A natural wood and very nice looking....

They rarely split and crack, but when they do...whatch out!... it's like lots of tiny razor blades, and they are very difficult to sand out.

Of course we are talking about Natural Hardwoods

Ipe, (pronounced "ee pay") hardwood decking has recently become a top choice for residential decks due to its low maintenance, attractive color, and very smooth surface. Very resistant to rot, insects, UV exposure, ice, salt, abrasion, splintering, and chemicals, Ipe is a heavy timber, approximately 64 lbs. per cubic foot when dry, and has a Class A fire rating that lasts over 25 years. You may have heard it called "Ironwood" because it is the longest lasting natural wood on the market. There are others, like "Tigerwood" however the life span has yet to be determined.

All hardwoods are very beautiful once installed, but, every type of wood has an advantage, or a disadvantage and unfortunately the disadvantages to owning an Ipe deck, is that it will require a little more maintenance such as annual staining to keep it looking beautiful. That means an extra annual cost to homeowners, also the cost of building with hardwoods are on the upper end of deck prices.

I hope this brief explanation on hardwoods was helpful to you in making your decision whether or not to use them when building your deck. Please call me if you would like me to discuss it further with you.

Latest Trend in Woods

Engineered wood, also called composite wood, "man made wood" , "manufactured wood", or “synthetic wood” includes a range of derivative wood products which are manufactured by binding together the strands, particles, fibers, or veneers of wood, together with adhesives, to form composite materials. These products are engineered to precise design specifications which are tested to meet national or international standards.
Typically, engineered wood products are made from the same hardwoods and softwoods used to manufacture lumber. Sawmill scraps and other wood waste can be used for engineered wood composed of wood particles or fibers, but whole logs are usually used for veneers, such as plywood. Alternatively, it is also possible to manufacture similar engineered cellulosic products from other lignin-containing materials such as rye straw, wheat straw, rice straw, hemp stalks, kenaf stalks, or sugar cane residue, in which case they contain no actual wood but rather vegetable fibers.
Decking built from composite woods have much less maintenance than solid woods.
But like everything else in life, not all composites are equal. I have bee using them at Accent Deck Design for well over 10 years in Austin. I have experienced some problems associated with them from time to time in the past, but I still have faith in composites as they have evolved. Many issues that I had in the past have been corrected by the manufacturers.
If you decide to go with one of the many composite materials out there to construct your deck, I can help you decide which type to use, due to my many years of experience with them, as I do have a list of my favorites, with regard to how they perform.
So please call me if I can assist you.
James McDowell

Find the perfect spot for your deck

When thinking of adding a deck on your home, remember there are several types of deck building ideas to consider:

• Outdoor decks which are usually attached to your home. The most convenient location is off the family room or kitchen. A great addition to enjoy family dinners together.

• Destination decks - these are usually placed in a special place with a great view, for example. They are not connected to the house and you may have to walk through a beautiful garden and winding path to get to it. But when you reach this final destination it generally reveals a place to relax and enjoy.
  

• Connector decks - several decks of any shape or size connected to each other with pathways. A deck that functions like a peninsula, or an island can create a wonderful retreat from stressful daily life.

Small Space Decks

We just completed a great small space deck, with a pergola. This shows how a deck can add an additional living space to an area of your back yard. This deck was built in a small space between the home and a flower bed with a retaining wall. The final effect is fantastic.... a place to barbeque, and enjoy dinner while being protected from the hot sun.

Pergolas/Shade Arbors?

What exactly is the definition of a Pergola? More and more, my customers ask for me to build them a "pergola". It seems like what used to be known as a "shade arbor" is now being referred to as a pergola. I decided to find out the correct meaning.

