Container gardening allows you the opportunity to add color and texture to your deck. The easiest way to begin is to combine these categories of plants: thriller, filler and spiller. You want to have a bold, upright, architectural plant.  That’s your thriller.  The filler is the plant with medium height in the pot, or the next step down from the thriller. The spiller tumbles out of the edge of the container and falls toward the ground.

When considering plants to use as your thrillers, fillers and spillers, think about their texture, fragrance and color combinations. Each plant conveys color, texture, shape, and dazzle. Do certain colors in one plant bring out subtle complementary colors in another? How do the various leaf shapes, sizes and textures carry through the container plantings?  Is there an underlying theme that connects all the plants together?

Choose a Thriller

This is the plant that provides architectural structure in the pot. Good options for thrillers are bananas, elephant ears, cannas and ornamental grasses.

Choose a Filler

Fillers are the plants in the middle that connect the thrillers to the spillers. Consider using plants of moderate size, such as coleus, pentas and lantana.  Fillers are mounding, billowy plants planted around the thriller. They disguise the base of the thriller and fill up the pot with neat shapes.

Choose a Spiller

Spillers are the final element to consider when designing your pots. They cascade to the ground, softening the edges of the pot and anchoring it in place. They provide a colorful skirt around the combination of thrillers and fillers. Sweet potato vine and verbena are good examples of trailing plants.

Select a Container

Before selecting a container, think about where you want to put it. Will it soften the corner of the deck? Do you want to place it within a grouping of containers? These are important options to consider when choosing a pot and will help to determine if you need small eight-inch pots or big four-foot containers. You should also consider color combinations, formal vs. informal, style, access to a water source, general care and maintenance.  For a large container, consider putting it on rolling plant caddy.

Mention Spring Break and visions of warm climates in a tropical oasis pop into your head… or maybe it’s the oasis in your backyard created by using one of the new tropical, synthetic products or one of the exotic hardwoods such as Tiger Deck to create your new deck.  Get inspired and create your own open-air retreat by adding an outdoor kitchen or pergola to your entertaining area.

Whether you are seeking solitude or a great place for entertaining, an inviting living room area is the perfect place to relax and enjoy your Spring Break.

We’re often asked about the required maintenance for a deck – what do I do? how often? what to use? – and we’ll try to provide some basic guidelines here.

Synthetic products like composite or vinyl decking, aluminum railing, vinyl siding, even paver patios are fairly simple to tend to.  You should regularly sweep and hose off the areas to keep them free of dirt and pollen.  If you have an area that is very dirty, you may need to use a mild dish soap and agitate the area, or even possibly use a deck like cleaner like Corte-Clean that is bleach-free.  We advise extreme caution when using a pressure washer, as it is very possible that you could damage the products if you are too aggressive.  A great comparison is to think about how you keep your car clean – vacuuming and washing – and just apply that to your outdoor space.

Wood decks will take a little more effort because not only do you have to clean, but also stain, most woods.  The lone exception can be hardwood, which some folks allow to weather to a silvery patina.  Most prefer the rich, darker color that the wood naturally has before it is exposed to the sun’s UV rays.  Again, we recommend use a cleaner and brightener, as opposed to pressure washing, when it comes to prepping the deck for staining.  These are simple products to mix and apply, contain no bleach, and often do a better job with less effort.  Penofin makes a Pro-Tech line of products – stripper, cleaner, and brightener – that can be used to prep a wood deck.  Penofin also makes a diverse line of penetrating oil products that can be applied to the deck for the staining component.  The penetration protects the wood from the inside out and provides a simple process for re-application in the future.  There are other stains that you might prefer in a similar fashion, but we also caution against painting anything exterior, especially a deck.  For any questions or further assistance, feel free to contact us.  We don’t clean and stain decks, but are happy to share the knowledge we’ve obtained and sell the Penofin line of products for you to use on your own deck.

Many decks we build now include low-voltage lighting, and the possibilities are greater than they’ve ever been.  Five years ago, basic post top lights and small step lights were the norm and only installed on a handful of decks, but with the outdoor spaces becoming a more critical element in day-to-day living, people want their decks to be nicer and to be seen – even at night.

The question of why to add lighting is answered with two main reasons: adding an element of safety and adding aesthetic appeal.  Safety naturally comes as the exterior space is lighted and more visible for the entire neighborhood, but even when on the deck, highlighting level changes and stairs can help visitors to safer footing when out on the deck beyond sunset.  The fun part of lighting, however, is the appearance of the fixtures and the ambiance that dusk to dawn lighting adds to a beautiful space.  We often compare it to jewelry to compliment the rest of the ensemble.  To some, the outdoor space isn’t complete without the jewelry.

