What was worse is that several other contractors had come out to the property to bid on the new porch and sunroom and none of the other contractors realized that the sunroom was about to fall off the house.

We were not particularly surprised to find these issues because we find poorly built structures all the time in this area – especially in older homes.

One of the biggest reasons we find structures poorly built by other contractors is because most GA builders are not licensed. In addition, Georgia is one of two states that still require only a 40lbs PSF live load. At Archadeck of Greater Atlanta, we build everything to a 60 lb PSF live load. We wrote about this last week. Click here to read more about shoddy building requirements and unlicensed builders in Atlanta and throughout the state of GA.

What is live load and why is it important? Live load is any variable, movable load (weight) to which a structure may be subjected, including furniture, people, supplies, etc. Across the country, the standard live load is 60 lbs PSF. Because Georgia’s requirement is much lower, most Georgia contractors will only build to the minimum requirement.

Instead of just repairing the front porch, we decided we needed to repair the front porch and the sunroom at the same time. Fortunately this came in time to ensure their family and guests did not use the sunroom during the holidays.

We offer deck inspections to those considering projects for $99. Because of so many unlicensed builders and the low building requirements your deck sunroom or porch could be unstable or unsafe. Call us now – (770) 377 – 2900. Or visit our Atlanta deck builder website to learn more about Atlanta area deck inspections.

Archadeck offices around the country are making the news with their work featured in national television shows.

The Archadeck Extreme Home Makeover team after working 18 straight hours

Most recently Archadeck worked with Extreme Home Makeover Home Edition on rebuilding a home for a  family in need building a TimberTech roof-top deck over the family’s garage complete with a custom pergola.

Archadeck was HGTVd building a Fiberon deck, pergola, fire pit , and custom benches

Earlier this year Archadeck was featured on HGTV’d building a beautiful custom zen-style deck complete with custom benches and other custom design features. This 1,000 square foot deck included a custom fire pit, a custom pergola-style shade structure, custom planters, a children’s play area, a hot tub, and a patio. The deck was built using Fiberon Horizon.

Archadeck is a symbol of quality bearing the highest standards of design, construction and craftsmanship. Archadeck of Greater Atlanta is thrilled to be part of the Archadeck system.

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta Jeff Mullins and Sol Elisha

For a free consultation on your next outdoor project call us at (770) 377 – 2900, send us an email at greateratlanta@archadeck.net or visit our Archadeck of Greater Atlanta website.

To see more photos of our work, click on one of the links below:

Atlanta decks photo gallery

Atlanta patio and hardscape photo gallery

Atlanta screen porch images

Archadeck decks are built to a 60 lb live load - that's 50% stronger than the requirement. This Sandy Springs GA. deck with double pergolas built by Archadeck of Greater Atlanta offers beauty and safety

Decks can collapse if they’re built the wrong way by the wrong builder. You may remember the deck crash in Marietta last year. At least five people were injured by the deck pulling away from the wall, falling backwards toward the home, and then landing atop them.

Our decks are so structurally sound you can have the whole neighborhood on your deck with not a care in the world.

Is your deck safe?. Unfortunately, you may be right to worry. Georgia  is one of only two states left that require only a 40 lb PSF live load. In other states, the requirement is a 60 lb PSF live load. And to add insult to injury, most builders are not GA licensed builders. Some that are licensed don’t have the means to evaluate what live load levels they’re building to which means they are going by what city inspectors will allow them to build as their gauge.

All of our outdoor structures are constructed of the highest quality materials and expert workmanship which exceeds standard building codes in the area.

How can you find out if your deck is safe? The answer is simple.

Have a certified professional come evaluate your deck. Archadeck  of Greater Atlanta provides comprehensive deck inspections for only $99. If you build with us then we will put the $99 toward your project. Our safety standards are superior to other builders in our area because we have engineering tables and have to make sure our decks are certified at 60lb live load, which is 50% higher than the requirement. Our decks last longer since there’s no movement because they’re built so well. Our quality standards ensure your enjoyment as well as your peace of mind. The bottom line is if you wants your deck to last twice as long, look twice as good and be able to confidently get twice the number of people using it at once, use Archadeck of Greater Atlanta.

