Light deck color ideas for stylish Washington, DC patios
This past week we began taking a look at the deck shown in the picture below. It’s a nice looking deck, but it doesn’t have a lot of natural type finished surfaces. Instead it’s made from composite and / or synthetic materials. These materials look pretty good, stay clean or at least clean easily, and have relatively high resistance to deterioration related to exposure to moisture.
In some cases synthetic materials have a relatively high susceptibility to damage from ultraviolet rays in sunlight. That same risk and or exposure to damage applies equally or even more in some cases to natural wood materials. This past week we mostly focused on talking and describing the details of the design and the finished surfaces. Today we’re going to also take a look at the areas below the deck.
Starting with the side edge of the deck, you may notice a white band that wraps around the deck edge. That white band board is a synthetic type of board that wraps around the edge of the wood framing. The wood framing is essential because it provides a structure, but it’s a greenish color type of wood grain. It doesn’t look terrible and it’s actually found all over the place at many decks in backyards. The white finish though is more consistent and may look a little bit better to some people. It also looks a little bit more manufactured, though. Some people don’t actually mind that aesthetic.
When you look up from the bottom you can see the underside of the deck framing. Here, you can see the pressure treated wood that we described above. You can see the elements which are often better hidden, from an aesthetic perspective because they look rough and rustic or industrial. For example, you can see a pattern or collection of four bolts put together next to a corner structural tie or structural support. A 6×6 post has been notched to support the structural girder that runs beneath the majority of the deck joists. If you look to the right of the picture you can see a hot dip galvanized carriage bolt head.
A carriage bolt is a type of lag or fastener. The larger framing members of the deck are drilled so that this boat can slide through before it is tightened with a nut. Other types of fasteners, such as typical deck screws or even structural screws will, in many cases, screw or fasten into a wood substrate without having to pre-drill holes ahead of time. This particular type of fastener has to be pre-drilled completely because it’s not intended to self-tap or drill into a board. The threads are relatively thin, similar to a machine thread. Fasteners intended to drive into wood, by comparison, are generally thicker and better for engaging the grain of the wood.
On the left hand side of the picture above, you can see a vertical line or series of deck screw heads that are used to connect the edge of the board shown with a perpendicular running joist at the opposite side of the board. The bottom of this post is set in a different type of hot dip galvanized structural connector. This type of connector is called a base plate. The base plate both secures the post, but also keeps the post above the adjacent concrete substrate. It helps the longevity of the post, to keep it separated from the concrete substrate.
The concrete substrate generally has a higher degree of moisture. When the wood is in direct contact with the concrete, the wood also absorbs that excess moisture. When the wood is constantly exposed and absorbing that excess moisture, the moisture has a tendency to degrade the wood structure.
Wood and almost all types of plant matter have a cellular structure that works well for conducting or moving water upwards in a plant. This is very helpful for the plant’s biological life. The same structure that is inherent in the cellular form of the plant also has a tendency to wick water upwards when the wood has been cut to be used for construction. Therefore, it’s helpful to build with separation between the bottom of the wood structure and adjacent elements that have high moisture.
The next picture below shows the double girder that has been notched into both sides of a post. This type of connection is strong because it engages the wood elements together in a way that they are supported by each other, not just through fasteners, but also through the configuration and fit of the boards together.
The next picture below shows the main run of joists that sit and bear on top of that girder below.
Use a contractor who understands and cares about doing things right. Always, feel free to reach out to us here at Dupont Decks and Patios. We are happy to help with almost all steps of the deck building and design process. A backyard and outdoor space should make a significant, positive impact on both quality of life and home value. We can help with more than just decks, we also build patios, pergolas, ramadas, awnings, gazebos, arbors, and privacy fences.
Let us know about your ideas and talk to us if you have questions about possibilities. We are happy to participate in improving your outdoor space and quality of life! You can call us at (202) 774-9128. You can find us online at https://dupontdeckspatiosdc.com and you can email us there as well at https://dupontdeckspatiosdc.com/contact-us
