A Delectable Deck Tempts the Palette for this Upcoming Lakeway City Restaurant.
Everybody knows that when you go out to dinner, the setting and mood of the restaurant are just as important as the cuisine. Fine dining should trigger all your senses – what you see, how it makes you feel, what you hear, and most importantly what aromas are wafting their way from the kitchen to your nose. Of course, your senses should reach their crescendo when you take your first bite of the dish you have ordered. But in order to make that crescendo really memorable, all your senses have to come into play. A well designed, and well-built restaurant can actually make the food taste better by the sights and views before your food ever reaches the table. Many restauranteurs consider setting the mood before you take that first bite as important as the food itself.
Setting the mood is the reason this upcoming, Lakeway City restaurant decided to hire us to construct a large commercial deck at their establishment. The deck is still under construction, but we wanted to share the news and the gorgeous views that will be visible atop this fantastic deck when completed. The deck faces the hills and overlooks a canyon, these breathtaking Hill Country Views will offer a wonderful blend of natural imagery to compliment your dining experience.
The restaurant will have an inside and outside dining area once completed. Archadeck of Austin is constructing a 1,000 square foot high-end composite deck with railing that will sit 12 feet off the ground. The deck is being built to commercial grade standards which are designed for a higher pound load of 100 pounds per square foot as this meets the load requirements when building a commercial grade deck. Load requirements are very important in terms of safety and keeping the deck hefty enough to withstand larger weight capacity than those you would need for a deck this size in a residential setting. Archadeck of Austin always puts safety first, and obeys all guidelines and standards set forth within the requirements and building codes in the location we are building our outdoor structures.
The deck is being built with stunning Earthwood Evolutions walnut decking by TimberTech, and will prove to be as delectable as the cuisine at this upcoming Lakeway restaurant.We can’t wait to share the finished photos of this job with you and will do so once they become available. In the meantime, enjoy the appetizer of these stunning views, it is a mere taste of what is to come…
Archadeck of Austin specializes in creating unforgettable outdoor structures for commercial and residential customers. Contact us to find out more about building your unforgettable space at (512) 259-8282 or austin@archadeck.net
Archadeck of Austin agrees that composites have come a long way baby
Here at Archadeck of Austin we receive calls from homeowners wondering if they can re-deck their existing deck. There are many reasons why homeowners want to re-deck. Sometimes it is because their existing decking is splitting, warping, discolored and showing signs of damage, but in some cases it is just because they want to change the look of their outdoor space and let the deck serve a new purpose. In some cases even if your decking boards are in bad shape your foundation itself can still be in good shape. Whatever the reason for wanting to re-deck may be Archadeck of Austin has limitless choices and designs to suit any taste with superb materials to boot.
When it comes to thinking about re-decking, one word comes to mind - composites. Today’s composites have come a long way. The early plastic looking composites are a thing of the past. Composites are extremely low maintenance and worry free. They will not rot or warp. Composites also have unsurpassed mildew and mold resistance as well as resistance to insects and fungi. Composites won’t ever need to be stained or stripped and are easy to wash, just a little soap and water and they are good as new. Composites also carry some of the longest warranties on their decking boards within the industry. There is something else that seems almost too good to be true when it comes to today’s composites as well and that is their beauty. Technology has taken the look of composites to a whole new level with rich wood tones and graining that looks so realistic it leaves you questioning if it is real wood.
Can you tell which one of these is the Fiberon Horizon Ipe composite and which one is real Tigerwood?
We recently completed a re-decking for a wonderful retired couple in Leander, TX. who had an existing wood deck that was a little worse for wear. The deck was grayed out, faded, decayed, rotting and was behind on maintenance. They decided to take a look into re-decking with composite so they would not have to worry about maintenance.
We met with the couple and did an inspection of the deck. The frame of the deck was completely structurally sound and suitable for re-decking. We re-decked the structure with TimberTech Twin Finish in the redwood color and used a combed surface composite that carried a bit of red tine through it, to simulate the look of real wood. We also built planters and benches to open up the view of the yard so the couple would not feel as if they were boxed in.