Don't trust your safety to just any builder- contact Archadeck of Greater Atlanta

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta Jeff Mullins and Sol Elisha

To learn more about our beautiful quality-built decks then contact Archadeck of Greater Atlanta to schedule a comprehensive deck inspection at your home. You will be glad you did. Call us at (770) 377 – 2900 or email us at greateratlanta@archadeck.net

See more photos of our other stunning deck designs by visiting our decks photo galleries located on our website.

Buckhead Atlanta cedar deck by Archadeck of Atlanta

When our clients in Buckhead called us, we knew they had a beautiful Monte Hewitt home with an small, very elevated deck they wished to make larger. The existing deck was 16′ above grade and was only 10′ out. It was really too small to allow for a relaxed eating area or for relaxed congregating. In addition, the elevated deck had no access to the back yard and the very high posts made an eyesore for those in the backyard.

There was access to the back yard from the master bedroom as you see in the right side of this picture but again, there was no area to sit, relax, enjoy morning coffee and the great Atlanta outdoors.

Architectural plan drawing for our new deck in Buckhead

Their goal was to expand and replace the upper level deck, to create a deck off the mid level deck and to seamlessly connect the two spaces into one outdoor living area. The new upper deck will remain at the 16 ft elevation and the mid level deck is designed to hide the look of the high posts and make the deck beautiful from all angles. A well designed deck should look beautiful from inside the house, while enjoying the deck area, and from the back yard.

Multi-level deck in the Buckhead area of Atlanta GA

The family will now have easy access to the back yard and a nice level to watch the kids play. Another trend that’s very big now is to have multi-level or multi-area outdoor living “environments” built. Often one area is for eating and another is for congregating. This provides a spacious area for your outdoor furniture, a nice amount of walking space or traffic space and allows for multiple groups or people to do different things in the space. Just as the rooms in your home allow for relaxing in one room, eating in another, and multimedia in yet another, a multi-area deck can be like adding a vacation hideaway or outdoor oasis to your home.

Monte Hewitt deck in Buckhead Atlanta GA with custom deck by Archadeck of Greater Atlanta

To complement the beautifully wooded back yard, we are using cedar for the deck and Fortress railing. Fortress railing is a premier metal railing that is also very popular right now. Metal railing allows for a tremendous amount of visibility into the back yard as compared to the traditional wood pickets which significantly reduce visibility. Metal railings are also very low maintenance. In addition we implement an Aurora deck lighting system for maximum enjoyment from the day into the evening.

While building, we met up with Monte Hewitt along with his daughter and wife who loved the deck and railing.

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta Jeff Mullins and Sol Elisha

The project is almost complete and we will post pictures of it very soon. If you are considering building a deck, screen porch, sunroom, pergola covered porch or other outdoor structure, give us a call for a free consultation at (770) 377 – 2900
or email us at greateratlanta@archadeck.net.

You can see more pictures of our work on our Archadeck of Greater Atlanta website.

• View our Atlanta wood decks photo gallery
• View our Greater Atlanta Patios and hardscapes picture gallery
• Or view our Atlanta covered porches photo gallery

Historic Brookhaven is a wonderful place to call home. The allure of Brookhaven is steeped in history with many of it’s homes originally designed by a number of renowned architects during the pre-war period.

This 1880's Brookhaven home gets a new deck

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta is currently in the process of building a new deck for these homeowners. The deck will span an impressive 1400 sq. feet upon completion. The homeowners selected Gossen PVC decking. In addition to Gossen being a beautiful decking board, it is the only PVC line that carries a lifetime guarantee. The completed project will include an inset spa, charming cedar pergola, and a gable roof barbecue porch (covered patio) with nice railing to compliment the earthy wood grains used throughout the structure.

