While it’s cold outside, the days are short, and spring seems a long way off, the last thing on your mind may be building your deck. However, what if you could get your deck completed in the winter, let it cure until spring, and have it ready when you are ready to enjoy it. It may come as a surprise, but believe it or not, many industry experts consider winter the best time of year to build a deck.
BEAT THE SPRING RUSH
For starters, you’ll have a shorter wait time on workmanship if you opt to build your deck in winter. Most people wait until spring to start thinking of outdoor projects, making it the busiest time of year for contractors. If you wait until spring to start building, you may find yourself backlogged and not enjoying the deck as early as you could. Winter construction may need to be done in stages, depending on inclement weather, but labor and materials should be in ready supply. You may even save money by building in winter, as labor and materials can be cheaper in the off-season.
SEASON THE UNDERLYING WOOD
Even when building composite decks, pressure-treated wood base and footers underlie the structure. Pressure-treated wood needs time to cure, and winter provides the best time for wood curing due to low-moisture air and indirect sunlight. A deck built in the spring or summer can be hit by full sun or absorb humidity, resulting in the “green,” uncured, wood becoming warped or cracked.
The picture on the right is an example of how we at Ridgeline build a deck in winter. We pour footings in the cold weather with rapid set concrete, and we use the over-sized buckets and heat lamps for a proper wood cure.
GO EASY ON YOUR LIFESTYLE
Choosing winter construction results in less interference to your household and its backyard usage, as most people spend time indoors during the cold months anyway. You’ll also experience less stress on this year’s lawn, landscaping, and planted flower beds, as the project will be completed before spring gardening. One of the best benefits of all is that you, your family, and friends will be able to enjoy using your deck on the first day of beautiful weather.
Contact Coy Construction for all your decking needs. www.coyconstruction.com