What makes a porch the ultimate room in the house?

Ipe cedar screen porch Overland Park Archadeck

Ipe floor screened porch floor in Overland Park

Our customers always tell us that their porch is their favorite room in the house. We even had one family tell us that they wished they had not remodeled their basement before adding their porch because they now spend all their time on the porch. So why is it the porch the ultimate oasis?

The ultimate place to get away from it all

When you get out of work or you’ve had a bad day, you want to get away from it all. Your house is the place you can put on your sloppiest clothes, kick off your shoes, and just let go. It’s the ultimate place to get away. But, if you hang out inside your house, you might still notice something that needs to be put away or some work that has to be done at home. Your porch seldom disappoints in being the ultimate place to unwind. The porch carries all the benefits of being the ultimate hang out and it probably doesn’t remind you of work, duties, and responsibilities.

Your porch is like a great dog

Your porch is like a great dog. It’s happy to see you every time. It expects very little of you. It puts a smile on your face. It never disappoints.

It fulfills its purpose in life

Most people don’t think of adding a desk or dishwasher to their porch. In fact, we often remind our customers to include outlets for laptop cords.Very few things in life has a singular purpose. But if your porch is one of them, it’s sole purpose is a place to relax.

There’s just something about the great outdoors

When you hear the words great outdoors, perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is taking a deep breath and smelling the super fresh air. Then you probably think of the breeze against your skin. Your mind quickly moves to the sun and both the warmth it delivers and the brightness. There’s just something about being in the great outdoors. There’s no other room that combines the benefits of both the indoors and outdoors than your screened porch. You’re not sacrificing creature comforts for sun and breeze and vice versa. And, you’re leaving the bugs outside!

Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners

If you’re considering building an open porch, screened porch or outdoor room on your house, give us a call for a free consultation at 913-851-3325. We look forward to your call.

If you want it then you have to put a roof on it

Overland Park screened porch with cedar floor and deck posts

This Overland Park screened porch has enclosed rafters along with lighting, a ceiling fan and skylights.

At Archadeck of Kansas City, roofed structures have become one of the more popular structures we build. This is likely because there’s so much more outdoor living that can be done with a roof than without a roof. This reminds me of Beyonce’s song when I tell my customers that if they want to do more outdoor living, well, they just have to put a roof on it.

While decks and patios are the perfect place for eating, relaxing, and gazing into your backyard, they don’t provide sun protection nor protection from rain and other falling elements. Here are some of the additional benefits you get when you put a roof on it.

Furniture

If your furniture is under an open porch, it will have a good amount of sun protection and will also have some protection from rain. This opens up more options for your outdoor furniture. But even more options are provided when you add screens. Screens provide a fair amount of protection against rain and also provide protection from falling debris such as leaves. Today’s outdoor furniture weathers the outdoors much better than it used to.

Lenexa Open porch with trimmed columns, lighting and TimberTech floor, Westbury Aluminum rail

furniture. But, in the harsh sun and when rained upon, outdoor furniture will not last as long or stay in shape the way it will under a roof or in a screened porch.

Dining

When you’re considering which paper plates to purchase for your upcoming barbeque, do you consider whether you’ll need something to weigh down the plates because of the wind? Do you need to make sure all your outdoor serving pieces have lids because of the bugs? When your outdoor eating area is on a screened porch, you don’t need to worry about these things. In fact, you can likely feel comfortable using your indoor dishes.

Socializing

There are more options having neighbors and friends over for dinner or coffee if under the protection of a roof or behind screens. You can still enjoy the sounds and smells of outside. You can still enjoy the fresh air. But, there are no worries about a leaf falling in your cold drink or about an early evening get together will be quickly shut down if the mosquitoes are biting. With a roof, you also have the option of having ceiling fans for better air circulation.

Living

There is a distinct difference between a deck or patio and a roofed structure. It’s hard to put your finger on what that is but it just feels differently. Perhaps it’s the feeling of protection that a roof provides. Perhaps it’s because you can do more indoor activities outside. But by putting a roof on it, you can do more living outside.

Outdoor living often becomes much more enjoyable with protection from both sun and bugs. If you want to enjoy a lot of the benefits mentioned above, then you may need to put a consider a roofed structure.

Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners

If you are considering adding a new screened porch or open porch to your Kansas City area home, give us a call for a free consultation at (816) 228-3325 or drop us an email.

Can I include a TV in my screened porch?

Adding large screen TV’s to porches is becoming more and more popular here in the Kansas City metro market. Homeowners want to get a lot more use out of their screened porch than they can get out of other outdoor living areas such as their deck. The addition of creature comforts such as outdoor TV’s and outdoor fireplaces is one way to have outdoor living with some of the interior amenities we’re used to. The whole outdoor living trend encourages people to do more indoor activities outside.

What are the logistics of having a TV on your screened porch?

The first item to consider is a power source. You will need electrical run to the area where the TV is mounted.

The next consideration is placement. You will want to mount the TV away from the screened area. It shouldn’t be in an area where water may blow in. There are outdoor rated TV’s but at this point, they are still very expensive. They can be several times more expensive than indoor TV’s. There are other options. Some of our clients tell us they take their TV’s in for the winter but others tell us they leave them out year round.

The final consideration is installation. For our clients, we help with running the wire, installing the brackets, and installing the TV.

This Lenexa screened porch and deck combination

At this particular home in Lenexa KS, the homeowners wanted both a deck and a screened porch. They had an old deck that was beaten up and really wanted an enclosed space as well as a new deck. They wanted low maintenance floors and railing to reduce the overall maintenance required for both the deck and the porch.

We tore down everything they had because they wanted to change the layout, size, and shape of the space. We created a new space, added a new gable roof, and then built a new deck attached to the porch. The deck is all made with AZEK low-maintenance PVC decking. This deck has black aluminum railing by Westbury. The dark colored and slender profile pickets allow excellent visibility beyond the deck.

Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners

If you are considering adding a new outdoor living space, give us a call for a free consultation. We look forward to hearing how you want to live in your outdoor space and in working with you to design your ultimate outdoor living space.

(913) 851 – 3325
kansascity@archadeck.net

Visit our website: kansas-city.archadeck.com

A New Porch Shouldn’t Look Like A Late Addition

We’ve all seen it before, the new porch that looks, frankly, like an inexpensive addition or afterthought. Perhaps the porch materials are different than those used on the house itself. Perhaps there is no siding or exterior finish. Perhaps the paint color doesn’t match or care was not taken to compliment the other architectural details of the home. Perhaps the trim details are completely different than the home

It feels mismatched with good reason – the builders of such porches are more interested in a one-size-fits-all approach than a customized home solution. At Archadeck of Kansas City, our porches are designed to match your home from the roofline to the scale, siding, gutter lines, and other key details.

By working with a builder who’s concerned with matching your new porch’s look with your home, you’ll have a new space that looks like it was there all along. Taking this approach usually requires more labor, trim, and materials – and hence, somewhat higher costs – but you get a room that’s a natural extension of your home.

Creating a custom porch for your home is not just about style, but also substance. The materials should not only be cosmetically matched to your home, but they should also be strong enough to stand up to weather and to the test of time. Posts, trim, and fascia should protect your porch from the elements. These considerations can maximize the life span of your porch.

Archadeck of Kansas City doesn’t strive to be the cheapest option in porch building. Instead, we strive to create structures with both the style and the substance worthy of your home.

If you’re considering the addition of a deck, porch, patio or other outdoor living structure – to your Kansas City area home, give us a call at (913) 851-3325 for a free consultation or email us at kansascity@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.

Adding an Outdoor Fireplace: Important Factors to Consider

If you’re considering adding an outdoor fireplace to your home, you may not be alone. To know if one is right for your home – and if so, what kind of fireplace is right for your home – consider these important factors:

Outdoor fireplace indoors?

You may have more options for the placement of your outdoor fireplace than you realize. Many people are pleasantly surprised to learn they can include a fireplace not only on a patio but in a screened porch or open porch as well.

Lenexa KS outdoor fireplace on porch Archadeck Kansas City

Adding a fireplace will affect your porch

The fireplace will take up a bit of wall space. This may affect your view and furniture placement. But it can infuse warmth – both literal and figurative – to your screened porch.

