Article
July 01, 2008
Playing with a full deck
New materials and planning help venture outside the box
Trevor Murphy and his family wanted a deck with a fireplace and barbecue for their home, so they contacted Calgary’s Decks in the City. “Their attention to detail and pride in their work resulted in a final product that we’re extremely pleased with,” says Murphy. “(It) has received many compliments and will provide many years of enjoyment.”
Decks in the City creates all types of custom landscape woodwork including decks, fences, privacy screens, pergolas, arbours, retaining walls and gazebos. “It is our policy to create something innovative and different for all of our customers according to their budgets, tastes and needs,” says Shaun Ford, president of Decks in the City.
The custom deck builder has also developed an extensive network of complementary firms to accommodate all outdoor needs. These firms specialize in landscaping, irrigation, concrete or aggregate patios and walkways, painting, lighting, outdoor multi-media, chain-link fencing and dog runs, as well as wrought iron work, water features, pools, spas and outdoor kitchens.
“By combining contemporary and traditional techniques, with an innovative and imaginative design process, we ensure that the utmost quality and detail will go into every given project,” explains Ford.
New Home Living talked to Decks in the City and Edmonton’s Town and Country Construction recently about decks and Alberta trends.
In 2000, Ford started building custom desks for city clients and by 2004, Decks in the City began to take off with higher-end custom projects.
Since then, he has created some 150 custom decks in Calgary, calling them a “response to cookie-cutter” deck designs in the city. Initially, critics told Ford his projects were too high-end for Calgary—but the company has proven them wrong.
He describes his decks as “very minimal, rectilinear clean designs … More or less industrial Zen is our aesthetic … Nature is the number one inspiration.”
Decks in the City’s smallest current project is $18,000, while its biggest Calgary project is a $350,000 large, four-tiered deck with exotic hardwood, a fireplace area, concrete patio, pathway, outdoor kitchen and custom playground.
“We try to create year-round environments for people,” explains Ford. To do this, the company completes projects with outdoor heating, roof covering, speakers, multi-media and lighting. The company also custom designs outdoor furniture and other pieces. Recently, Ford designed a stunning stainless steel outdoor pit for approximately $4,500.
Improving your deck’s life
“Decks in Alberta are changing in a good way.They are moving forward with more contemporary, more modern design,” he says. Every year the company completes about 20 (a number which is steadily increasing) deck projects around Calgary and in B.C.’s Okanagan region and Vancouver. One Calgary client was so pleased they’re now discussing an additional Victoria, B.C. project.
As for Alberta deck trends, Ford points out they include the use of exotic woods from Indonesia and Malaysia, but also sustainable design. “We’re pushing reclaimed wood and FSC-certified woods. Ironically, with used wood, it costs more than new—there is quite a bit of work that goes into making it reusable.” Decks in the City does its best to source the exotic woods to ensure they’re sustainable.
Another key trend, Ford says, is the demand for low- or zero-maintenance, composite and concrete materials. “It seems everybody we talk to wants no maintenance.” Lately, the company has created more concrete patios and used recycled concrete tiles than ever before. Ford admits he doesn’t personally choose composite material because “it comes off as fake or plastic.”
But in Edmonton, “composites have really taken over” in the market, says Jim Slater, president of custom deck builder Town and Country Construction. Eight out of ten of the company’s Edmonton area deck clients request them. Composite materials, which are 50 per cent plastic and 50 per cent wood, are popular because they’re maintenance-free. “Maintenance-free is the biggest part of the business,” says Slater.
Originally from Kelowna, B.C., Town and Country Construction has been in the decking business for 25 years. The company moved to Edmonton in 2001 and builds approximately 200 decks every year. Family-owned and operated, Slater runs the business with his sons Simon and Adrian.
“We, as a company, try to sell (deck) design … Enough guys will sell you a rectangle,” says Slater. If clients are really open, he says, there can be so many creative options with deck design including levels to lighting. “Design, it all starts with what the customer has in mind.”
The price of the custom decks ranges from $3,500 to $4,000 for a small wood deck to $50,000 for a higher-end deck. While the company visits clients, customers can in-turn visit the Edmonton showroom, which features decking materials for final decisions.
“The decking industry has really changed in the last eight years,” says Slater. “With decks, we’re allowed to be more creative design-wise.”
Are you thinking about a new deck for your home? Whether custom or DIY projects, there important questions you should ask first.
For the tool-savvy and ambitious, Home Depot stores in Alberta offer two-hour, free Do-It-Yourself (or in some cases Do-It-Herself) seminars giving homeowners the basics on crafting their own deck. Check your local stores for dates and times. Downloadable deck planners are available online at http://www.homedepot.ca to help make the daunting task a little less so, including every detail from 3-D and joist-and-beam views of designs, to a list of materials needed for different sized and shaped decks (even versions which account for a built-in hot tub).
The retailer also offers installation services for the not-so-handy homeowners. NL