Here is a link to an article from Bob Villa. com on composite/PVC decking

http://www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Library/Alternative_Decking_Options_Composite_Wood_PVC_and_More-Deck-A3991.html

Winter time .... yuck

Work has been slow lately. We have been doing some small remodeling jobs, but it seems you have to fight for every job you get. I sure hope things turn around for Michigan.

Looking forward to spring, we have some home shows coming up, and soon it will be time to get out and pound the pavement.

Here is a few deck designs we have worked on in the past. Hopefully to get us inspired for the spring and deck building season !

Low level deck design to flow into a stamped concrete patio and then the backyard.

Dual color, triple picture frame border in composite

Here is a deck with a attached gazebo

Here is a design that was rejected for a more simple design by a customer

I really liked the deck design on this with the angles

Remember to check out our websites

http://www.autumnwoodconstruction.com/

http://www.michigandeckstore.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_os-iN-6lA

We will be updating more frequently on the new decking products for 2010

Thank You

A new product line from Trex

Trex has just announced Jan. 2010 production of a new product line.

The line is called Transcend.

This is a cap layer composite product. It is covered with some type of a PVC top layer, to enhance the performance of the base composite product.

Their main product line has been Accents which is a standard composite. The also have came out with a PVC deck board in the last few years called Escapes that was made by another company.

The Transcend line is geared towards the ultra low maintenance PVC products on the market, such as Timber Tech's XLM, and Azek, and the cap layer composites, that have been made famous by Correct Deck CX, and they have been followed by Fiberon's Horizons line

We have been a big fan of Correct Deck CX for a few years and we have had good success with the Correct Deck CX. Last year we started to offer the Fiberon Horizon line, because it has a tropical hardwood look which it is very appealing to our clients. The new Trex Transcend line seems to be similar to the Correct Deck CX and the Fiberon Horizons.

The specs and info on the Trex Transcend seems hard to find, they do however have a video on their new here

http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKPgLBtAaD4

Trex has had it problems and we have not been the biggest fan, but the new line does seem to be interesting. It is good that they are developing new products they have been pretty stagnant with their product development. Timber Tech has been the leader in innovative deck product in the low maintenance decking market.

Port Huron Area Carport & Shed

Here is a project we completed a few weeks ago.

Here is the design , this was basically a 16 x 30 aluminum carport

with a 10 x10 shed and 6' wind wall.

Before Picture

We have worked on manufactured houses for many years, so even through we have shifted are focus away from manufactured housing repairs we still do work on manufactured homes from time to time. This project was in The Lakes manufactured community in Kimball Township MI. The Lakes is the nicest manufactured home community in this part of Michigan.

The carport is all aluminum construction with 3x3 posts, 2x5 beams,

and 032. gauge box pan awning, with snow beams above.

The shed is typical 2x4 construction

The posts have 8" x 42" pier footings for the foundation. The carport is attached to the house with a 2x6 header - ledger lock bolted to the house studs. We pulled the siding off to do this and we double flashed the header with peal and stick tape and aluminum flashing.

The gutter system is built into the carport

The carport makes for a nice snowand rain cover and wind break.

The aluminum carport material can be used over patios for shade, and weather conditions

Porch & Pergola Project

Here is a project we did about month ago.

This was a screened - in porch, a pergola and a small stamped concrete patio

Here is the design, it shows a trellis that we did not end up doing

6x6 posts set and deck frame started

A different view of the framing for the porch floor, and the crushed limestone base for the stamped concrete

Basic shell of the porch up, and getting ready for the finish details

Stamped concrete - standard concrete with no color,

and black release ashlar slate stamp with brick border

Pine tongue and groove bead board ceiling

Pine tongue and groove porch floor, 2 ft. cedar knee walls

Screens with cedar stops, the cedar knee walls have cedar 2x4 top and bottom rails

with tongue and groove cedar siding

Treated pine pergola, with 6x6 posts, 2x8 beams,

2x6 rafters, and 2x2 stringers

Outside view of the porch

Clear pine screen door with full screen

View looking out of the porch

Outside view

Side view of the pergola and the entrance to the porch

New Baltimore Pergola

Here is some pictures of a Pergola we built for the New Baltimore Lumber Jack, lumber yard

It is for a display idea, Pergolas have been popular lately with homeowners, landscapers and deck builders.

Pergolas add a nice detail to a patio or deck and can be constructed to add shade to a sunny outdoor living area. They also can be a nice support for a flowering vine.

Sorry the day we built this it was a little foggy - some of the pictures are not the best

The top of Pergola is natural stained cedar wood.

2x8 beams, 2x6 rafters, and 1x2 stringers.

The supports are treated 4x4s, covered with 8" round composite columns

You can take a look at this Pergola at the Lumber Jack building center in New Baltimore MI

at the corner of 23 mile rd. and Jefferson

Thank You

Dock in Harrison Twp. MI

Here is a project we did about month ago. The homeowner tore out the original dock and we came in to replace it. The original dock was rotted and heaving up from the frost. We augured new 18" x 42" post hole footings dropped a cement cookie base for the support post and back filled the 4x4s. The dock is a 100' long and 7' width through most of the dock with couple of flair outs at each end. The original decking was running the opposite way we installed the new deck boards, which made a nice design feature with a center seam board every 12'. Running the decking this way also looked better from the view of the house by not seeing the seams of the deck boards butting up to each other. This is the standard way most deck boards run parallel to the long side of the home.

Posts set and working on the framing The outside of the dock is supported by the new post hole footings

and the 4x4s, the inside of the deck is built on top of the steel break wall

Here you can see the 12' sections with the seam boards running the opposite way

All the decking was screwed down with 3" exterior screws

The dock is all select cut treated pine- 2x6 framing and 2x6 decking

Thank You