are getting items that can withstand the elements and are specifically made to be outdoors.
Adding potted plants to your deck will help create a real sense of awe. Plants will do well out on your outdoor space, and give your deck some of the life that it needs. You’d be surprised what a few potted plants and flowers can do for the feel of a space. Trust us you can’t go wrong.
The gas-powered fireplace is the cherry on top of a great custom 3 seasons room
One of the things that no deck or outdoor space should be without is a place to have a fire. There isn’t much more relaxing than enjoying company outside with a good fire going. Little fire pits or chimineas will help keep your fire contained and manageable. Always make sure to check local ordinances for fire burning policies or make sure to alert your local fire department any time you want to have a fire. Safety first!
Composite Privacy Wall And Gate
When planning your deck, what is your ideal situation? We’ve had clients in the past who wanted to make sure they could add additional features to their deck in the future if need be. Hot tubs, pergolas, and gazebos could be in your future if you want it, so make sure you think in the long term when building your ideal deck. (If you need a hot tub or other waters add ons we recommend checking out Viscount pool and Spa)
Lighting
This one is great for when you want to extend your time out on your deck until late hours of the night. Don’t leave your guests sitting in the dark, especially if you have a multi-level deck or stairs. Adding some lighting will not only help set the mood but also give added safety features that you’ll need to enjoy your deck into the evening
If you’ve always wanted a deck, or your current deck needs an upgrade, we can help! We know how to create a custom unique outdoor space that you’ve always wanted. We’ll even sweeten the deal! We are currently running a special on deck lighting for your new deck. We install a new deck, and you get a free set of six rail lights that include a photo/cell timer.
So why wait! Summer is almost here and you should be enjoying it! Click here for a free quote on your next deck project from Miles Bradley!
Here at Miles Bradley, we’re more than just a great deck builder! We can also build your dream 3 season room, screened-in porches, or custom pergola in the Metro Detroit area. Check out these local custom enclosure projects built by Miles Bradley.
Custom 3 seasons room in Wixom, MI
Location: Wixom, MI
You can see this custom-made 3 seasons room was just the touch this house needs to be able to enjoy Michigan’s seasons while in the comfort of their own home. Finished off with cedar and T&G trim that made this custom order have the warm finishing touches it needed.
Beautiful cedar and T&G Trim made this custom 3 season room look amazing!
Final Price: $30,000
The gas-powered fireplace is the cherry on top of a great custom 3 seasons room
Location: Novi, MI
This three-season addition has taken the indoor/outdoor room to the next level. They added a gas-fired fireplace and an indoor bar to entertain guests in style. They added coffered ceilings, lights, and fans to make their porch into the main place to be in any of the seasons!
Final Price $38,000
Beautiful in the day or night, we love our custom made screened-in porch
The coffered ceilings, lights, and fans make this addition the best place to be in the house
Custom deck with bent glass rail finished off this outdoor patio!
Location: Orchard Lake, MI.
Here you can see an aerial shot of this cute little addition
This little walk-out deck was just what this house needed to finish off its stone patio. You can see how the bent glass rail compliments the house and the stone patio. The customer wanted a low-maintenance Trex deck composite deck so they wouldn’t have to worry about regular maintenance on their deck. The Trex Transcend decks are made for customers who want a deck that won’t succumb to the wear and tear that our Michigan seasons can produce. Read more about them here.
Final Price: $20,000
Here you can see the custom bent glass rail we built for their custom Trex deck
Location: South Lyon, MI
Walkout level screened in porch in South Lyon Michigan
The property owners of this walkout level screened-in porch had a view, and they wanted this addition to compliment it. We were able to add on the multi-level deck with the Trex Transcend Deck system with rail steps so they didn’t have to worry about cleaning or fading. This deck created space to be in the winter and space outside for the warmer months. We loved it!
Final Price: $50,000
Location: Commerce, MI
Here is a custom elegant cedar timber pergola, beautiful!