Sometimes in the design process, the selection of higher end materials forces some additional budget decisions. When we initially met with the homeowners we anticipated a 1500-1600 sq. foot deck design. Through the process of design and choosing materials, the homeowners decided they wanted to have a low maintenance deck. That is why they made the decision to invest in Gossen 100% PVC decking. They scaled back the original size to about 1200 Sq. foot deck and now they see some other opportunities within their yard.

It's a long way to Brookhaven for these Atlanta deck builders

We found out early into the project that we would have a challenge in terms of delivering material. In order to get the materials to the home in a timely manner we had to go down the neighbors’ drive and then cross a circa 1800’s bridge with the materials in tow. Getting the material to it’s proper location on this project is proving many hands working together can make light work. Archadeck of Greater Atlanta believes in teamwork and having expert project managers which is important because every job is different from the design to what’s involved in delivering materials and up until the final nail is placed.

This is the circa 1800's bridge that served as the route for making sure the material arrived safely to the project

When the homeowners purchased their Brookhaven home about 8 years ago,it came with an above ground pool with a wood surround deck. At the time the existing yard wasn’t very useful for much more. So they demolished the pool and existing deck themselves in anticipation of the project we are currently working on. Along with the  stunning Gossen Spanish Walnut deck, they are adding a spa deck outside the master bedroom which will contain a luscious Hot Springs spa tub. The area will also include a pergola over about a 10×20 area. The pergola has been engineered to have a larger header so they can use pure posts and have a unique fan shaped pergola. The pergola will also include custom made Gossen benches. The homeowners plan to finish the project out with Fortress black round metal balusters which will aid in beauty and will leave ample space to visually see out through to the back yard.

Take a virtual tour of the finished project below.

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta Jeff Mullins and Sol Elisha

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta , as well as these Brookhaven homeowners are looking forward to completion of this magnificent outdoor space. Stay tuned for finish photos coming soon. This already gorgeous and refined home will soon have a backyard to brag about, and a new outdoor living area to aid in creating their own history. Contact Archadeck of Greater Atlanta to learn about creating an outdoor oasis of your own by calling (770) 377 – 2900 or email us at greateratlanta@archadeck.net

To see images of more low maintenance Atlanta area decks, visit our composite and PVC decks gallery located on our website.

From the yard below, you can see the elevated portion of this deck along with the hot tub deck over to the right of the photo

This deck utilizes a Gossen Spanish Walnut composite PVC low maintenance decking board

From this view, you can see the custom benches, the corner fan pergola and the custom benches under the pergola

These owners can enjoy the scents wafting from the Big Green Egg as they sit in their vivid red Adirondack chairs

It's really important that the deck look as beautiful from the back yard as it does looking out toward the back yard.

Call us for a free consultation on your deck. (770) 377 – 2900 Wee look forward to talking to you.

This John's Creek homeowner gets more than just outdoor living space with this new screen porch and deck by Archadeck of Greater Atlanta, she gets a living scrapbook to hold cherished family memories as well.

Each of us has a special memory from childhood that takes us back to a time within our lives when we felt secure and filled with love and happiness. These memories can be stirred  by a visualization, a sound or even an aroma. Remembering a special spot or location where our treasured childhood events took place can also fuel the emotions and warmth linked to that period in our lives. In the case of this John’s Creek/ Alpharetta, GA homeowner, her fondest memories of childhood were linked to a beloved family screened porch where treasured moments will live in her mind forever. In an effort to re-create the magic of her youth in spending that same special family time on a screened porch of her own, she contacted us to bring her memories to life.

View of the deck and screen porch from the backyard of this John's Creek/ Alpharetta, GA homeowner.

