YOUR BACKYARD may still be blanketed by snow, but it is never too early to start making plans to transform that space into a summer oasis.
Brandon Dueck, a project manager for Windeck Ltd., says planning a major project can take a couple of months, and while many homeowners book their projects in the fall, most start the process when warm weather returns.
"The majority of people book in spring. It’s funny, even in April, if it’s cloudy it’s quiet. But when it’s sunny our phone is ringing off the hook."
Planning for any hardscaping and/or landscaping project starts with about 20 questions for the homeowner, whether the plans are for large yards or small spaces.
"The first thing I need to know is their budget because it can hit six figures, no sweat, and people want the most bang for their buck," says Dueck, adding that there may be more economical options, especially for smaller yards.
"The first thing I want to do is make sure we’re on the same page, so I want to get you into our showroom where I can show them different kinds of decks, railings and so on, and give them the cost of what they want. My pricing is pretty basic. Then we’ll get some site measurements before we can start."
Most Windeck jobs run in the $15,000-$35,000 range, but budgets vary based on the size of the deck, types of lighting and railings, and other details. Some customers want multiple levels around a pool or hot tub, an outdoor kitchen or bar, or even a TV set designed for outdoor viewing.
"Sometimes, if it’s a new build, we’ll work with Neil and Nick’s Landscaping to plan for shrubs and trees for privacy and wind protection," Dueck says.
Neil Boorsma, co-owner with Nick Harasym, says landscaping typically begins after a deck is complete.
"Generally, we’ll meet with the client and do a walkthrough of what they want. If they don’t know what they want, we’ll give them a list of suggestions, like whether they want a water feature, garden bed and we go from there."
If the client wants privacy, shrubs or other foliage might be the best solution, Boorsma says.
"It could be planting something upright, like crabapple trees that don’t get too large. It pretty much comes down to functionality — whether they want to entertain for a lot of guests or just a few. And if they have a lot of kids, they’ll want more greenspace."
Maintenance-free synthetic decking is a given, since Windeck president and CEO Mel Dueck was a pioneer in introducing maintenance-free railings and deckings in Manitoba.
"I started snow clearing, lawn maintenance and light landscaping," says Mel, who founded the business with his wife, Judy, more than 35 years ago.
"I was building wooden fences and decks, and people would ask me why they needed so much maintenance. So I started going towards maintenance-free and we never looked back."
Now 67, Mel has seen the business grow and achieve major success with his sons Brandon and Jordan on board as project managers.
In fact, Windeck recently won two North American Deck and Railing Association industry awards, in the Alternative Decks over-$100,000 category. It won second place for a project in the Whiteshell and third place for a deluxe deck built in North Kildonan.
"A company from New Jersey won first place, so this means that we were the best in Canada," Mel says. "That was a real dream come true. It means we’ve proven ourselves in the decking industry — I hope that doesn’t come off sounding too cocky. It’s quite an honour."
Photos courtesy of Windeck Ltd.
