Decks — bigger and better than ever

ENJOY DECK SITTING — With the pandemic more people wanted — and needed — to extend living spaces to the outdoors. An outdoor deck provides a place to relax, plus it adds to the value of a home.

More than ever, people are looking to rebuild and update their backyard decks to be more attractive, more functional through all seasons and more inviting to both families and guests as they gather together.

With Western North Carolina's mild climate and stunning beauty at almost every turn, taking advantage of the great outdoors with a newly renovated deck is a natural fit.

In 2022, that may mean three important updated features, according to Steve Woods, sales manager, Haywood Builders Supply: Low maintenance products, more innovative lighting and new railing system.

"We are seeing more deck remodeling than ever before," Woods said, noting that sales of the Trex composite decking at the Waynesville store have tripled over the past three years.

With the pandemic, more people wanted — and needed — to extend their living spaces to the outdoors, in order to make them more useable in multiple ways, relaxing and desirable places to be, Woods added.

Whether it is an extension of a home office, a place to host neighbors and friends, or just a place to grab some fresh air, a deck has become an important home extension in ways we’ve never quite seen before.

And this very hot trend continues, according to those producing, specking and building outside decks. For those looking for help in any of these areas, the key phase is "be patient" in today's economy.

Whether to use wood or composite material is usually the first decision everyone makes before building or renovating, and the answer increasingly points to composite.

The reason: easy maintenance. Composite decking, an amalgam of wood and plastic, doesn't need to be sealed, stained or painted and avoids fading and cracking. Natural wood —- while beautiful and usually more initially affordable — may need frequent re-staining and resealing, increasing long-term maintenance costs. The climate of Western North Carolina can be especially stressful to natural wood decks without ongoing maintenance.

"Many people simply say, ‘I’m done with wood,’" said Woods.

While there are a number of composite choices and manufacturers, including Azek, TimberTech, and Fiberon, Trex has become the brand "Kleenex" of the wood alternative category, and has recently opened a new manufacturing facility in Virginia to add to capacity in this growing market segment.

When choosing a composite material, Woods emphasizes that homebuyers consider performance, warranties, and pricing when deciding among options. While current availability is important, especially in today's environment, be patient and look at the long game when making decisions that affect long-term value of your home.

Woods’ other top tips to help ensure success: "Get a certified installer. Check references. Plan ahead. Be patient."

Deck lighting

LIGHTING — Deck lighting turns an outdoor space into an area that's usable at night, too.

As homeowners enjoy spending more time on their decks, they are getting more creative with outdoor landscape and deck lighting, to enhance the beauty, to increase safety, and to boost overall home value, according to Woods.

Today's LED deck lighting illuminates stairways and highlights deck features and perimeters on areas including post caps, deck rails, stair risers, soffit lights and more, all creating function and beauty to the space.

With multi-level decks, lighting is designed to help folks safely get up, down and across the deck at night, as well as accentuate decking features and provide overall ambiance to the space.

When choosing outdoor lighting features, balancing safety with other less desirable ecosystem effects is essential. Studies have shown that artificial landscape lighting can be a light-polluting threat to other ecosystem plant, insect and animal behaviors, and homeowners are urged to choose wildlife friendly fixtures, color and illumination.

Installing an updated deck railing system may be one of the most stunning ways to update a deck, uplifting the overall look of the property.

In recent years, the cable or wire railing trend has taken off, not only on what would be considered modern spaces or modern decks. Cable railing requires minimal maintenance, as well as enhances clear and unobstructed views, a big plus for the mountain views and vistas of Western North Carolina.

The overall "cool factor" of either vertical or horizontal metal or cable railings also provides design versatility.

Steve Woods of Haywood Builders notes an increase in the number of buyers purchasing "Wild Hog Panels," an easy-maintenance mesh railing product designed with the landscape in mind. It may be a stretch for some to think of a product originally designed to contain hogs as part of an upscale deck railing system, but its popularity, along with other metal railing products, is undeniable.

Whatever type of product is chosen, it's often a balance between trends and timeless appeal. With timeless as a design objective, homeowners in 2022 continue to ask for a wood railing system to present a more traditional look, adding homey warmth to porches and decks, whether vintage or a rustic appearance.

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