DIY House Renovation Media: Makeover of the Month: Maintenance-Free Outdoor Living

Wednesday, 1 October 2014

Makeover of the Month: Maintenance-Free Outdoor Living

Photo courtesy of Robco Fence and Deck LLC

Before

After

Adeck can be a lot of work to keep up, and the owners of this Raleigh home were looking to reduce their maintenance workload. So they contacted the pros at Robco Fence and Deck to remodel their outdoor-living space. Aside from their maintenance-free preference, the homeowners were also looking to preserve their potted plants and to incorporate outdoor lighting. The Robco team created a 3-D rendering of their design to illustrate the transformation for the homeowners, allowing time for any needed adjustments before the start of the project.

To ensure the new deck is as low-maintenance as possible, TimberTech composite decking was chosen. To add even more value, the pros at Robco recommended the Tigerwood deck board, which has a color and grain pattern that complements the deck’s Mocha border. The Tigerwood and Mocha trim were also incorporated into TimberTech’s builder rail system with LED post-cap lighting and custom-built planter boxes, tying all of the elements together.

During the construction phase, the pros at Robco encountered several challenges: extra joists and blocking had to be installed to bring the deck up to code and to provide additional support for the dense composite boards; the Mocha border and custom planter boxes, weighing hundreds of pounds, required precise cuts and made for a very labor-intensive project; the lighted railing system required an attention to detail and wiring at every post. Also, as the project progressed, the homeowners asked for two additional features: a balcony with composite decking and a mounted ceiling fan.

In the end, the deck is a beautiful blend of the Tigerwood boards and Mocha frame, illuminated by the integrated rail-lighting system. Jay Robinson, owner and president of Robco Fence and Deck, says, “This beautiful transformation will provide the homeowners with a lifetime of enjoyment.”