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The New Trend In Decks

The new trend in DECKS? Sophistication, comfort and low maintenance

By BethAnne Brink-Cox House and Home Feature Writer

In days gone by, summer Sunday afternoons often meant rocking chairs and swings on the front porch, screened or not, especially in small towns where everyone knew their neighbors. In the 1980s, decks became a very popular way to enjoy the backyard, creating an extension of living areas. The last two years of pandemic and quarantine made these one of the safer ways to be outside.

From redwood and cable spool tables, styrofoam coolers and charcoal grills, the style has evolved into sophisticated areas that encompass everything from wine refrigerators to built-in cooktops. This year, the use of more railing, LED lighting and a demand for low maintenance are the buzzwords.

Brian Voorde of Big C Lumber agrees, “That’s what we’re getting the most requests for.” Big C, a fourth-generation family-owned company with 16 stores, serves everyone from the DIY crowd to professional builders, remodelers and contractors. “We don’t sell DIY kits, per se, although that might be a good idea! But we can help you plan what you want and then outline the materials you’ll need to make it happen. We’ve had some difficulties in supply shortages, but it mostly has meant there just aren’t as many choices–the manufacturers are going with their main/ best sellers.”

The biggest trend currently is composite decking, in use for several years, Voorde said, and Lonnie Ramer of Hoover Lumber echoed that. It used to be when you thought of decks, you pretty much thought of pressure treated lumber, “and that still sells,” said Ramer, one of three brothers –

photos: bigclumber.com Randy and Kevin, along with Lonnie’s son, Brent, joining as well– in their family-owned business of more than 100 years. ”But this composite decking is a more upscale choice–we sell AZEK, and it’s a PVC product. It has a 50 year fade and stain warranty, and stays up to 30 degrees cooler to the touch,” Ramer said, a big plus during record breaking temperatures. “It still has to be cared for, and has to be treated with a preservative. It’s definitely lower maintenance, though.” As for the trends of LED lighting and more railing, Ramer said, “We don’t get much request for that around here. My clientele is different from what you’d find just 10 miles away, in Elkhart!”

No matter what you end up with when it comes to decks–classic design or latest trend, eventually you’ll have finishing touches to add. Eva Wingard at Raber Patio Enclosures, also family-owned since 1987, says they are selling a lot of patio furniture. “One is polyethylene, and it’s made from recycled milk jugs! The other is a more dense product, marine high density polyethylene (HDPE) and it’s more porous.” You’ve likely seen a lot of this everywhere–chairs, benches, you name it–in the summertime, because it’s lightweight, comfortable, and low maintenance. Wingard said, “It’s pretty durable, shouldn’t break, well, maybe if a tree fell on it, but…it doesn’t require sanding or painting. It’s pretty long lasting.”

While the bright, summery colors seen in local parks–teal, red, and so on–are very popular, Wingard said those are most favored by those who buy for beach houses. “If they’re buying for their own home, you’d be surprised at how much we’re selling now that is black or white, more classic and low key. What sells most lately is groupings–we’ve furnished entire decks or porches, even whole houses! Since COVID, we’ve seen much larger orders, because the only place you could really go was outside in your own yard. But we still do plenty of smaller orders, sometimes just a single chair, and some customers prefer to buy a couple of pieces each year. We also sell really deep cushions to make the rockers and sofas really comfortable, and they’re made of umbrella fabric, so they can be left outdoors in the rain.”

So think about what you want–cozy, farm home sort of feeling, or elegant entertaining, and come to these three family owned businesses. They’ll help you make it happen and you’ll enjoy your summer all the more!

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