Homeowners often ask me if they can pull off worn wood boards and install composite decking over the existing frame. Sometimes the answer is yes, but only when the structure underneath is sound, properly laid out and compatible with the new decking. The finished boards are the part everyone sees. The real decision gets made underneath them. Joists, beams, posts, footings,...
In the Lower Mainland, a deck cover isn’t only about shade. It can decide how many months of the year you use the space. Homeowners ask me whether they should choose a pergola, an awning, a glass or acrylic cover, an aluminum cover, or a more traditional solid roof. The right answer depends on what you want protection from, how much...
I have walked onto a lot of older decks over the years where something just does not feel right. Maybe there is a little more movement than there used to be. A railing feels loose. One section of decking feels soft underfoot. Sometimes the homeowner has noticed it for years and simply figured it was normal for an old deck. Some...
One of the more frustrating things I come across is a deck that looks fairly new from the surface but already has problems underneath. Homeowners are often surprised by it. They figure rot is something that happens after 20 or 30 years, not to a deck built less than a decade ago. Unfortunately, the age of a deck does not always...
If you have followed my work for a while, you have probably noticed that a lot of the decks I build today use composite or PVC decking. That is simply where many homeowners are leaning these days, especially given the amount of rain and moisture we deal with here in the Lower Mainland. But occasionally, a project comes along...
There is something satisfying about transforming a space that is underused into one that homeowners genuinely enjoy spending time in. That was the case with this front porch project. What started as a basic concrete patio became a welcoming composite deck that completely changed the look and feel of the front of the home. What made this project even more...
Every year, there's a moment when you can feel it. The days get longer, the air warms up, and people start thinking about being outside again. Around here in the Tri-Cities, Pitt Meadows, and Maple Ridge, deck season doesn't last forever — which is why homeowners are putting more thought into how they make the most of it. I have...
It's one of the most common questions I get, and it's a fair one. When you're looking at a quote and see a gap of several thousand dollars between pressure-treated wood and even the entry-level Trex line, it makes sense to stop and think. That's real money — and you want to make the right call for your home and...
Here on the West Coast, the weather plays a big role in how outdoor spaces are built. In places like Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, and Maple Ridge, decks see a lot of rain, moisture, and seasonal changes. Because of that, the materials you choose matter just as much as the design itself. Homeowners often ask me about the difference between composite...
Over the years, I’ve learned that every outdoor project starts the same way—with a conversation. Most homeowners already have a vision in their heads. Sometimes it’s clear, sometimes it’s just a feeling that their backyard could be something more. My job isn’t to push a design or sell a product. It’s to listen, understand how they want to use...
