Archadeck of Austin reaps multiple design awards at annual event
Each year a nationwide group of Archadeck offices come together to share their best practices, ideas, new products and to review outstanding leadership in design. This year, like others, the locally owned and operated Austin location performed very well. We are very proud to have scooped up on four of twelve design awards, plus a distinguished Customer Satisfaction Award which reconfirmed Austin’s place as the 2nd best producing Archadeck location in North America.
Archadeck of Austin prides itself in being “all about design and customer experience”. Here are some of the ‘Best of Show’.
Decks
Austin won second place for this project outside the Craig O’s restaurant in Lakeway, TX. This deck uses TimberTech Earthwoods Evolutions composite decking in walnut designed in quadrants of diagonal board placement converging to the center. The deck is designed for 100 lb/sf commercial loads and has a massive concrete footing hidden behind an attractive cedar skirt. A powder coated Fortress railing system surrounds the deck and is capped in the same composite. Stairs descend down to the parking lot and play area. Patrons will enjoy many meals overlooking the serene hills East of Lakeway atop this deck.
If you are curious, the following deck from outside Boston won 1st place…
Our friends at Archadeck of Ft. Worth placed 1st for this pool-side cabana.
Porch Enclosures
First place went to our friends at Archadeck of Ft. Worth for a fabulous pool-side cabana. The Austin entry took third place, under some tight competition, with our pool-side cabana constructed in Round Rock, TX. Both of these projects are indicative of a growing trend to move the living room outside complete with integrated kitchens, outdoor fireplaces, television; everything you need to entertain outdoors.
Denver Hardscape award winner
Hardscapes
Demonstrating the diversity of Archadeck’s designs, the Austin hardscape project took the 3rd place award vs. a really unique and innovative project outside Denver that took home 1st place. The Austin hardscape project is located in the Steiner Ranch community of Austin and includes a covered tile patio up top for visiting, lunch or even coffee. The project includes stone steps that lead down to a stained concrete lower patio perfect for every facet of entertaining. The project also includes integrated lighting so it looks spectacular day and night.
Our combination outdoor structure in Riverplace stole the spotlight.
Combination Award
This new award category reflects the fact that great projects are rarely one-dimensional. Every year the very best projects combine multiple elements into a cohesive design that may include a shade structure, decking. masonry, and other elements to provide the homeowners with a complete backyard with multiple uses and gain the maximum added value to their home. We are excited that our project constructed in Riverplace took the spotlight for #1. The project was designed by our own Mark Mommsen, whom was also the winner of #1 design representative. The project brings together a very unique stand-alone roof structure with Permacast columns which are mounted on an elevated Tigerwood deck beside the pool and outdoor fireplace with stone benches on the opposite side of the pool. All this is designed to face the canyon/green belt and golf course located behind the residence.
Archadeck of Austin receives the Customer Satisfaction Award, among others.
If the customer isn’t happy, nobody’s happy!
As the owner of Archadeck of Austin, I’m very pleased to say we won the coveted Customer Satisfaction Award. To win this award there can be no, and I mean ‘zero’ negative responses in post-construction surveys. Last year we built 133 residential projects. We are not perfect and are always improving, but to have absolutely no negative responses is a testament to our desire for excellence in customer service. We were also recently added to the Angie’s List Honor Roll and we strongly encourage people to submit reviews to Angie’s list.
Jim Odom, Archadeck of Austin
We are looking forward to a great 2012 season, with more great work in Austin,TX. If you’re on the fence, the time is really good to remodel your outdoor space the way you’ve always wanted. It is a great investment.
(512) 259 – 8282
Austin@archadeck.net
A worry free deck with a view at River Place in Austin
This deck and spa deck combination takes advantage of spectacular views and plenty of room for entertaining
I have been in the business of outdoor structures for many years and there’s a reason why I keep doing it. I love building outdoor structures and seeing the positive effect they have on my customers lives. I LOVE designing decks. I have also learned a lot over the years by not only working with my customers but by keeping in contact with them as well.
There are two things I really push for when my clients are making their decision. The first one is size. By this I don’t mean convincing someone who wants a 500 square foot deck to go to a 1,000 square feet. What I mean is measuring their furniture and seeing how much depth they really need so that the furniture can still be comfortable in the “pulled out” position, much like it will be after dinner and when your guests linger over coffee. People will pull out their chairs from the table and extend and cross their legs to enjoy the leg room that’s often needed after a wonderful and very filling dinner. You would be absolutely amazed at the difference that can be achieved by adding one or two feet of depth to a deck of patio.
Views such as this endless pool should never go un-noticed when designing a deck for a client
The second thing I am passionate about is the view. Here in Austin we have beautiful hilly terrains, mature trees in many places and other beautiful structures and details within our yards. You may just want a good view of the backyard to watch the kids play. So often, people think that the only railing choice is one with thick and closely spaced pickets. This simply is not the case. Metal railings are very popular these days because they have very narrow pickets that not only dramatically improve the view, but they also require less maintenance.