The lighting options are narrowed to four main types for most spaces: post top lights, post accent lights, stair riser lights, and recessed lighting that sits in the floor.  Post top and stair riser lights were once the most popular, but we’ve seen a great increase in the newer, sleeker styles in the accent and recessed lights.  We have a wide array of choices displayed in our showroom, and this is really the best way to get a feel for what might be the best fit for your deck.  Visit us to take a look or get recommendations on ways to add this element to your existing deck or the new one you are planning!

While the desire for a beautiful backyard setting will always remain, the means of accomplishing this with regard to the typical focal point, the deck, will continue to evolve as new products are developed and ideas shared by friends and family. We’ve seen a few trends, both new and returning, really start to take a hold on a large number of projects we have been working on.

First, the days of boring, solid colors in decking are almost past us. Most folks prefer multi-chromatic, tropically-colored flooring, whether that be of the synthetic variety or a real hardwood like TigerDeck. Most manufacturers have moved that direction because of the demand, and that won’t stop anytime soon. Along with that choice comes an equally important decision – the railing. While some folks still don’t place as much emphasis on the look of the railing, most folks understand that this aspect of the deck holds the most power and also offers the most versatility. We’re seeing a trend of people moving to darker colors, if not for the entire rail, at least the baluster portion of the deck, with thinner, metal profiles often being used.

“Shade” is a popular buzz-word once again, as most folks are giving in to the powers of the sun and seeking solutions to make their deck a more comfortable space. Sunrooms, gazebos, pergolas, retractable awnings, and solar shades are all major or minor additions to an outdoor living space that can make a huge difference in the ability to enjoy the time outside on a new deck.

Lighting is the accessory item that has seen the greater increase in interest in the last couple of years, and manufacturers are responding with new and improved offerings. New styles, colors, and purposes for lights have been established, and there’s been a great deal of movement toward LED lighting. Consider lighting as “jewelry for your deck” from an aesthetics standpoint, but it can also be a functional addition as it may offer additional safety and security means to an outdoor space.

Visit our showroom or online gallery for more ideas, and, as always, feel free to submit a question through the site or give us a call if you have a question!

We will be open on Saturdays from 10am-2pm starting February 25th, so please feel welcome to stop in to discuss your project.

Here’s a question that we get often as temperatures climb to ridiculous levels in the summer: Is there a certain deck board that stays cooler or gets hotter than others? And for that question, we have an answer!

In simplest terms, you’ll find that lighter colors will not get quite as hot as darker colors as with everything else.  Also, the pure plastic boards don’t get quite as hot as their wood and composite counterparts.  But the location of the deck makes a huge difference in how hot the products get – southern facing decks will be much hotter than a northern facing deck because of the amount of sun exposure.  A vinyl-sided home with many windows will reflect a much greater amount of energy down on a deck’s surface making it much hotter than other settings.

The bottom line seems to be that when it is hot outside and the deck is in direct sunlight, everything gets too hot to the touch.  Some folks have even tested this at our showroom by doing barefoot tests outside. And don’t be shy, we won’t mind if you’d like to do that, too! Come on by and say hello!

California Custom Decks has been awarded the prestigious 2010 Angie’s List Super Service Award, an honor bestowed annually on approximately 5 percent of all the companies rated on the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies.

“Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing consistently high quality customer service, as judged by the customers who hired them,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.

California Custom Decks representative Mike Brueggenjohann says “We really pride ourselves on providing customers the greatest service and value possible. People put their trust in us to handle their project, and we want them to know that it is just as important to us as it is to them. Angie’s List gives folks an opportunity to understand what kind of experience they will have working with us and the confidence to know that the project will be done correctly.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have met strict eligibility requirements including earning a minimum number of reports, an exemplary rating from their customers and abiding by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2010 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

In spite of the most challenging economy in several decades, Fiberon®, a leading manufacturer of composite and PVC decking, railing and fencing products, is ramping up production of its game changer Horizon Decking product line.

Due to the overwhelming demand for Horizon decking with patent-pending PermaTech innovation, Fiberon is adding manufacturing capabilities at both its facilities in New London, N.C. and in Meridian, ID to keep up with demand.

“The response to the Horizon product line has been so overwhelming that we have had to invest rapidly in expanding our capacity,” said Doug Mancosh, CEO and owner of Fiberon, LLC. “Since January 2010, we have increased our production capacity by 300 percent and have plans for further expansion.”

The technology leader in the composite decking industry, Fiberon introduced Horizon decking in October 2008.  Horizon decking incorporates a traditional wood plastic composite board for strength and rigidity, and encapsulates it on all four sides with an incredibly durable non-organic surface material that provides unprecedented stain, fade and mold resistance. As a result of the thoroughly tested proven performance of Horizon decking, Fiberon was the first producer in the industry to offer a stain and fade warranty.    

