Understanding the Process with a Wood Deck Builder in Warrenton, VA
Decks are the only entertainment area of a home exposed to the elements. Game rooms, even a converted garage, usually stay out of the rain and snow and rarely does anyone ever put a TV or pool table out on an unenclosed patio. Eventually, being outdoors can wreck any deck. Since one of the joys of owning a home in Warrenton, VA is having the space for backyard, outdoor entertainment, so this can mean a real loss for homeowners.
Hal Co is a reputable deck builder serving Warrenton, VA residents for over 33 years. We offer:
- Quality design, selection, installation and related services for your deck in Warrenton, VA following the highest safety procedures and industry standards.
- In partnership, we will evaluate your deck project requirements and develop a comprehensive installation plan.
- Personalized customer service before, during and after installing your deck in Warrenton, VA to minimize your disruption and maximize your comfort.
That is where HAL CO Fence and Decks comes in. For more than 30 years, we have been a wood, and other material, deck builder in Warrenton, VA. Few other companies in our area have more experience in designing and building new decks or repairing existing decks for homeowners.
If you have recently purchased a home and do not have a deck already, building one into your backyard can add not just an outdoor entertainment area, but also increase the value of your home significantly. Even if your home is in a planned housing edition, the Virginia countryside is beautiful to see, and a deck provides the perfect setting for you and your family to enjoy it.
That is why HAL CO has an in-house design team. It allows us to control the entire process from start to finish, reducing both the cost and the time needed to complete the task. Our designer begins with a visit to your home so we can understand what your idea is for a deck. This visit also lets us get a firm understanding of the property, and what it takes to make certain we can bring your idea to reality.
As one of the premier wood deck builders in Warrenton, VA, we want to make certain everything is exactly what you want before we dig the first hole to set a support beam. That means we start with a very basic question. First, what type of wood do you want?
HAL CO uses pressure-treated pine and red cedar for all of the wood decks we build. Both are excellent choices that look good outside any home, and both resist rain, sun, and snow very well. While we do offer other materials for residential decks, most of our customers prefer the feel of wood to the touch. HAL CO carefully selects the pine and red cedar we use, which is another reason why we are one of the most trusted wood deck builders in Warrenton, VA.
Now, our designer needs to know how large the deck needs to be and what type of additions and extras to build into it. Also, if your home is a multi-story or split-level construction, there is a need for additional stairs and perhaps gates to keep small children off the deck when the backyard is unattended. For further safety, our teams can also build and attach latticework to prevent children from squeezing between posts and slats. Extended high enough, the latticework is also an excellent way to ensure privacy from the neighbors to either side of your home.
That is only the beginning though. Once customers start the process with our design team, many of them realize that they can truly customize almost anything to do with their deck. We can include not just an area off to the side for a grill, but our designer and construction teams can also create and build a lowered or elevated area for a hot tub or a sauna.
If the new deck’s primary focus is for parties and other large events, HAL CO teams can design and build bench seating that encircles the entire structure, with storage space underneath the flip-up benches and a beautiful, built-in fire pit perfect for warmth and as a conversation piece. The only real limitations to what we can create as a wood deck builder in Warrenton, VA are the size of the property and local HOA and zoning rules that restrict size, color, and what can be seen from the street.
Now that you have your new deck, HAL CO wants to help you keep it in the best condition possible. For any deck material, we recommend an annual inspection. Our inspectors look for weather damage and also examine our work to make certain everything is still secured tightly in place. In wood decks, even a slightly loose rail, slat, or post can allow moisture into joints where it can cause swelling, splitting, and cracking.
After one of our teams complete any needed repairs, they power wash every surface and also clean the underside of mold, cobwebs, and anything else. Once the wood deck dries, team members apply a new layer of sealant to continue protecting the wood from exposure to the sun and weather.
In addition to annual maintenance, homeowners can also protect their wood deck without expending a lot of effort. HAL CO wood deck builders recommend that Warrenton, VA homeowners clean up every spill as soon as they can. Most foods do not affect stains or sealants, but sodas can slowly eat through them, exposing the wood to damage.
The second step is to take a little caution with lawn maintenance. Inattention with a lawn mower can beat up support posts and slats. If there is any latticework, a self-propelled mower with enough force can easily crack it, and a spinning wheel can pull it away from a post or the floor.
Finally, wash off any bird droppings when you see them. That may seem obvious, but when the temperature starts getting cold, many homeowners put it off until springtime, or just let the rain and snow wash it off. That doesn’t remove everything though, and the waste can eat through the stain and sealants, discoloring the wood underneath.
In many cases, though, it is not always necessary to install a completely new deck. After a thorough inspection, our team leaders often discover that the major support structure underneath the floor is still in good condition. Their next step is demolition. The team removes the floorboards, rails, and anything else damaged by the weather.
Now, the team cleans the remaining surfaces and repairs minor damage to the support structure. This includes sanding down any surface splitting or cracking, filling old nail and screw holes, and coating every piece with a new layer of sealant to protect against the weather.
Next comes rebuilding the deck. We use the same treated pine and red cedar that we do for a new deck. Since these are the most common wood products used, matching is usually simple. When we cannot match exactly, applying a new layer of paint or a water seal often provides the same effect. Since there is no major installation required, our teams can complete construction in only a week.
Although HAL CO is one of the best wood deck builders in Warrenton, VA, that is not our only construction material. While nothing beats the feel of cedar or pine underneath your fingertips, many owners want a deck that can last for as long as they own their home. While we cannot guarantee any deck to last for your lifespan, the composites we use resist the weather more efficiently than wood and do not need any stain or sealants. A composite deck rarely requires any maintenance other than an annual inspection, and a good power wash whenever the homeowner feels like it.
For homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint and go as green as possible, the composite posts, slats, and other pieces we use to have a recycled material content of over 90%. The cost per piece is higher, but each one lasts far longer than its wood counterpart.
Regardless if we install a new deck, or refurbish an old one, HAL CO Fence and Deck is ready to support our neighbors as a premiere wood deck builder in Warrenton, VA. For more information about our services or to schedule an inspection and receive a free estimate, call us today at 703-794-9800 or 1-888-FENCEMAN. We are here to help add to the value of your home and make memories that can last a lifetime.