Gas vs. Wood

Once you know where you’d like to add your outdoor fireplace, you’ll need to decide whether gas or wood is the better option for your lifestyle and budget. Gas and wood each have advantages. For gas, you’ll spend less on the fireplace itself because you’ll have fewer chimney requirements to meet. Plus, you’ll have less maintenance once your fireplace is built. That said, gas fireplaces require gas line access and the purchase of a fireplace box. Check with your builder to ensure that your gas outdoor fireplace uses an outdoor-rated box. In addition, you’ll need a gas line installed by a licensed and certified plumber and a separate inspection for that line. On the other hand, a wood outdoor fireplace can offer a more traditional feel and will spare you the additional gas line. That said, wood fireplaces do have many code regulations to meet. A reputable contractor will ensure that your fireplace meets standards regarding heat, air clearance, chimney regulations, and other local codes.

Budget

The budget of an outdoor fireplace can vary widely depending upon the fireplace and builder chosen. Builders and contractors offer varying rates, but selecting a reputable builder who is familiar with local regulations and codes is of utmost importance to such a project. Additional upgrades like fascia trim or a mantle can increase the value of your fireplace and the cost of your budget. Depending upon the fireplace type you choose, the budget can range between $6,000 – $10,000 or in some cases more.

Considering how an outdoor fireplace can extend your porch season and lift your home value, it’s of little surprise that the trend has become so popular in the Kansas City area. With so many options, though, it’s important that you find the fireplace that’s best for you and that you find a respected builder who will guide you through the maze of regulations that come with adding an outdoor fireplace.

Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners

If you’re considering the addition of an outdoor fireplace – or a deck, porch, patio or other outdoor living structure – to your Kansas City area home, give us a call at (913) 851-3325 for a free consultation or email us at kansascity@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.

Top Five Reasons To Plan Ahead For Your Kansas City Porch

Deciding to add a porch to your home is a big decision. A new porch doesn’t only add to your home, after all; it enhances your lifestyle. For many people, it becomes their favorite room in the house.

Lenexa KS outdoor fireplace on porch Archadeck Kansas City

To find a reputable builder you can trust with such an investment, we suggest two things: research and patience. A quality porch takes time. It takes planning and it likely comes with a waiting list. For these reasons, you may need to begin your project several months prior to your porch’s construction.

Here are five reasons why you should plan ahead for your porch with Archadeck of Kansas City:

A waiting list is a good sign. Well-regarded builders have waiting lists for good reason: a porch is an investment in your home, and you need to entrust it with a respected builder. If you envision enjoying a brisk Kansas City evening on your porch in October, then you’ll need to begin the process three to four months prior.
The best price is now. Because of a resurgence in building – due to an improving economy and post-storm renovations – prices for building materials are expected to continue to rise. In addition the new year is typically when materials’ suppliers announce price increases for the new year. By beginning your porch project now, you may secure a rate you won’t be able to get in several months.
Time your landscaping. When planning ahead for your porch, think about timing the landscape adjustments to your yard’s new footprint. By planning ahead, you can time planting for the most natural and opportune time. Fall is usually an ideal time for landscaping, when the ground is ripe and temperatures are mild.
Advance planning is key. “A man who does not think and plan long ahead will find trouble right at his door,” said Confucius. Giving your contractors time to plan your porch will result in a higher-quality porch, a design that better fits your needs, and a smoother building process.
Wind, rain, and acts of God. The part of the process we cannot control is the weather. By beginning your porch months early, we can compensate for unforeseen extreme weather conditions.

Waiting a few months for a high-quality porch built by a trusted builder is a worthwhile use of time. Let’s start the process of building your porch now, and within a few months, you just might have your new favorite room.

Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners

If you’re considering add a deck, porch, patio or other outdoor living structure to your Kansas City area home, give us a call at (913) 851 – 3325 for a free consultation or drop us an email at kansascity@archadeck.net. We look forward to your call.

Take a look at this large AZEK deck in Shawnee KS

When these Shawnee homeowners called us over a year ago, they had an old 2-level wood deck. They wanted a new space and asked us to consult. We suggested they consider an upper level deck and a lower level patio. They liked that idea and had some landscaping things they wanted to change. When we got started, we had to demolish the old 2-level deck. In its place we built a large deck using AZEK Morado PVC decking. The deck has white TimberTech Radiance railing with lights on the upper level railing.