Deck in River Place, Austin TX
One such job where Archadeck of Austin was able to frame the view and offer plenty of linger and leg room was a deck we recently completed for homeowners in River Place, which is inside Austin. These homeowner’s residence overlooks a beautiful view of a canyon, unfortunately, a good portion of this stunning view was obscured. This was in part by the old deck having too many benches and the railing. Literally, when you were inside the home looking out, all you could see were benches. We aimed to change that for the better in our design and re-decking plan. We aimed to open up that view so the homeowners could relish the view. Since their home is so elevated on one side they also yearned for a little privacy on the deck as well. We were able to incorporate both with this new re-decking. Since the existing frame of the old deck was in such good condition we were able to immediately move forward with the re-decking.
This tree at this home in River Place, TX gave the deck a personality all its own
An older contractor had built a seat that incorporated the beautiful tree that was in the middle of the large part of the deck. We wanted to keep this in the design of the re-decking, because it gave the deck a personality and uniqueness all its own.
The deck is a massive 1,000 square feet and 5′ off the ground and in some places 11′ off the ground as well. The homeowners decided to replace the old deck with composite decking . They chose the very desirable Fiberon Horizon decking in Ipe. Today’s composites have evolved to being spectacular and are virtually maintenance free. They have no open pores so there is nowhere for mold to grow, and plastic capped composites such as this can be cleaned with simple soap and water they pay for themselves in no time because of the lack of maintenance required on a deck like this. These materials have a 25 year manufacturers warranty as well. The difference in composites today as opposed to ten years ago is the difference between night and day. People still love the tranquility and natural look of a wood deck and this can now be captured with today’s composites.
Notice how the new rail opens up the view
We finished out the new deck with a Radiant rail post with stunning Fortress iron railing. We still wanted to achieve a decorative effect so we used composite post sleeves, this allows the homeowners to “picture frame” the deck but doesn’t obscure any of the breathtaking view. We removed the backs from the existing benches and used the iron rails to open up the deck so the homeowners can see the canyon as well as their lovely pool.
These Homeowners in River Place, TX now have the deck and view of their dreams, built out of hassle free, worry free composites. They have plenty of room for entertaining and quaint evenings overlooking the canyon for many years to come.
Please visit our Austin composite deck photo gallery to see more beautiful decks built with this wonderful and innovative material
Tigerwood becomes the talk of the town in this Bee Cave, TX community
It is clearly evident that style and elegance can be contagious. Within the Falcon Head West community of Bee Cave, TX nearly all the residents that live in the same cul-de-sac came down with the same symptoms, a yearning for the simple, elegant and classic sensibility which entails the desire to have a deck made of Tigerwood.
Design rendering prepared for these homeowners in Bee Cave, TX depicting their future tigerwood deck
These homeowners in Bee Cave, TX contacted Archadeck of Austin when they initially built their home and once they closed on the house we began work right away on the deck when they moved in. It is always nice to have your entire home ready and waiting when it is time to move into your new house, including any outdoor structures. The Falcon Head West community is an upscale neighborhood in Bee Cave, TX and has a very hilly terrain. These homeowners decided upon a tigerwood deck because of its classic beauty and sensibility. We built a two-story deck and decked over an existing patio with sleeper framing. The final dimensions in length on this new deck came to a substantial 48′ long.
This photo shows the diagonal design and custom railing on this tigerwood deck in Bee Cave, TX
We installed the decking in a stunning diagonal pattern and alternated 4″ and 6″ boards for even more of a custom look to accommodate the varying widths. The railing is a tigerwood Deckorator panel rail which we constructed on site with black aluminum pickets. We finished up the structure with lattice skirting because this is a requirement within the neighborhoods HOA (Home Owners Association) guidelines. The homeowner opted to stain the new deck himself.
Upon completion of the new deck, four of this homeowners neighbors decided to add a tigerwood deck to their home as well. What is it they say about first impressions? Choosing a tigerwood deck not only adds beauty to your home with the woods natural rich and exotic hues, tigerwood is an example of classic fine wood at it’s best.
Tigerwood's contagious rich hues and elegance are apparent in this photo
If you are considering a new deck or a re-deck, tigerwood is a stunning option. It is durable, resilient and has rich hues that exude elegance and refinement. Contact Archadeck of Austin to learn more about decks and other outdoor living structures. Call us at (512) 259-8282 or email us at austin@archadeck.net
You can see more or our breathtaking tigerwood deck designs by visiting our photo gallery at http://www.archadeck-austin.com/gallery.asp?selpics=Decks&subcat=Tigerwood
Archadeck of Austin Focus’ on the Fierce Exotic Beauty of Tigerwood
Old man Webster defines a tiger as a large, carnivorous, tawny-colored and black-striped feline. The definition of wood is the hard, fibrous substance composing the stem and branches of a tree or shrub. Now what do you think you get when you mix the two together? The result is Tigerwood, astronium lecointel, one of the finest quality hardwoods available.
