Posted in: Decks in Maryland, Screen Porch, Decks and Patios, Sun Room Maryland, Screen Porch Tips, Deck Screens, Screen Porch Screens, Decks in Virginia, Deck Contratcors, Deck Building Tips, Deck Building Questions, Deck Estimate, Deck Products, Deck Tips, Deck Design, Screen Porch in Maryland, Deck Contractor Permits, Screen-Porch Design Tips, Deck Maintenance, design exercise, design blog, Screened Porch, round deck, rooftop deck design
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Deck owners rejoice! After a long Maryland winter full of ice, snow, cold, and freezing rain, decks everywhere are primed to be reclaimed from mother nature. While there was little that could be done to help our outdoor living spaces in recent months, rising temperatures and increasingly-present sunshine are ready to join your quest to reverse the havoc caused by foregone seasonal elements.
Posted in: Decks in Maryland, Screen Porch, Screen Porch Questions, Deck Screens, Decks in Virginia, Deck Tips, Screen Porch in Maryland, porch topics, deck boards, decks in Washington, D.C., Screened Porch in Virginia
Tuesday, March 03, 2020
Screened porches typically cost significantly more than decks in Montgomery County MD and Fairfax County VA. The price difference reflects additional materials, labor, and structural requirements needed for screened-in construction. Understanding these cost factors helps homeowners in our service area make informed decisions about which outdoor living solution best fits their budget and lifestyle needs.
Posted in: Screen Porch, Deck Screens, home remodeling tips, porch topics, screen porch products, decking questions, Porch and Deck Care, Screened Porch in Virginia, home improvement, building a deck, screened porch in Washington, DC, Screened Porch, Screened-in Porch, Three-season rooms, custom deck, screen room addition, screen room ideas, screen room design, screen porch design
Friday, January 17, 2020
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The right screen material transforms your porch into a durable outdoor retreat. Fiberglass and aluminum are the top choices for Montgomery County and Fairfax County homeowners, each offering distinct advantages in durability, visibility, and maintenance. This guide helps you select the perfect screen for your climate, aesthetic preferences, and long-term performance needs.
When building a screen porch for your home, you have a number of different decisions to make, including the screen color, style, and material. The primary reason that people want to build a screen porch is for protection against bugs, but you may also have aesthetic concerns that need to be met.
Posted in: screen room anne arundel county, Screen Porch in Northern Virginia, Screen Porch, Screen Porch Tips, Screen Porch Questions, Deck Screens, Screen Porch Screens, Screen Porch in Maryland, Screen-Porch Design Tips, hire a decking contractor, retractable screen porch
Friday, January 03, 2020
Hire the right screen porch contractor by vetting four essential qualifications: licensing and insurance, proven portfolio, local references, and design expertise. Whether you're in Montgomery County, Maryland or Fairfax County, Virginia, this guide helps you identify contractors who specialize in high-end outdoor living and deliver screened porches that match your vision and budget.
Posted in: Deck Screens, Deck Design, retractable screen porch, low-maintenance decking, deck topics, deck boards, Deck Care
Friday, April 05, 2019
Composite decks typically outlast wood by 10–15 years with minimal maintenance, while wood decks require regular staining and sealing. Homeowners in Montgomery County, MD and Fairfax County, VA choose composite for longevity and wood for classic aesthetics—each ages differently. Understanding how your deck material weathers helps you make the right investment for your outdoor space.
Today, we're revisiting several decks we built 3-5 years ago in Montgomery County and Fairfax County to show you exactly how different materials age in our Maryland and Virginia climate. No marketing hype, no staged photos—just real-world results from actual client projects.
Composite Decking After 3 Years: The Clear Winner for Low Maintenance
We built a 480 square foot Trex deck in Bethesda in spring 2022. The homeowners chose the Havana Gold color in Trex's Transcend line. Here's what it looks like after three Maryland summers:
The Good:
The Not-So-Good:
Maintenance Required: Zero. Literally just occasional power washing.
Client's Assessment: "We'd build it the same way again in a heartbeat. The lack of maintenance alone is worth the investment."
Pressure-Treated Wood After 3 Years: Depends Heavily on Maintenance
In 2021, we built a 600 sq ft pressure-treated pine deck in Gaithersburg. The homeowner chose natural wood specifically because he enjoys the maintenance ritual and wanted the authentic wood look.
With Annual Maintenance (This Client):
Without Proper Maintenance (We've Seen Others):
Maintenance Required:
Client's Assessment: "I love working on it each spring. It's therapeutic for me. But I totally understand why people choose composite."
TimberTech (Azek) After 3 Years: Premium Performance
One of our Potomac clients chose TimberTech's Azek Vintage collection in Mahogany for their 520 sq ft deck in early 2022. This is the premium end of composite decking.
The Results:
Maintenance Required: Quarterly washing with mild soap and water
Client's Assessment: "Worth the extra investment. We're outside constantly and it still looks perfect."
Ipe (Brazilian Hardwood) After 3 Years: Beautiful But High Maintenance
We built an Ipe deck in Chevy Chase in 2020. At over $16 per square foot just for materials, this 400 sq ft deck represented a significant investment.
With Proper Oiling (Twice Yearly):
Without Oiling (We've Seen Examples):
Maintenance Required:
Client's Assessment: "It's absolutely beautiful and we love it, but the maintenance is real. If we were building again, we'd seriously consider high-end composite."