What this John’s Creek homeowner was originally looking for was a big screen porch to mimic her screen porch from childhood and to duplicate the richness it added to her family memories. She also wanted to incorporate a deck into the design for added space to extend her own family’s outdoor living enjoyment. The design we came up with includes a gable roof screen porch and large “sun porch” through the use of a big deck. The original design was 14 x 14 and included room for eating and seating areas.

The addition of 2 feet makes a huge difference in the flow of this Alpharetta, GA screen porch by Archadeck of Greater Atlanta.

The area was constructed using gorgeous kiln dried wood and black picket railing. The screen porch includes an enclosure built around the fireplace so the homeowner can mount a TV to catch the Georgia Bulldogs game on the weekend amid family and friends. The screen porch also contains beautiful, large sconce lighting on the wall posts that brings the mood lighting down to eye level. We included a ceiling fan with a light within the area for extra comfort.

Even though the homeowners were ecstatic about their new screen porch and deck, they realized that the furniture and accessories were going to take up more room than had been anticipated. The realization that outdoor furniture is a lot larger these days gave way to rethinking the size of the area.

This image shows the flow and harmony of the structure in correlation with the outdoor furnishings.

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta extended the entire area to a bountiful 16×16 , which gave the homeowner an extra two feet on all sides to better suit their outdoor living needs. You may wonder just how big a deal is an extra 2 feet? The added two feet of space made the area feel more like a room than a tightly accommodated screen porch.The homeowner was then able to include a three-person couch, nice sitting chairs, and a dinette set with chairs around it within the area and still have plenty of room in-between for traffic flow and furniture pull-out. We went through a lot of extra work to make this extra two foot dream happen, but it was well worth it. This is proof that in matters of the heart, and outdoor structures an extra two feet can make a huge difference. This John’s Creek/ Alpharetta homeowner now has a space reminiscent of her childhood to create her own family’s scrapbook of magical moments.

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta Jeff Mullins and Sol Elisha

If you are looking for a way to create memorable moments in your own backyard, contact Archadeck of Greater Atlanta. We can weave our own brand of magic into an outdoor structure that will bring you joy and enchantment for many years to come. Call us at  (770) 377 – 2900 or email us at  greateratlanta@archadeck.net

You can see more inspiring screen porch and custom deck  designs by Archadeck of Greater Atlanta by visiting our screen porch photo gallery  and our deck gallery located on our website.

What’s so special?

We are honored that our design, service and workmanship lead to many referrals. But, we know materials are also a huge part of the equation. One of our most popular decking materials is Kiln dried paraffin enhanced pressure-treated pine.

Archadeck of Atlanta using Kiln Dried wood vs. Pressure Treated

About kiln drying:

Wood drying is very important. When originally cut, lumber has a high moisture content – as much as 50% of the wood’s weight. After being cut, the wood dries through a number of evaporation processes and techniques. Drying defects are the most common form of degrade in timber.

All wood will dry. When naturally dried, there will be significant degrading of the wood causing a number of problems including but not limited to warping, cupping, bowing, twisting, crooking, checking and other effects of degrading. Kiln drying controls the drying process of wood to mitigate any of these effects. Kiln drying can also have additional benefits including killing off fungi and insects in the wood. The wood we use is also paraffin enhanced. The paraffin wax saturates the wood thereby repelling water thus preventing future degradation.

How does it look?

When someone buys a custom deck, it’s because they want a beautiful and relaxing oasis to hang out, entertain, and enjoy time with friends and family. They want every aspect of their deck or porch to be beautiful from the furniture to the look of the wood itself. The look and performance of the kiln dried wood that we use are stellar.

What about the economics?

The economic story is a good one. The usable life of kiln dried wood is generally twice that of pressure treated wood. A kiln dried deck on average will need to be replaced every 20 years. Whereas, a pressure-treated wood deck on average will need to be replaced every 10 years. So now let’s look at maintenance. Regular pressure-treated wood needs to be treated every 12 months. With kiln dried wood, the recommended maintenance is every 3 years. Over a 20-year span, using the better wood material for your deck will cost you nearly 40% less.