- Tigerwood deck by Archadeck of Austin
Tigerwood is an exotic and extremely durable Brazilian hardwood. One of the most striking features of this wood is the unique golden-brown to reddish-brown coloring with exotic black and brown streaks, as fiercely beautiful as it’s namesake. Over time these hues will deepen adding warmth and more depth to the coloring.
Close up of Tigerwood
Not only coveted for it’s beauty, Tigerwood is naturally resistant to rot and decay. It also will not attract mold or fungus. This wonderfully resilient wood has a lifespan of over 25 years without preservatives. Archadeck of Austin is proud to be able to offer this product to you for your decking and outdoor structure needs. We have been working with this wonderful Brazilian hardwood for sometime now, with great results. We only see close similarities in working with Tigerwood as we do when we use Ipe. We are also excited about this product because of the “green” aspect of the harvesting.
Tigerwood deck by Archadeck of Austin
Tigerwood is only harvested from responsibly managed forests so we can offer a truly renewable resource to you, the consumer.
2-story decks aren’t just for 3-story homes
Professional design rendering for new Austin 2-story deck
Here in the Austin area, we have a lot of homes built on yards with steep drop-offs. These lots make a perfect setting for a lower level playroom or walkout basement. But what do we do when our main living area is a second story in the back and we want to build a deck? What are the logistics of a 2nd story deck? Is it that much more expensive? You might be surprised to find out the answer to this question is no.
Austin multi-level deck with pergola
Multi-level decks come in many shapes and sizes. The levels can be split levels like a split level house or multiple levels for the various floors of your home. The benefit of multi-level decks and patios is the opportunity for various living spaces. Think of it like the rooms of your house. It’s always nice to have your own room to sit and read your book or for the kids to do homework or even to watch TV. These days we mount quite a few televisions on the dry walls of covered decks and patios. So, the different sections allow different “rooms” for outdoor living.
I want to feature a 2-story deck in Steiner Ranch that we did earlier this year. One of the first things we ask the homeowners when we’re discussing a project with them is “how do you want to live outside”? Many times homeowners have an idea of the structure they want but it might not really accommodate the way they want to live outside. Or, there may be other reasons that a different structure or different elements make more sense for that family.
With this family, they had young children. They wanted the children to have a “play area” that was in addition to an adult sitting area. Based on the fact that the house was 3-stories, this made sense to have a 2-level deck. They wanted to be able to close off the step area to the young children at the top level. So we had a gate built into the top of the staircase.
Austin custom steel spiral staircase with built-in gates
As it relates to the 2-story staircase, the homeowners wanted to be able to go from deck to deck on the outside of the home so they wanted a stairway connecting each of the 2 decks. Because of the large windows very close to the deck area, a traditional 2-story staircase would have caused tremendous obstruction through those windows. So, we had a local artisan build a custom spiral staircase.
Spiral staircases are not a one-size-fits-all. Every application is different because the heights of the two stories vary so widely. But, because the staircase was custom built, we were able to build in the gate. This is also a nice feature for homeowners with pets who want to keep the pets in a secure area.
Austin 2 story pergola
Because the back of this home is Western facing, the family wanted some sun protection on the second level The hidden benefit of 2-story decks is the built-in sun protection on the first story. A pergola is a great way to get sun protection but not to block the sun altogether. It’s wonderful on an early fall or spring day to feel the heat of the sun. It’s great to see the sun’s rays filter through the slats of a covered pergola with this sort of tight slat design.
When thinking of materials, you want to think about the following things:
- What look are you going for?
- What sort of stain resistance do you want or need
- How long do you want your deck to last?
A good place to start is to think of the look you are going for. Do you want a rugged rough-cut look? Do you have fond memories of cedar decks from growing up and know you want cedar? Do you want a clean and very consistent look? Are you looking for a custom color of the wood? Cedar is a traditional favorite for it’s rough and familiar look. But, even more popular are the pressure-treated woods because of how long they last and because of their stain resistance.
Fiberon IPE decking
For this deck, we used Fiberon IPE color composite decking. This decking has a 20-yr fade and stain resistant warranty which is unique to this decking. There are other composites that are customers like including TimberTech and AZEK.
Brazilian hardwoods are also very big right now. One that’s really hot right now in Austin is Tigerwood. Like the IPE color of Fiberon, each board has a little bit of a different color giving it a very unique and even a little bit of an exotic look.
In terms of how long you want your deck to last, there are so many factors including anything from excessive rain to dog and furniture scratches to sun and more. If you need protection from all the natural and furry elements in your life, your best bet is to go with a composite wood such as IPE or Fiberon.
Give us a ring to discuss your next project. Each of our customers gets a free consultation. We look forward to discussing your project ideas with you.
(512) 259 – 8282