We do more than just decks! Here you can see an elegant cedar timber pergola with round columns that we built for this client in Commerce Michigan. We wanted to upgrade their outdoor experience and give them the best service in the process.
Final Price: $10,000
So if you want to create the deck of your dreams let us help!
Enjoying the outdoors, hosting friends and family, and having a grill space for your inner grill master, with the custom deck of your dreams! Miles Bradley Building and Remodeling in Illinois want to build your dream deck this year. We will help you every step of the way from brainstorming to planning, blueprints, and then building your custom deck, all while you watch it come alive. Let us show you some pictures of custom decks we’ve built in the past year for some inspiration!
Custom Deck Design
Elgin, Illinois
Custom Design – Simple One Level Trex Transcend Deck With Aluminum Rail In Elgin Il
It’s amazing what a deck can do for a house. Not only are you increasing your property value, but you are also creating space to entertain and enjoy the great outdoors. As you can see from this deck picture, these guys took their backyard up to the next level with a Trex Transcend deck with Aluminum Rail. This house went from drab to fab overnight and will last long enough for you and your guests to enjoy it.
Price: $20,000
Multi-level Composite Decking Design
Elk Grove Village, IL
Elk Grove Village, IL Above Ground Pool Deck Using Trex Transcend Composite Decking
If you’ve ever dreamed of getting a pool, but couldn’t justify getting an in-ground pool, this is a great alternative. This family bought an above-ground pool, then we built the multi-level deck around it. Not only do they now have space for the pool and the hot tub, but they also created an area to entertain guests comfortably around the above-ground pool. What we like most about this design is how the multi-level deck created a space to keep the hot tub isolated away from the elements and give the owners a little privacy. Along with providing a classy and easily accessible way to enter the pool.
Composite Decking And Railing With Step And Rail Lighting
Price: 40,000
Low Maintenance Custom Design Trex Deck
Hoffman Estates, IL
This was another customer who wanted to have a space to entertain guests and be able to cook out without worrying about their deck getting damaged. They wanted to utilize the Trex Transcend low maintenance composite deck material, so cleaning up after a night with guests would be a breeze. Trex is known for its mold-resistant, scratch-resistant deck material made for recycled material, so you know you’re in good hands. As you can see, the product can speak for itself when it comes to looking.
Price: 40,000
Black Low Profile Trex Reveal Aluminum Railing With Custom Rail And Step Lighting
Fun little nook for entertaining guests
Trex Transcend Deck with Hot Tub Privacy Gate
Palatine, Illinois
Palatine, IL Low Maintenance Trex Transcend Deck With Sunken Hot Tub
Composite Privacy Wall And Gate
This particular customer wanted to have a deck that would be low maintenance, easy to clean, and give them the privacy they wanted when they use their hot tub. So we built them a deck that utilizes Trex Transcend Deck for low maintenance, fade-resistant, easy to clean deck they could enjoy all year round. We included a composite wall with a gate so they could have the privacy they desired for their hot tub. We love how it came out.
Price: $35,000
Cedar Gazebo Deck Project
St. Charles, IL
St. Charles, IL Square Cedar Gazebo With Screens
We’re not just one the best professional deck builder in Illinois (and Michigan), but we can also help you build the gazebo of your dreams. Here you can see a job we did in St. Charles, Illinois. We helped this owner not only create a wonderful outdoor/indoor screened-in gazebo space, but we also helped them build up the deck of their dreams. We custom-built their deck in Western Red Cedar and complimented it with aluminum Balusters, rail lighting, and topped it off with shingles that matched the roof of their house.
Western Red Cedar Deck And Rails With Aluminum Balusters And Rail Lighting
Miles Bradley Building & Remodeling, Inc. in Illinois is located at; 3 Golf Center #403, Hoffman Estates, IL 60169. Reach us at (847) 920-7601. We’ve got the experience, skill, and professionalism you look for when building your perfect deck. If you want to start down the road to get your newest and best home accessory, we can help. Request a quote anytime on your dream deck project.