Posted in: Screen Porch in Northern Virginia, Screen Porch, Screen Porch Tips, Screen Porch Questions, Screen Porch Screens, Screen Porch in Maryland, Screen-Porch Design Tips, retractable screen porch, porch topics, screen porch products, porch add-ons, Porch and Deck Care, Screened Porch in Virginia, Porch and Deck Accessories, Motorized Porch Screens, Automatic Porch Screens
Monday, February 10, 2020
If you live in the Maryland, Virgina, DC area, and are entertaining the idea of building an outdoor screen room, you want to invest in creating a space that's as functional year-round as possible. This translates to designing a screened porch area that's comfortable and usable for as many months of the year as you can. Luckily, there are many ways to ensure your outdoor living space is fortified against bugs and the elements.
Posted in: Screen Porch Tips, Screen Porch Questions, Screen Porch Screens, Decks in Virginia, Deck Building Questions, Screen Porch in Maryland, Screen-Porch Design Tips, retractable screen porch, deck questions, screen porch products, Porch and Deck Care, Screened Porch in Virginia, home improvement, Porch and Deck Accessories, SCREENEZE, SCREENEZE screening system, Motorized Porch Screens, Motorized Outdoor Screening Systems, building a deck, Screen Room, Phantom Retractable Screens, screened porch in Washington, DC, Screened Porch, Screened-in Porch, Eze-Breeze, Three-season rooms, custom deck, screen room addition, screen room ideas, screen room design, screen porch design
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
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Both fixed and retractable screened porches offer distinct advantages for Montgomery County and Fairfax County homeowners. Fixed screens provide durability and year-round protection, while retractable options deliver flexibility and unobstructed views. Your choice depends on climate needs, maintenance preferences, and how you plan to use your outdoor space. Design Builders helps local homeowners select the right solution for their lifestyle.
Screens are a polarizing backyard feature. While many homeowners don't mind or even notice porch screens because the latest deck screening technology is so see-through, others detest them, viewing them as distracting barriers between them and their enjoyment of the beautiful outdoors.
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: retractable screen porch, outdoor kitchens, outdoor kitchen cabinets, Infratech outdoor heaters, deck add-ons, outdoor heaters, low-maintenance decking, porch add-ons, outdoor accessories, Porch and Deck Accessories, custom deck
Monday, December 02, 2019
Homeowners in Montgomery County, MD and Fairfax County, VA are embracing bold outdoor living upgrades in 2020. The latest decking trends focus on functionality, sustainability, and year-round usability. Whether you're planning a screened porch expansion, composite deck installation, or outdoor kitchen addition, staying current with design trends helps maximize your investment and home appeal.
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."