Page 4 Friday, September 11, 2020
THE GARDEN ISLAND
www.thegardenisland.com
BUILD A LASTING DREAM
3 ways to build steel framed deck
BRANDPOINT
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recent Houzz survey reports that 1 in 5 homeowners who underwent home renovations in the last year made exterior upgrades to their property. Breaking it down further, 1 in 8 of those weekend warriors funneled their energy into a complete deck overhaul. With the rising popularity of DIY home improvement projects in today’s ever-evolving landscape, these statistics will only continue to climb. If you’re like Houzz survey respondents, upgrading your outdoor space with a new deck may be the answer to elevating your stay-at-home experience. A deck addition will help you maximize your usable square footage by extending your living area beyond the indoors. And not to worry, when it comes time to sell your home, deck renovations can recoup up to 90% of their cost, according to HGTV’s “Top 15 Home Updates.” Before your project gets underway, it’s necessary to consider the type of building materials you’ll need to tackle this major upgrade. Your first inclination might be to track down deck board samples from your local home improvement store. While important, make sure not to overlook what kind of foundational materials will support the decking system itself. At one point in time, lumber was the only type of product available for use. However, since lumber typically starts deteriorating after 10 years in service, builders and homeowners alike may want to consider an alternative solution. Light-gauge steel framing, a lasting alternative to short-lived wood
framing, can help you create your dream outdoor living space. It will also defend against a spendy decking overhaul later down the road. Here are three tried-and-true ways steel framing can help you build a dream deck on a foundation that lasts: Lends to longevity If you’re looking to assemble a long-lasting deck, composite and PVC deck boards are likely at the top of your list, and with good reason. Their UV- and moisture-resistant properties, for one, offer protection from the irreversible effects of weathering. In fact, a growing number of manufacturers now back the performance of their surface boards with impressive 25-year-plus warranties. But why install 25-year deck boards on a
frame that is subject to deterioration? To avoid the headache of replacing your entire deck structure when the wood frame can no longer serve as adequate support, look to steel framing. Light-gauge steel, used in Evolution steel deck framing, offers commercial-grade strength and can last as long as today’s enduring PVC and composite deck boards. What’s more, steel sidelines problems associated with moisture absorption, one of the most common reasons for lumber decomposition. And, because steel doesn’t warp with changes in temperature, the sturdy frame profiles remain straight and true over time. This makes for a more enduring, dimensionally stable solution that keeps deck boards flat and smooth underfoot.
long-lasting foundation that will serve families for years to come.” You can take additional “steps” towards ensuring the integrity of your deck framing system by integrating a steel deck staircase into your renovation. Steel framing deck structures with a compatible staircase sidelines safety challenges rampant in older decks, such as miscalculations, poor stringers to deck connections and inconsistent rises and runs. These freshly introduced steel stair components and brackets make it possible to marry your deck framing and stairs for one unified build.
Supports design freedom To create a deck with lasting style from the bottom up, look for a manufacturer that offers a comprehensive, ready-to-assemble steel framing system. Whether you’re a weekend warrior or hiring a deck builder, integrated framing products will make it easy for you Makes safety a top priority to construct a dream deck without With your deck in use for much compromising your family’s safety. of the year, lives are on the line if To help you achieve your deyour deck structure fails. With sired aesthetic, these steel deck such high stakes, safety should be framing systems can work with top of mind when building your any type or brand of decking, indream deck. Fortunately, building cluding composite, PVC, alumiwith light-gauge steel allows you to num, tile, wood and tropical avoid any risk of deterioration that hardwoods. With this amount of can threaten the integrity of your design flexibility, your backyard deck system, including rot and decan look like a continuation of cay from water, fungi and pests. your interior hardwood floor, “When built right, framing is the sweeping your family from indoors supporting structure that is unto out without interruption. seen and unappreciated. But, if homeowners use an insufficient Dream big and build strong building material, their entire deckReady to turn your dream deck ing project can be compromised,” into a reality? Armed with steel said Toby Bostwick, VP of Product deck framing, you can support and Brand at Fortress Building those beautiful new surface boards Products. “The inherent strength for 25-plus years. And in building and stability of steel framing will strong with steel, you will create a support a deck build and ensure a deck that invites you to stay home.
US long-term mortgage rates fall; 30-year at 2.86% ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — U.S. average rates on long-term mortgages fell this week amid signs that the halting economic recovery slowed over the summer. The key 30-year mortgage again marked an all-time low. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year home loan declined to 2.86% from 2.93% last week. By contrast, the rate averaged 3.56% a year ago. The average rate on the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage slipped to 2.37% from 2.42% last week. Housing demand continues as one of few bright spots in the pandemic-hobbled economy. Spurred by historically low rates, applications for mortgage loans are up 25% from a year ago, according to Freddie Mac. It said the momentum will be difficult to sustain going into the fall because of the lack of available homes for sale.
Consumer borrowing follows June gain with 3.6% rise in July ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — U.S. consumer borrowing rose by a solid 3.6% in July, the second monthly gain after the coronavrius pandemic had sent borrowing down sharply in the previous three months. The Federal Reserve reported Tuesday that the 3.6% increase in July, which represented a $12.2 billion advance, followed a 3.3% rise in June and sharp declines in March, April and May. The strength in July came from a $12.5 billion rise in the category that includes auto loans and student loans. The category that covers credit cards fell by $293 million, the fifth straight month that the credit card category has declined. Nancy Vanden Houten, senior economist at Oxford Economics, said she expects a modest rebound in the credit card category in coming months. But she said, “a slow recovery in consumer spending and tight lending standards will limit the upside” for credit card gains.
Is now the right time to refinance your mortgage? Consolidate your debt with a lower payment. You can get some of the lowest rates in the state, plus your money stays on Kaua‘i.
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