We are your trusted Kansas City deck builder since 2001!

Below the deck, we built a paver patio using Belgard paving stone. This outdoor living space is completely re-done in terms of ambiance, increased longevity and durability. In addition, all of the materials are low-maintenance. The deck and railing will not need to be stained or sealed. – ever. AZEK decking comes with a lifetime limited warranty.

The Morado color is a warm chestnut brown giving the space a welcoming and inviting feel. The white railing provides stark contrast for visual appeal.

Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners

What to look for in a Kansas City area contractor

We continue to post about selecting a contractor. Selecting a contractor might seem as simple as 1, 2, 3 as these are sometimes the number of quotes some homeowners feel required to attain. But the important 3 steps in the process should be to related to the past, present, and future.

Step 1: Evaluate their past

You want to make sure the contractor you are considering has a good track record. In addition to references they can provide, it’s easy to check them out online. Go on Angie’s List and read their Angie’s List reviews. Go to the BBB and make sure they are an accredited A+ contractor with no history of complaints. Make sure they have a local website that represents a professional, experienced and reputable business. Also, is the contractor really forthcoming in offering you references and are they willing to put you in contact with other clients who have built projects similar to yours?”

Step 2: Evaluate their present

Take into account everything from how your inquiry call was handled to how your consultation was handled and the follow-up. Were they professional when you called? Did they ask good questions to better understand what you were looking for? Did they arrive on time and prepared at their scheduled appointment time?

Evaluate the tools they give you to help you make your decision. Do they show you a drawing of what your design will look like? Are they able to provide detailed specifications including the materials used? Do you feel completely confident about what you are receiving for your project? If you have questions, are they responsive and amenable to all your questions?

Also, make sure to check their credentialing. Are they a licensed? Are they insured?

Step 3: Evaluate their, your future

To what degree of certainty are you confident that your project is warrantied if anything should happen? Make sure they provide a strong written warranty. Make sure that their warranty supersedes them. If they go out of business, is your warranty still intact? At Archadeck of Kansas City, we have a guarantee of project completion even if any unfortunate situations should arise with your local crew. We also protect their future of your project with a 12-month workman warranty and a 60-month structural warranty.

Remember not to just take their word for it. It’s easy to check online reviews. Make sure there are a preponderance of reviews and that they give you full confidence that your project will be finished in a way that exceeds your expectations. Here is a review from a recent customer.

This is the AZEK deck referenced in this testimonial

We had Archadeck remove 4 decks from our 23 year old home. We had them replace three of them with new composite materials. We choose AZEK decking and TimberTech railings.

We could not be happier with our brand new decks. From the very first day that Steve came out to bid our job over one year ago, we knew immediately he was the one that we wanted to build our deck. We did get other bids, but Steve was the most professional and knowledgeable, by far, about the entire project. He showed up on time every time. He always called to let us know what to expect with every step of the project. He was on the job site every day to answer any questions we had. He had a very clean cut, professional crew working here everyday. They were polite and friendly and did a fabulous job. They built these decks with tremendous precision. They always cleaned up after themselves at the end of every day. I could go on and on about what a great experience we had working with Steve and his crew. We absolutely love the decks they put on our home. It make us feel like we are living in a brand new home. The high quality products we used were only surpassed by the overall experience we had with Steve Folsom and Archadeck.

You might find a “fly by night”, less expensive deck builder out there, but you will not find a better overall experience and end result than you will get from Archadeck. They are simply the best out there and you will be happy with your results.

If you’re considering adding a deck, porch, or other outdoor living space to your Kansas City area home, give us a call for a free consultation.

Composite wood and synthetic wood has come a long way baby – Top 5 key steps in their evolution

If you’re thinking about adding a new deck, porch other other outdoor structure to your yard, any early research may be a dizzying experience. There are so many brands with so many choices. We’d like to share some of the steps we’ve seen in the evolution of these products.

Rot proof and Termite Proof
Synthetics evolve: low-maintenance please!
Design improvement
Synthetics perform
Synthetics perform even better

Rot proof and Termite Proof

Believe it or not, composite woods were developed over 20 years ago. The formula was rather simple back then. Recycled sawdust was blended with recycled plastic. This “composite” was rot proof, termite proof and environmentally friendly. But, there was no choice of color, no fancy pattern, and the product suffered with mold problems because water seeped into the wood portion of the composite, was held there, and molded.

