Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
It's not a deck -- it's a customized summer home
It is the ultimate icon of summer.
The ubiquitous backyard deck, topped with a barbecue, dining table, maybe even a hammock, is where homeowners love to chill during the hot months.
What began 30-something years ago as a functional platform from which to view the garden is evolving into a highly designed space to rival indoor rooms.
Stephan Beaulieu, owner of Patios et Clotures Beaulieu in Montreal, says the homeowners who hire him to build their decks are influenced by current trends in kitchen design in which zones are created for specific functions.
"I always ask my clients if I can see the inside of their homes," Beaulieu said. "I want to see their space and how they live in it. It's a good place to start."
"They want an area for entertaining guests, a cooking area for the barbecue and they might also want to have an area for a little bistro table where they'll eat breakfast, as well as one for a large dinner table. They want to transfer the feeling from inside the house to the outside."
Moreover, the classic deck design that encompasses a railing and spindles is giving way to a more open look, he says.
As people have embraced gardening and beautified their yards with plants, Beaulieu says, few want to have their view of perennial borders and ornamental ponds obscured by deck spindles.
"Some people are replacing the spindles with tempered glass panels that have black metal railings," he said.
Beaulieu calls it "a simple tweak" that permits a sense of openness rather than enclosure and one favoured by mothers who want an unimpeded view of their children in the swimming pool.
Storage benches are also being integrated into contemporary decks, he said.
"We're also doing integrated hot tubs and built-in bars."
Mike Tustin, a contractor and owner of Supreme Sundecks in Pointe Claire, Que., says decks are getting bigger.
"They used to be little boxes when I started building them 20 years ago. Now, people want to live on their decks. Young families are building them with gates to keep their small children in."
And, says Tustin, many homeowners want way more than just a flat platform.
"I'm seeing a lot of screened gazebos being built on decks," he said. "We build pergolas and benches. Decks are not just platforms anymore."
Nor are they boring rectangles.
Stephan Beaulieu is being asked to create decks with rounded edges, a seemingly impossible feat he pulls off by cutting thin strips of cedar, which are laminated to make them malleable. Homeowners who are conversant with the principles of feng shui want curvaceous edges on their decks to facilitate the flow of chi (energy) in their backyards, he says.
"When you're building rounded decks, you have to take your time to create fan-shaped joists," he said. "I use cedar because it has a long wood grain that allows it to be bent."
Tustin says the era of the square or rectangular deck has given way to hexagons and octagons.
"I'm also seeing wraparound stairs," he said.
Beaulieu, a former high school teacher who began building decks in 1998, says most of his clients are requesting decks made of untreated wood, such as cedar.
"When I started, 100 per cent of my clients asked for pressure-treated wood. Now, it's only 10 per cent. Fewer people are asking for pressure-treated wood because of environmental concerns. Also, in time, it twists."
He says cedar stands up well to the elements.
Beaulieu discourages his clients from having multi-level decks.
"When you have more than one level, you'll always be telling your guests to be careful of not falling off," he said.
Privacy is a key concern of homeowners, particularly on small building lots, says Beaulieu, which is why many are opting for ground-level decks and privacy screens made of trellis or lattice.
"Smaller is better, and as low to the ground as possible is ideal," he said.
The floor space of today's decks is generally larger than it was a decade ago.
"A 12-by-14-foot deck was standard eight or 10 years ago," Tustin said. "Now, people are opting for larger decks because they're buying more stuff to put on them. So they're 12-by-18, 12-by-20 and 14-by-16 feet."
Some homeowners, he says, are requesting decks made of composites, materials made of wood chips and plastic.
"It's for non-maintenance," said Tustin, who confesses he prefers natural materials. "Composite is not wood."
"I don't like composite material," Beaulieu said. "It cannot be recycled at the end of its lifespan, and it eventually changes colour with exposure to UV light."
-- Canwest News Service
Renovation & Design
ASK THE INSPECTOR: Colour match a problem with concrete patch
QUESTION: I have a problem with the front steps of my house, which are 10 years old and are made of poured concrete. The steps are in excellent condition, except for a few scalded and pockmarked areas caused by the application of de-icing agents over the past few winters.