A kiln dried wood deck really shouldn’t need to be replaced for 20 years?

In the beginning of this post, we noted that the original deck we built in Chimney Springs was almost 8 years ago. When owners kept telling their neighbors about Archadeck, the neighbors would go check out all of the Archadeck jobs on their street. They all said that even the oldest deck looked like it was just built.

If you want to start a trend in your neighborhood, give us a call for a free consultation. Call now at (770) 377 – 2900 or email us at greateratlanta@archadeck.net.

To learn more about some of the pictures featured above, please read our previous post about this Atlanta detached deck and covered patio. To see more deck photos, please visit our deck photo gallery. To see more pictures of porches, please visit our porches image gallery.

This Marietta pool deck allows the family to exit to the deck from their main living area and move down to the pool area seamlessly

A beautiful backyard doesn’t happen overnight. It takes careful planning and design for everything to come together as one. Having a beautiful and functional backyard works like a carefully planned outfit for a special occasion. Let’s say you need to put together a fabulous ensemble for a black-tie event only to realize you forgot the right shoes. This is the same as putting together out your outdoor living space. Leaving a crucial element of the package off of your outdoor living design can affect the way the entire space functions.  Unfortunately it happens frequently in outdoor design. A homeowner will plan everything to the smallest detail and realize during the project they overlooked a crucial element of the outdoor area they are trying to improve upon. That is exactly what happened in the case of these Marietta, GA homeowners when they were in the midst of their large backyard renovation and realized in the middle of the project their deck was in dire need of a facelift.

Gossen is a low-maintenance composite PVC decking board with a lifetime warranty.

The homeowners knew they wanted to use composite or PVC  for their expansion and re-decking. The rest of their backyard renovations included a new pool and large paver deckscape which were already underway. After carefully considering many composite and PVC choices they decided to use Gossen PVC decking. This PVC decking carries a lifetime warranty. This PVC decking is constructed from 100% solid core cellular PVC and is impervious to staining, warping, cracking, splintering, mold and mildew, as well as contraction and expansion from the heat and freezing conditions. Gossen PVC decking will not absorb water which makes it perfect for use on decks around pools and other water features. The only maintenance these homeowners will have to worry about is a simple, annual soap and water cleanup to remove dirt and grime.

Alternating the Gossen Spanish Walnut decking with metal rails and kiln dried wood posts, there is a natural interesting and textured look.

They chose the Spanish Walnut color that Gossen offers which mimics the look of exotic hardwoods with its rich multi shaded fine wood graining. The homeowners will be getting a new and improved deck that will give them the best of both worlds – a gorgeous  PVC deck with the look of real wood without the headaches of painting or staining. They also won’t have to worry about years of wet feet coming into contact with their PVC deck because water will not degrade the PVC decking.

Following a careful inspection of the existing deck, Archadeck of Greater Atlanta designed and engineered a plan to expand and re-deck the existing deck without adding to the profile or the thickness of the deck’s outer band. We began the project by removing several 6×6 joists that were impeding the view from under the deck but without taking the deck’s initial design out of balance. The homeowners have a finished basement with a drywall ceiling which has an air conditioning soffit which we did not want to intrude upon so we left that part of the deck free standing.

It was a pleasure to work with the pool builders to create an entire outdoor living area for these Marietta homeowners

After all the initial existing structural and design elements were addressed we began construction on this stunning deck expansion and re-decking by coordinating our schedule with that of the pool contractor. The homeowners were impressed with our ability to deliver a great project by our coordination efforts and getting in and out in such a timely manner. In doing this we were also able to help the pool contractor wrap up their project in a timely fashion as well. Organization such as this is achieved through our careful planning and expert and quality-focused Job Process Methodology (JPM), which ensures every project Archadeck of Greater Atlanta takes on progresses smoothly and on schedule.