As Quoted from Wikipedia, free encyclopedia -

A pergola is a garden feature forming a shaded walk or passageway of pillars that support cross beams and a sturdy open lattice, upon which woody vines are trained. As a type of gazebo, it may also be part of a building, as protection for an open terrace. The origin of the word is the Late Latin pergula, referring to a projecting eave.[1] The term was borrowed for English from Italian, mentioned in an Italian context in 1645 and used in an English context in 1675.
Pergolas may link pavilions, may extend from a building's door to an open garden feature such as an isolated terrace or pool, or may be entirely free-standing structures providing shelter and shade to a length of walkway.
Pergolas are more permanent architectural features than the green tunnels of late medieval and early Renaissance gardens, which were often formed of springy "withies"—easily replaced shoots of willow or hazel—bound together at the heads to form a series of arches, then loosely woven with long slats, on which climbers were grown, to make a passage that was both cool and shaded and moderately dry in a shower. At Villa Petraia, inner and outer curving segments of such green walks, the forerunners of pergolas, give structure to the pattern, which can be viewed from the long terrace above it, and provide rare privacy in a teeming household, offering leafy glimpses into an orderly paradise, a formally-planted enclosed orchard that consciously recalled the Garden of Eden before Adam's Fall.
The clearly artificial nature of the pergola made it fall from favor in the naturalistic gardening styles of the 18th and 19th century, but handsome pergolas on brick and stone pillars with powerful cross-beams were a feature of the gardens designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll and epitomize their trademark of firm structure luxuriantly planted.
Modern pergola designs tend to favor wood over stone structures, and are thus more affordable and increasing in popularity. Generally, pergolas are either made from a weather-resistant wood, such as Red Cedar or Redwood, or are painted white.

Latest Trends in Decking

The Latest Trends in Decking
Consumers now have more choices in decking materials that are low-maintenance and environmentally friendly.
By James McDowell, Accent Deck Design
When faced with building a new deck or replacing one, consumers now have more options than they did a few years ago.
One of the latest trends in decking is the use of "composite" materials. Made from a blend of recycled plastic and wood, composite decks offer homeowners a virtually maintenance-free deck.


First introduced on the market about seven years ago, composite materials have the same manipulative characteristics of wood for creating custom deck designs. Just within the last two years, more color choices have emerged leading to an increased popularity. Currently about 25% of homeowners are choosing composites.
While composite materials are not dramatically more expensive, they do run about 20% more than wood. However, the additional investment can pay for itself in about two years as the owner is spared of costly maintenance. Wood decks require annual maintenance to minimize cracking, splintering and splitting - problems that don't come with composites - and keep an attractive appearance.
Cleaning, re-staining and resealing every year-and-a-half by a professional can run up to $600 to $800 for an average sized wood deck, and more expensive if there are intricate railing and detail accents. Do-it-yourselfers will spend at least 2 if not 3 weekends on the job, not to mention the expense of buying buckets of costly sealer.
Moreover, the composite deck materials are expected to hold up many more years over traditional wood deck with minimum care. Wood decks, when properly maintained, can be expected to hold up for about 15 years. The brutally dry heat of Central Texas can be especially unforgiving on outdoor wood, zapping it of its natural protective oils.
However, composite materials are not for everyone. While most people are refreshingly surprised when they see how attractive a composite deck can be, some still prefer the rich, natural look and warm feel of a traditional wood deck.


Others elect to use a combination of materials, building the deck floor only of composite, and using wood for railings, benches and arbors. In these designs, the wood can be easily stained to match the color of the composite floor. This can be a low-maintenance and attractive compromise.

For die-hard wood aficionados, the exciting news is that the latest market trend among lumber companies is the introduction of arsenic-free treated pine lumber. Now available, thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency, the new form of treated wood is free of poisons that can leach into the soil. Consumers now have a very safe alternative with wood, especially with eating areas, children's play areas and garden landscapes.
For those who are thinking of adding a deck to their home life, consulting with a professional deck builder can provide invaluable information about the latest trends. Take the time to gather the facts and carefully plan your deck, and you will by far be much happier with your decision for years to come.

Welcome To Our Blog!

Accent Deck Design is owned and operated by James McDowell, who has 20 plus years of building experience in the greater Austin area, including Oak Hill, Westlake, Bee Cave, Lakeway, and the Lake Travis areas. Visit our website to find out more about us.