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answers before you build.

Full guides

Decks · 8 min read

The deck board is the part you see and touch every day, so it is the decision most people spend the most time on.

Basements · 9 min read

A basement is the most square footage you can add without changing the outside of your house.

Screen Rooms · 6 min read

We build both, and they start the same way: a footing, a floor, and a roof tied into the house.

Short read · Decks

Spring: sweep, wash with deck cleaner, and check for loose boards, rail posts, and screws.
Wood decks: reseal every 1 to 3 years, when water stops beading on the surface.
Composite: soap, water, and a soft brush. No sanding, no stain.
Fall: clear leaves and keep planters off the boards so water can drain.
Winter: plastic shovel only, and skip rock salt on wood.

Short read · Basements

Go light on the walls and floors. Basements have less daylight, so the finishes do the work.
Use rugs to split one big room into zones: TV, games, workout.
Layer the light: recessed cans, then lamps, then something under the bar or shelves.
Repeat one material from upstairs, like the cabinet color, so it feels like the same house.

Short read · Finishes

Spend on what you touch every day: floors, countertops, door hardware, rail.
Save on what you can change later: paint, light fixtures, faucets.
Below grade and outside, pick materials water cannot hurt.
Look at samples in the actual room. Light changes color more than people expect.