The homeowners chose black round metal balusters with an anodized painting process along with Gossen caprail for low maintenance materials throughout. The entire backyard ensemble is topped off by a 10 light low-voltage outdoor lighting system that enhances the deck with lights placed on the posts and stairs. The wiring was carefully done so no wires would be visible to the  naked eye.

As you can see here, it's important to pay careful attention to where the stairs "empty out". You don't want to impede the flow of the living space by emptyping out the stairs into the side yard or an area other than the living space.

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta Jeff Mullins and Sol Elisha

If you are interested in a new low-maintenance composite or PVC deck or looking for a backyard renovation and need to re-design your deck to compliment your anticipated outdoor oasis, contact us. Archadeck of Greater Atlanta will plan, design and build your outdoor living space that will make your whole backyard ensemble come together. (770) 377 – 2900
greateratlanta@archadeck.net

To see how beautifully a composite or PVC deck would fit into your outdoor living area, visit our composite and vinyl deck gallery located on our website.

What could possibly be more American than a backyard deck?

When you think of all the things that make you feel like a true American, you think of things like apple pie, the fourth of July, the image of friends and family gathered around your deck with the all American scents of hot dogs and hamburgers wafting from the grill. Would that image be as potent or those patriotic feelings as strong without the ultimate American backyard structure in the starring role? There is no structure that exhibits the American lifestyle better than the backyard deck.

Another view of this gorgeous re-decking in Marietta, GA by Archadeck of Greater Atlanta.

These Marietta, GA homeowners wanted a re-vamped deck to enhance their already beautiful backyard. They knew they wanted to re-deck (or re-do everything but the sub-structure) their existing deck with a material  that was low maintenance, versatile and would stand the test of time. But they still wanted the look of real wood. With so many composite and PVC decking choices on the market, we showed the homeowner a sample of Trex Transcends.  This particular composite was not the look they were after. After careful consideration the homeowners decided to go with Gossen – a national PVC decking board which is  the only one on the market that carries a lifetime warranty. Gossen’s line of high quality PVC decking suited their tastes best because the homeowner really liked the colors and the fact that Gossen looked authentic.

Going into the initial project Archadeck of Greater Atlanta carefully inspected the existing deck to make certain it was structurally sound enough to re-deck. When considering re-decking, especially when using composites, the condition of the joists is very important because composites are thinner than wood. Standard joist width is usually between 16″ and 23″. In order to re-deck with composites, the joists need to be adjusted to 12″. With this particular deck, we had to assist in bringing the joists up to par. The homeowners also had an existing dry under-deck system that we had to be very careful of while installing the new deck.

Notice the authentic wood grain of the re-decking material and how it plays off this beautiful Marietta, GA backyard

The completed re-decking measures a beautiful 500 square feet. The railings used compliment the rich colors of the PVC harmoniously. Archadeck of Greater Atlanta also finished out the stone patio which lies under the deck and is adjacent to these Marietta, GA homeowners’ wonderful koi pond. The finished patio creates a place of solace, beauty and solitude with the sound of the water from the koi pond close by.

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta Jeff Mullins and Sol Elisha

These Marietta, GA homeowners love their new deck, and continue to love it more every day. I guess you can say they now have a deck that makes them fall in love over and over again. If you are ready to fall in love with your deck again contact Archadeck of Greater Atlanta to discuss re-decking your existing deck, or a new deck. (770) 377 – 2900
greateratlanta@archadeck.net

To see more decks and re-decking transformations visit our deck gallery on our website. For composite and PVC decking inspiration visit our composite and PVC decking gallery also located on our website.

Archadeck of Greater Atlanta Jeff Mullins and Sol Elisha

Contact us today to learn more about our hardscapes, we can design and build a hardscape structure of your dreams. (770) 377 – 2900
greateratlanta@archadeck.net

For more inspiration visit our outdoor fireplace and fire pit photo gallery on our website