"Deck the Hills"
with a Kelowna deck builder.
Welcome to "Deck The Hills"
Deck the Hills offers all types of decking services including wood decks, composite decks, vinyl decks, with complete maintenance and repairs.
We pride ourselves in our craftsmanship to ensure you are completely satisfied with the product, price, and timeline of install. Before we start any project we will go over with you all possible options to save you time and money, and still deliver a deck that you will enjoy for years to come.
Visit our site to learn more of what the options and possibilities are of having your dream deck come to reality.
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Types of Decks we offer and Comparisons.
Wood Decks vs Composite Decks
Decisions have to be made right from the onset. With so many different options within options, it can get overwhelming. Let's break this down into the main three types of decking and show some comparisons with both Pros and Cons for each.
The first we will deal with is comparing Wood vs Composite. No matter which option does get chosen the first few steps will always remain the same. The structure frame for any deck should be made out of treated lumber. There is no better or cheaper option. The frame part of the deck sits underneath and is not readily visible. It generally is connected to a concrete pad or piles dug into the ground to give support to the deck and overall stability as the ground shifts over time.
So the big decisions rely on the walking surface and railings. For wood options, cedar is a popular choice for its natural aesthetics and resistance to elements such as rain and can maintain its look over time. Cedar is more expensive than your standard treated wood but looks better, lasts longer with less maintenance.
Treated wood is exactly what it sounds like. The wood is treated with a chemical that gives it a green or brown look to start with. It is cheaper than cedar or other quality woods, but it does eventually fade over time and needs a recoating annually for maintenance. It also is good at repelling water which is why this substrate is used to build the frame structure.
Composite Decking consists of wood and plastic together. There is numerous color, and grain texture options to pick from in going this route. It is incredibly reliable with low maintenance as it resists moisture better than any other wood. This makes it popular for rainy areas.
When evaluating composite here are some key factors.
Composite is more expensive than a standard wood cost. in some cases, depending on the two comparisons it could be almost double. With that being said over time with no materials and time spent on maintenance plus the fact it will last much longer than any natural wood, the return on investment will eventually pay itself back. Wood is the cheapest at the start life of your deck, but you will have to invest time and money in the maintenance over its lifetime which is shorter in comparison. Whichever substrate is chosen always check with market prices before deciding to see if it is even feasible.
As far as aesthetics are concerned composites do have a similar look to a grained wood but not an exact match if you are a wood enthusiast as most purists would prefer. It is just a matter of your own taste. Some composites manufactures do create some styles that have a random embossed grain pattern which does eliminate some of the fake pattern looks overall.
As far as moisture goes no wood will beat out any composite or vinyl. Wood will eventually splinter, crack and warp over time and use. As long as you do regular maintenance a strong wood deck will look good for many years. Composite decking does not rot but does have some drawbacks. Composite is more susceptible to get large scratches and because of the embossed grain surface, you cannot sand it out. If you try you will end up with an ugly bare mark that has no grain patterns, and the surface will not match the rest of the deck.
Let's take away the rain and add some hot summer heat. Typically wood is cooler than composite and vinyl, Ways to avoid the hot touch is by choosing a light surface color. Different manufactures have different types of surfaces that can help avoid the heat, but this does become more expensive.
Visit our Composite Deck page for more information.
Vinyl Decks
Vinyl decking or PVC decking does not contain any wood elements at all which makes the product fully recyclable and insect resilient. It is known as well for its longevity and low maintenance in comparison to wood. It is less resistant to receive large scratches but is also known for some other drawbacks.
Because it has zero wood fiber this product will have a less realistic look in comparison to wood. There are more design and color options including ones with a grain look texture, but the overall consensus is that vinyl is not as real looking as the composites. Some other issues since there is no wood fiber are the expansion and contraction that can happen in extreme tempters that can loosen off mount points over time depending on the fastening system that is used.
Another install disadvantage is that you cannot easily rip cut full-length wise nor can you router the side edges. Touch-up repairs such as sanding or painting are not an option similar to composites. It also limits on installation of any heating and bending to help fit pieces.
Vinyl board decking has no cost advantage in comparison to the wood so it is more expensive at the start-up, but the one advantage it does have in comparison to all three is its longevity. Since there is no wood fiber there is less fading and as far as colors go the world is your oyster in comparison to the other two. Because of this cosmetic option, some city zones will not allow vinyl decking to be used in the neighborhood. Check with your local legislations on where you live before proceeding.
Visit our PCV Vinyl Deck page for more information.
Cedar Decking
Treated wood decking
Composite boards on treated deck frame
Finished Composite Deck
Vinyl Deck Board
How to Build a Deck.
Steps Required to Build a Deck from Scratch.
Planning and Design - if you do not have a specific design picked out, we can go through with you the different options available from the simplest to the most extreme. From the design stage, we then need to decide on what material and type of appearance when it comes to the surface area such as wood, composite, or vinyl.
Once the design is done we need to look at local building codes to see where we can place footings and the height of your desired deck. This will need to be approved to avoid any issues as the appropriate permits need to be in place before we even start.
Base Support Structure - now the actual work starts which would be measuring and cutting material, digging post holes footings, screw piles, or concrete pad once First Call is approved, and install a ledger which is the base support structure for your deck.
Building the Frame - the next step is framing your deck that supports the posts, beams, and floor joists. this is where the surface deck boards will lay on top when the deck is complete. All decks no matter which flooring is chosen require these first steps.
Surface Boards or Floorboards - once the frame is complete you can install the floorboards with the correct attachments pending on the material being used accounting for expansion and contraction during extreme heats.
Stairs and Rails - Once the floor is complete the last of the few steps is installing the stairs. Measurements based on actuals are done to take into account the height from floor height to ground level once the flooring is complete. This will ensure you have even steps from top to bottom and follow within the code heights required.
Rails are added for both Safety and Aesthetics. Most codes require a railing for any deck or stair that is 2 feet of height off the ground.
Stain and Surface Protection - If you have chosen the composite or vinyl substrates then basically the job is complete. If you have chosen a wooden deck or any exposed wood with the exception of the framing then you want to ensure the wood is properly sealed preferably with a high quality stain.
Visit our Wood and Deck Maintenance for staining information.
Deck Stain Colors
When choosing a stain make sure you have done your research to use a high-quality stain that has a strong rating for longevity. From there your choices boil down to transparency and color.
The color of your wood on your deck will affect the color of the satin depending on the transparency of the stain. It is recommended to do a test area first before proceeding and check out the color at different times of the day when the light changes. From my own experience a reddish-brown can change into a purple in a different light from mid-afternoon to evening.
For a higher quality grain of wood, you want to show it off more by using either a clear or translucent type of stain. Rougher woods tend to use a semi-transparent to a solid opaque stain depending on which effect you are trying to go with especially if you are trying to match a solid color on your house.
If your goal is to achieve a one-color look throughout then pick a color similar to the shade of your house. It is sometimes wiser to go purposely off one shade rather than trying to match exact depending on how much your solid color on your house has already faded.
If you are deciding to stain the deck on your own it is always best to talk to us first for recommendations or talk to a qualified paint supplier that will ask the right questions and ensure you have the right stain for your need.
Remember that lighter colors are more foot-friendly in the high heat.
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Mail: info@deckthehills.ca
Phone: (250) 900-3585