With the traditional start to the holiday season this week, we’re getting into the giving mode with a little sweepstakes. It’s a little thank-you to our customers, friends, and family.
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Staining vs. sealing
Recently we advised homeowners with new wood fences to stain or seal them before winter really sets in and offered tips for applying stain. However, not everyone knows whether they should use wood stain or sealer. The answer depends on what the homeowner wants the fence to look like, and this page offers a good summary.
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Bring us your Toys for Tots
We’d like to take a short break from talking fences and decks to encourage you to bring us toy donations for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program. Local businesses, of which Mid-Atlantic Deck and Fence is one, will be provide drop-off/collection boxes where the community can drop off new, unopened, unwrapped children’s toys and invite everyone to make a donation between now and December.
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A gateway to happiness
Sometimes homeowners don’t need a lot of fencing. As you can see in the photos, we recently built a simple trellis and gate for a customer in Anne Arundel County. The customer already had a nice hedge enclosing their yard. All that was needed was a nice gate that allowed access to the back yard. The customer is a duck lover, so we added the duck outlines to the top of the trellis as a nice accent. Here’s the response from the customer:
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Slick staining hints
A couple weeks ago, we advised homeowners with new wood fences to stain or seal them before winter sets in. For those who want to take care of this chore themselves, we offer this how-to page for advice. (Hint: there’s also advice here for staining your wood deck.)
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What’s a deck worth?
When homeowners consider adding a deck to their homes, one factor that often comes up is the how the deck will affect the resale value of the home. It’s nice to have the additional living space and the ability to enjoy the outdoors. It’s even better if the deck can pay for itself when the home sells.
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Have you stained your new fence?
If you had a new wood fence installed over the summer, have you stained it yet? We recommend that quality wood stain or sealer (ideally both) be applied 30 to 90 days after fence installation is complete. With few good weekends left before the cold weather sets in, now is the time to get this done.
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Stairway to deck heaven
I’m often amazed by the number of homeowners who overlook adding a staircase to their elevated decks. A well-designed, well-built staircase adds to a deck’s aesthetics and says to guests, “welcome to our home.” Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to deck stairs.
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Railing on railings
With all the attention to deck accessories, lighting, and sound, it’s easy to overlook one of the most essential components of a deck – it’s railing. In most jurisdictions, you’re required to have a railing if your deck is 30 inches or higher off the ground. But a railing is far more than just a safety feature
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The right privacy for your deck
Everyone knows what a deck is. Most people are familiar with structures to cover a deck whether they are awnings, pagodas, or roofs. What may be less well known is that many homeowners add walls to their decks, and no, we’re not talking about screened-in porches. These are wall without roofs that primarily provide additional privacy for those on the deck. Here are some the options homeowners have with deck walls.