If you're thinking about making some home
improvements this year, consider increasing the value
of your home with the addition of a deck. A deck
can give you more living space and bring the feel-
ing of the great outdoors right to your back yard.
Whether you do-it-yourself or hire a pro, a
deck can add long-lasting beauty and richness to
your daily living. For many families, decks are the
place that many memories begin.
Redwood has long been the decking materi-
al of choice because of its unsurpassed natural
beauty -- nothing beats the look and feel of red-
wood for outdoor living! Redwood is also a popu-
lar choice for its classic low maintenance. It's easy
to keep redwood looking like new, or perfectly
okay to virtually ignore it and watch your deck
take on a distinguished, gray weathered look.
Why Redwood?
Redwood has qualities not found in other
woods. Redwood is still less likely to warp, shrink
or crack than other woods, so redwood projects age
beautifully.
Redwood is naturally resistant to insects, decay
and fire. If you want your deck to feature the dis-
tinctive warm red color that attracts many con-
sumers to redwood in the first place, it's easy. A stain
or finish can enhance the color of a redwood deck
while giving additional protection to the wood.
Redwood contains little or no pitch, which means
no other wood takes and holds finishes better.
If you choose to finish your deck, use a prod-
uct that contains a water repellent, a mildewcide and
ultra violet protection. The California Redwood
Association Web site offers tips on finishing red-
wood as well as complete plans for decks, gaze-
bos and outdoor furniture to help make sure all your
back yard projects come out looking great.
By choosing redwood, you'll discover the
advantages of working with a quality building mate-
rial. Redwood is soft and strong, so it's easy to
saw. To avoid splitting, pre-drill holes for nails or
screws at the ends of the decking boards. Always
use top-quality, hot-dipped galvanized, stainless
steel or aluminum hardware to keep nail rust stains
from forming on the deck over time.
Redwood also cleans up easily. Sweep it free
of debris and dirt, and occasionally wash off mildew.
If you like to barbecue, it's a great choice -- grease
comes out with any number of commercially avail-
able products.
Planning the Deck
A beautiful, versatile redwood deck can enhance
your lifestyle and create a perfect environment
for relaxing or entertaining. Equally important, a
deck is a long-term investment that increases the
resale value of your home. Here are some basic plan-
ning, design and building tips for the deck of your
dreams.
Ask yourself some creative questions so you're
sure to get the deck you want. How much sun-
light will your deck receive at different times of the
day and at different times of the year? Do you
want all sun, all shade or a combination of both?
Do you have outdoor furniture that should fit on
the deck? Would you like built in benches? Will there
be room for potted plants or planters? What about
a grill?
Seek deck building ideas and advice from
libraries, book stores and home centers. And
while it is a project you can do on your own, you
may want professional advice. If a deck is over
six feet, you need special bracing; a contractor
can help ensure you meet building and zoning
codes; an electrician can help with wiring and
lighting, should you decide to install it.
Consider the landscape surrounding the deck
area. Shrubs, trees, walkways and ground cover
all play an important role in how the deck functions
and looks. Even raised decks require some sort
of ground cover beneath.
Environmentally Friendly Building Material
Redwood is an excellent choice for green liv-
ing. Redwood is a renewable resource grown and
harvested in accordance with some of the high-
est environmental standards in the world. In fact,
California's redwood forests are managed to help
reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and redwood
products store carbon, the most talked about green-
house gas, for hundreds of years.
Old-growth redwoods -- trees that can be
more than 1,000 years old, are protected in public
parks and preserves and roughly 95 percent of
land that was redwood forests when European
settlers arrived on the West Coast is still redwood
forest today. The redwood used for decks and
other outdoor projects comes from younger trees
on privately managed forestlands where state and
federal laws protect water quality, conserve wildlife
habitat, and ensure sustainability -- meaning that
redwood forests will stand tall for generations.
Redwood and other wood products also require
far less energy to produce than alternative build-
ing materials like concrete or plastic, making wood
an excellent choice for green building.
Visit www.calredwood.org for more informa-
tion about building with redwood and easy to fol-
low building plans for Redwood projects.
Courtesy of ARAcontentx
K
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Many sizes &
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Standard Features:
· One double door · 7' front wall · 5 1/2' back wall
· Two 18" x 27" windows with shutters
Standard Features:
· One double door · 6' side walls,
· Two 18" x 27" windows with shutters
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The Citizen. Auburn, New York
Today's Home
Saturday, June 30, 2007
5
Classic Outdoor Living Made Easy
Jordan Elbridge Tax Service
Michael Lawrence, EA
12 N. Main Street, Jordan
(315) 689-1625