The damaged areas are mainly unsightly and minor in nature. To prevent the damage from becoming a bigger problem, I have patched some of the areas with a topping agent, Top N Bond, which adhered well to the existing concrete with an excellent colour match.
My problem is that I can no longer find a product to match the colour of the steps. They have changed the colour of the first product that I used and the patch is now a much darker grey and looks very unsightly. I have gone to several lumber and hardware stores in search of properly coloured patching compounds, to no avail. It appears now that I may have to cover the entire steps if I hope to get rid of the look of the unsightly patches.
I would appreciate any suggestions you may have, including the best way to resurface or cover the entire steps. Thank you for any advice you might be able to give me.
George Hodgson, Portage la Prairie
ANSWER: I applaud your efforts to take measures to prevent a small, mostly cosmetic issue from turning into a large one. Your question illustrates not only the efforts for good maintenance, but also the challenges many homeowners face. Most homeowners would simply slough off the patching until the spalling on the steps became severe, or cover the stairs with cheap carpeting, which would accelerate the deterioration due to the absorption of moisture by the carpet.
Unfortunately, patching concrete to match the existing colour is a hit-and-miss proposition. You were probably lucky to accomplish the match the first time around, but I have also experienced your frustration when material suppliers change products or they are no longer carried by retailers. I would recommend putting your efforts toward finding a better solution to the regular patching, rather than looking for the perfect product to match the colour.
My concern with the increasing need to patch the damaged concrete surface of your steps is to maintain a rough surface that will prevent a slip hazard. Most thinset patching compounds are not designed to allow application with a brushed surface. They can become quite smooth on top, which may increase the slip hazards that you are trying to avoid with your ice-removal compounds. It may be counterproductive to patch minor imperfections caused by the ice-removal products only to make the surface more slippery. You should be able to find de-icing products that won't deteriorate the concrete when applied, but that will not help with the slip hazards of the smooth patches.
Despite your expressed reservations about covering the entire steps, that may be the best solution to solving your cosmetic concerns, my slip-hazard worries, and preventing a quick return of the surface damage. However, compete re-surfacing with concrete patching compounds rarely provides a satisfactory product. In my opinion, patching the small areas of deterioration, followed by a finishing product or paint is better. There are paints manufactured for concrete application with slip resistance built in or fine sand or grit may be sprinkled on the wet paint to prevent falls. The paint will serve the dual purpose of preventing water penetration and absorption by the damaged concrete surface and help with slip resistance.
While painting is acceptable, many homeowners are opting for a newer solution to this age-old dilemma. There are several products available at home centres and other retailers that provide a more durable finish with increased slip protection. They are applied in several layers and often mimic a stone or masonry surface. The product names often suggest this stone or granite finish and come in various colours. The benefit of these products is that the multi-layered approach ensures proper adhesion to the concrete. There is often a primer coat followed by one or more finish coats. This built-up method of installation gives added depth to the finish, increasing the cosmetic appeal.
There are also contractors who re-surface concrete with a variety of different products and methods, but I have little experience with these and reliability may vary. It might be a good idea to call one or two of these for quotes to see what is available and balance it against the cost of the do-it-yourself finishes. Unfortunately, cost is about the only drawback of many of the home kits and some can be relatively high, compared to normal paint, if you have a large step. I am certain that installation of this type of product is within your abilities, as you have already tackled difficult concrete patching in the past.
As previously stated, the concern you have over colour matching the concrete patch is a cosmetic rather than functional concern. While patching is very important to prevent further deterioration, I suggest you either live with the unsightly patches or cover the entire stairs and landing with a high-quality finish to improve both the look and durability of the concrete surface.
Ari Marantz is the owner of Trained Eye Home Inspection Ltd. and the president of the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors -- Manitoba (www.cahpi.mb.ca). Questions can be emailed or sent to: Ask The Inspector, P. O. Box 69021, #110-2025 Corydon Ave., Winnipeg, MB. R3P 2G9. Ari can be reached at (204) 291-5358 or check out his website at www.trainedeye.ca
trainedeye@iname.com