An important evolution of Horizon decking occurred with the introduction of multichromatic surfaces that offer the appearance of a tropical hardwood in August of 2009. The multichromatic Horizon decking boards are available in Ipe and Rosewood grain patterns and colors.  

“These two wood tones have generated enormous interest and excitement among consumers, deck builders and the media in general because of their exotic and elegant appearance. Combined with the true low maintenance features resulting from the PermaTech surfaces, Horizon decking offers lasting beauty. In reality, Mancosh stated, Horizon multichromatic decking is simply unequaled in the industry for it’s stunning appearance and is rapidly gaining that reputation.”

The popularity of TigerDeck continues to rise as homeowners are learning more about its benefits and understand that they can have a beautiful, low-maintenance deck built with a natural material.  We’ve used it for a number of projects and in all different capacities – sunrooms, gazebos, decks, walls.  Most people find it to be the most attractive decking in appearance.  It is naturally durable to resist insects and rot without applying any stain or paint.  We have a nice display in our showroom with several railing options available, so stop by and check it out!

Of all of the great synthetic products available now, the Fiberon Horizon product in the Ipe color is certainly a popular new choice.  Besides the attractive look with the multi-chromatic Ipe color, the properties of the Horizon product are phenomenal: 2o-year no-stain, no-fade warranty…superior scratch resistance…mold resistance…hidden fastening system.  Fiberon’s black railing is also an attractive, affordable complement to the decking.  The new line of products from Fiberon are certainly leading the way into the next generation of synthetics with which we are currently being introduced.

With all of the advancements in product development in the last several years, people are finding more choices for their projects than they know what to do with.  Be sure to ask about all of your potential choices before making a firm decision on a certain color or manufacturer’s product.  There is no perfect decking or railing that EVERYONE should use for their deck, but there is one that is best for YOU.

When we discuss a project with a potential client, we listen for the things that are most important and can usually make a good recommendation that will meet their needs.  Now, there are over 40 different decking choices we could potentially recommend when considering all of the different colors… and there are just as many railing choices to go with those, so the number of deck looks is almost endless.  When working with someone, we want to know what level of maintenance is desired, if hidden fastening is critical, what color palette seems to be preferred, if there is a general style of railing that seems to catch the person’s eye, and what kind of budget they might be working with.  Once we’ve gotten a good feeling for what’s important, we can usually determine the best fit.

Take for instance, the project in the photo above, where we used Fiberon Horizon decking in the Bronze color, but built a railing with Evergrain in the Weathered Wood color…plus the balusters are from Deckorators in a Bronze color, but this shade of Bronze is different from the decking shade of Bronze!!!  Sounds confusing right?  Well, not to a true deck professional who is aware of all of the available product choices that might work for you.  You may just think of a deck company like California Custom Decks as another place to pick up a few things for your weekend project or a reputable company who can build a nice big deck…but we do much more than that now.  People rely on us to help them design, pick out colors, and educate them on how to achieve a certain look.  We’ve become a sort of “exterior designer” who can do more than just drive nails with a hammer.  If internet research still leaves you feeling incomplete about what you want to do, stop by our showroom and spend half of an hour with us…hopefully, we’ll complete the picture for you!

Gazebos are a charming addition to any backyard, and we’ve seen this popular deck and gazebo combination dozens of times over the last few years.  In fact, if we were to claim a signature project type, this might be it.  This is a large deck with a 12′ screened gazebo, built with low-maintenance materials.  While this one is in Sunset Hills, you’ll see customized versions of this combination all over the area!

AZEK Deck is developing a new generation of decking that is scratch resistant, stain resistant, and mold and mildew resistant.  With the new Arbor color collection (Acacia, Morado, Redland Rose) and Terra color collection (Fawn, Kona, Sedona, Tahoe), they have created a beautiful low-maintenance decking line that will hold up to the test of time.  Visit the AZEK website for more information on the product and new colors.  Visit our showroom for samples and to discuss your project.  We are both a dealer and installer of AZEK products.

Here’s an interesting article from the resident home expert Bob Vila’s website.  It’s pretty basic as an introduction to the decisions we’re faced with these days when choosing a new decking.  There are some great options in wood, composite, and PVC today.  Feel free to stop by our showroom to discuss your options because picking a new flooring is quite a balancing act.  There’s no perfect choice that will absolutely be the best choice for everyone, and that’s where we excel.  We have a deep understanding of all of the available products and can help you determine what is best for you.

click here for full article

Also, there’s a little incorrect information in the article.  Fiberon’s no-stain, no-fade warranty is actually 20 years.

We just finished a new project in Fenton that featured beautiful TigerDeck decking and trim.  The railing was Black Radiance Rail from TimberTech.  It looks great and really opens up to the backyard!  There’s some nice subtle lighting that you can’t see here, but it should be a fantastic setting when the Spring weather finally arrives.