The final results of this composite re-deck are breathtaking. The homeowners said ” it made the whole house feel cleaner and lighter”. Not only do they get the beauty of a composite deck to enjoy every day, they no longer have to worry about laborious maintenance. They now have more time to enjoy their backyard, and their retirement.
If you are considering re-decking your existing deck, consider composites. I am sure you will be impressed and elated all at the same time. Contact Archadeck of Austin to find out more about composites or any other outdoor structure you are considering. Call (512) 259-8282 or email us at austin@archadeck.net
This community pool in Steiner Ranch in Austin, TX gets a new pool deck worth bragging about
Here in Austin, the Steiner Ranch community is known as “The land between the lakes”. Situated beautifully between Lake Travis and Lake Austin this neighborhood boasts upscale living with an enormous amount of amenities. This community has many pools for its residents to cool off from the Texas sun. Archadeck of Austin recently re-decked a 4,320 sq. ft. pool deck for the Steiner Ranch community that met with rave reviews from its users. We had previously written an article about this re-decking when it was in the planning stages which you may read about at http://austindeckandpatiobuilder.com/2011/01/11/re-decking-or-adding-a-new-deck-to-your-hoa-or-commercial-pool-in-austin/
We rebuilt the majority of the structure using TimberTech Reliaboard in Cedar. This particular color of Reliaboard is clean and at the same time has a rustic essence. Since one of the areas of the pool surround was not level, we added the level decking surface. Some of the existing material was reusable but we had to add some masonry work to the pool surround and build a limestone partition to avoid tripping hazards.
Among the obstacles to overcome with this re-decking was a tree that came up through the deck. Steiner Ranch is known for its beautiful old trees. So encountering a tree poolside was no surprise. This unique feature required us to create a hexagon type ring made from decking boards which surrounds the tree at the deck level but is not attached to the deck surface. This allows room for the tree to grow, but not enough room to leave a gap that a child could possibly lose a toy in under the deck. Safety is always important at Archadeck of Austin and is priority number one on all our constructions.
Since the structure had previously been constructed of plastic it had become brittle and wavy from exposure to the sun. The new composite decking material we used is easy on the feet on those hot summer days and is also extremely durable and low maintenance. This composite has the realistic appearance of beautiful cedar as well. The supports of the existing pergola had been damaged by carpenter ants and required re-enforcement while we were completing the re-decking on the pool area as well.
The residents of Steiner Ranch love the new re-decking. It has all the beauty of real wood without the headaches. Now residents can kick back for an afternoon by the pool surrounded by the same quality and beauty that is visible throughout this entire community.
If your neighborhood pool is in need of a facelift or upgrade, give Archadeck of Austin a call. We work with HOA’s every day and can create a masterpiece for your community as well. Call (512) 259-8282 or email us at austin@archadeck.net
Re-decking or adding a new deck to your HOA or commercial pool in Austin?
It’s cold outside. But, it is the best time to start thinking about getting your HOA or commercial pool up to snuff or upgraded for this summer season. These amenities bring people in, foster community and are often good revenue generators.
Pool decks have changed a lot. With the advent of the use of composite materials, decks can last 30 years or more. That’s a smart investment.
If you have an existing deck, it might be possible to re-deck or re-plank the deck depending on the integrity and state of the decking structure and foundation. Depending on how it was built and how long ago, our consultants will give you an honest and substantiated assessment of utilizing and maintaining the substructure for the intended future of the structure.
Newer decking materials such as TimberTech and Trex will now last an average of 30 years and don’t require nearly the maintenance and upkeep of traditional wood boards.
We’re really excited to be building a new deck for Steiner Ranch in Austin. We’ve built many projects in homes throughout the Steiner Ranch community so we’re thrilled to be selected for this commercial project to build their new pool deck to be ready in time for Spring.
If you’re considering building or updating your commercial deck or building a new deck, pergola or other outdoor structure for your home, give us a ring. Our consultation is always free. (512) 259 – 8282.
Jimmy Odom, owner
Archadeck of Austin.
2-story decks aren’t just for 3-story homes
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.
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.
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.
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.
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





