Synthetics evolve: low-maintenance please!

As time went on and the products became more widely known. Consumers were looking for other features that could be added besides being rot proof and termite proof. New composite woods came to market as low-maintenance products. They still needed to be gently cleaned but did not require annual maintenance. The same is still true today with both composites and synthetics. They neither need to be stained nor sealed and can be easily washed by spraying a hose or with some gentle washing.

Design improvement

New things became important to consumers such as look, texture, scratch resistance, colors, and patterns. Synthetics began to come in a variety of colors and include a variety of patterns such as a wood grain pattern. In trying to incorporate these, manufacturers wanted to change the way boards were made. Many went away from recycled plastic to boards they could specify the quality of. For example, some composite manufacturers began using virgin plastic.

Synthetics perform

With continuous improvements composite boards could now tout better performance. This performance included protection against blistering, peeling, flaking, cracking, splitting, cupping, rotting, and other performance characteristics.

Synthetics perform even better

While the performance had grown in leaps and bounds, there were still 2 performance characteristics that the products did not provide – stain resistance and fade resistance. It’s important to note that we use the word resistance here and when talking about maintenance, we always state low maintenance instead of no maintenance. Anything can be damaged by neglect such as leaving spilled wine on the surface. These products can still be damaged with very sharp objects.

Then a new material entered the market – PVC. PVC boards such as AZEK don’t have any wood fibers in them at all. They are 100% synthetic. These synthetics provided a host of additional performance characteristics including superior stain and fade resistance. They do perform better. The raw material is more expensive and therefore you will pay more for PVC.

Best of both worlds?

More recently, a new type of product is available that has a composite core and is wrapped or capped with PVC. The consumer can benefit from the lower cost that the composite core provides but can enjoy the superior performance that PVC provides.

By now you may have a sense of what type of material may be right for your new deck or porch. The next question relates to which brand to use. To a great extent, this will simply depend on your preference. We can show you samples that show the grains, patterns, and colors to help you make your decision.

Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners

If you are considering adding a new deck, porch, or other structure to your Kansas City area home, give us a call for a free consultation at (913) 851 – 3325. You can reach us via email at kansascity@archadeck.net.

With decking materials, they don’t make ’em like they used to…

You know the old saying “they don’t make ’em like they used to”? It’s safe to say there’s a lot of truth to that. But, believe it or not, some products are actually better than they used to be.

Screened porch with stained ACQ pressure-treated wood in Overland Park, KS

This screened porch in Overland Park KS has a pressure-treated wood floor.

Twenty or so years ago, there were 2 or 3 good materials for a new deck. These included pressure-treated pine, cedar, and redwood. It was a simple decision. They were not vastly different and the prices & performance were quite similar.

Over the last 20 years, a whole host of new products have emerged. In addition to different types of wood, there are different types of man-made decking products. There are multiple kinds of composites, made with multiple ingredients, by multiple manufacturers, with multiple different types of warranties.

Twenty years ago, if you didn’t want to do regular maintenance on your deck, you were basically stuck. Wood requires maintenance. The degree of maintenance it needs depends on a number of factors including the direction of the deck, the amount of sun the deck receives, and other factors. Today, if you don’t want to perform annual maintenance on your deck, you don’t have to. But, this comes at a price. Synthetic decking options are now available. The cost of the materials can be 2, 3, or 4 times more. But, you get a product that lasts longer and doesn’t degrade like natural wood.

Kansas City AZEK deck in Acacia color with Deckorator balusters and cedar railing

In addition, whereas a wood deck may need to be replaced in 10 or 15 years depending on how well it’s treated and maintained, new synthetic decks may last 30 years or more without needing any annual maintenance.

You can still get a wood deck and that can be a really good option. But you can now also get a synthetic deck that has superior performance characteristics and ultra low maintenance. How do you sort through all of the choices? The best way is to talk to a professional experienced contractor. The contractor will explain all the choices and help you evaluate what options are best for how you want to live in your new space and for your budget.

Bonnie and Dan Hall, Archadeck of Kansas City Owners