Choosing the Right Materials for Your Deck Design in Maryland, Virginia or DC

Planning on building a new deck in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, DC? The biggest factor influencing a deck's longevity, apart from the design itself, is the decking material used in its construction. What the material is and how its maintained, whether its stained hardwood decking or low-maintenance deck boards, determines the difference between a deck that lasts decades and one that shows its age after only a few years.

Great news! You've decided to build a beautiful new deck in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC and are looking at hiring a contractor. As you are determining which contractors are reliable and are collecting bids, you will begin to notice differences in the design and estimation process between deck builders.

These differences are telling of what working with a screened porch builder will be like. How long does it take to get a home estimate, and is it fully detailed? Are you being walked through the process? Are they asking the right questions? Ultimately, a contractor like Design Builders' first objective is to help you visualize your final project, be it a screened porch, outdoor kitchen, home addition, or interior renovation.

Design Showcase: Capitalizing on a Large Outdoor Space in Fulton, Maryland

Whether you’re living in an older home on acreage or a more contemporary space with ample square footage, designing an outdoor living space for a large area can actually be quite overwhelming. After all, when you have a lot of space, you have a lot of options, and that can quickly go from liberating to paralyzing. If you’re currently in this conundrum, here's an ongoing project in Fulton, Maryland, that demonstrates one way a large space can be turned into an ideal outdoor living area.

Witnessing the Future of Deck Building in Our Own Backyard

If you didn't already know - and if you didn't, you need to get into the Houzz more - outdoor living spaces are a burgeoning frontier for luxuries and amenities historically reserved for indoor spaces and upscale home remodels. Neighborhoods large and small in Virginia and neighboring Maryland and Northwest Washington, D.C. have become a hotbed for design innovation, luxury, and upscale entertaining.

This is an in-depth look at one such design out of our own backyard, erected in Clifton, Virginia and completed in 2016. It was developed closely with the homeowners, who were unsatisfied with the ailing state of their existing deck and patio. The ultimate project consisted of several parts: a chic round portico, an illuminating Trex lighting network, and even a technology-laden pavilion complete with motorized retractable porch screens. Let's dive in!

How Did Mbrico Tile Decks Enter the Premium Decking Market?

If you’ve recently looked into renovating an existing deck or installing a new deck altogether, you likely know firsthand just how many options there are out there in terms of style, design, and material. One company that stands out from the crowd, however, is Mbrico Tile Decks. What makes these decks unique, and how exactly did this company break into the decking industry?