3 Decking Options for a Hands-off Homeowner

You don’t have a green thumb. You bought your home partially for its small back yard, so that you don’t have to spend hours mowing the grass. You stare with amaze and lack of understanding at your neighbor who spends evenings and weekends slaving over their flower beds or herb garden. You just want to come home after work and relax—maybe sit on your deck and sip on a glass of wine watching said neighbor stretch their cramped back after planting yet another shrub. Speaking of decks, you want a low-maintenance deck that you can enjoy for years to come with minimal efforts on your part. And our Maryland deck contractors know exactly how to help you get what you want.

Consider Composite Decking

So you want the rich and classy look, but you’d rather not deal with the maintenance. The thought of having to power-wash, re-stain and re-seal your wooden deck every few years makes you shiver. If that’s the case, then you should definitely look into composite decking. Many manufacturers like Trex and Azek offer synthetic materials for everything from deck boards to railings and lattice.

Generally speaking, composite decking is made of a mix of wood particles and plastic. This combination allows you to create boards that don’t need re-staining or re-painting and will hold their color well. However, you would still need to wash your deck occasionally to get rid of any mildew that may grow due to high humidity or consistent rains.

Make it Simple

So we’ve established that you are not very outdoorsy and would like to keep home and deck upkeep to a minimum. Instead of building a multi-level castle of a deck, consider keeping things simple and going with a platform deck off your back door. Not only will this minimize the deck surface you need to maintain, but will also reduce the grass surface you need to mow. Throw in a pergola, a hot tub and a grilling station, and you’ve got yourself a perfect oasis that requires minimal upkeep.

Given your dislike for mowing and weed-whacking, you may be tempted to cover as much of your back yard with your deck as possible. Heck, you would probably cement the entire thing if you could. However, keep in mind that there are certain codes and regulations your deck will have to comply with, particularly in regard to the proximity to property lines and the total square footage. Local zoning regulations set the ratio for green space vs. covered space on residential lots, so you will have to consider it before deciding on the size of your deck.

Hire the Right Contractor

If you are a hands-off homeowner, you are probably a hands-off project manager as well. You would need a Maryland deck building contractor who can take the reigns and do the job right with minimal input on your part. You also want someone who provides end-to-end deck building solutions from design to execution. You definitely don’t want to be running around requesting permits or looking for several contractors to complete different aspects of the job.

At North American Deck and Patio, we’ve worked with many hands-off homeowners like you. We know how to make deck construction an easy and straightforward process for our customers, so there are no misunderstandings or surprises at the end. Contact us today to discuss your needs and ideas for your outdoor space, and we’ll help bring these ideas to life, whether it’s in the form of a deck, a patio or other outdoor structure.

“Jim at North American patio and deck's came up with the most ingenious way of utilizing our small very slanted very water drained environment and turned it into a virtual oasis. Making this deck the envy of all our ambitions and gem for the community.”

– C. Cross