TIVADEK Specialist of the Year The Deck Store, Inc.

Q. Take us to the beginning of The Deck Store.

A. The Deck Store was founded in 2007. At that time, the decking industry was being revolutionized by an influx of low-maintenance products. Consumers were limited in where they could see a good selection of materials and talk to experts in the deck industry who knew the benefits and limitations of these products. Our first showroom was opened in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, in the fall of 2008 to meet the demand of consumers looking to view and educate themselves on various decking products, railing materials and accessories all in one location. The Deck Store quickly gained a reputation for being the only place in Ontario where someone could go and see samples of almost every deck board in the market, as well as get solid, helpful and honest advice from the team members.

Q. How did you discover TIVA Building Products?

A. We have established a close relationship with TIVA in that we were selected by them to field test their product before it was introduced to the market. We met them while on a trip to Asia and established a good relationship with the manufacturer. Since then, the company has expanded into North America and we have continued to work with them by providing

Owner: Stan Weiland

Location: Ontario, Canada

Year Founded: 2008

Website: deckstore.ca

Instagram: @thedeckstore

Facebook.com: The Deck Store, Inc

Specialty: TIVA Building Products valuable “in the field” feedback on colors, embossing, technology and customer feedback.

Q. What are your preferred TIVA products?

A. Their Designer series—colors are very vibrant and work well in most settings.

We also love the fact that TIVA fascia is a full 3/4” thick and can be installed using screws and plugs.

The generous thickness also makes it very stable and prevents it from buckling and creating a wavy look in the heat.

TIVACoat and TIVATape are products that we offer to our clients as they add longevity to the project and provide extra profitability for our company.

Q. Where does your project inspiration come from?

A. From getting to know the clients and working with them to develop a design that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also very functional and well thought out with respect to space utilization. It’s not just about a pretty picture for our gallery or for social media—it’s about creating an outdoor living space that works for the client with respect to their budget, how it ties in with their home, and maximizes their ability to use and enjoy.

Trex Specialist of the Year

ProBuilt Construction

Q. How did ProBuilt Construction get its start?

A. After serving in the Army, I opened my own construction business in 1974. My brother taught me all about construction. We had a great thing going. His company would precut and sell deck “kits,” and I would assemble these kits for homeowners. One day, we built a 10’x10’ pressure-treated wood deck off of the back of a townhome that was under construction. At the end of the day, the builder stopped by and said, “I can’t believe you built this in a day! How would you like to build 500 of these?” That is how ProBuilt Construction got its start building decks on our own.

Owner: Edward Pacylowski

Location: Highland, MD.

Year Founded: 1974

Website: probuiltconstruction.com

Instagram: @probuiltconstructioninc

Facebook.com: ProbuiltConstruction

Specialty: Composite decking

Q. How did Trex become a primary vendor?

A. I clearly remember building my first Trex deck in 2000 in Ellicott City, MD. ProBuilt was the deck subcontractor for a local home builder, and this builder was working on a brand-new 55+ single-level duplex community called Turf Valley. Back then, the majority of my work was for home builders. I proposed to put Trex on the model home, but the home builder wanted to stick with wood. Trex was a new product on the market. I thought this would be a good option for this community. However, the builder was okay allowing us to offer the Trex as an upgrade to homeowners, which I did—to the home directly adjoining the model home that had its own wood deck. While the model did not have a Trex deck, the adjoining neighbor did, and every person who went to the model walked out onto the model deck made of wood, saw the neighbor’s brand new Trex deck and said, “What is that? I want that!” Every deck in that community was eventually built with Trex decking, and from then on, the builder spec’d Trex for all their communities.

In 2002, I remember the day the rep stopped by to hand deliver me my first TrexPro Contractor card, telling me ProBuilt was going to be one of the original builders to be part of this program. In 2022, ProBuilt was recognized by Trex at an awards ceremony because we have worked with Trex for over 20 years, something we are very proud of.

Westbury Specialist of the Year

Decks Unlimited

Owner: Charles Chadd

Location: Lafayette, IN.

Year Founded: 1957

Website: decks-unlimited.net

Facebook.com: Decks Unlimited Incorporated

Specialty: Unique decks and railings

Q. How did you get your start in construction?

A. I started working in construction over 30 years ago at the age of 15. During the summer months back in high school I worked for my father, a general contractor, remodeling homes, doing roofing, siding and building decks. After high school I started my own company, Decks Unlimited, and for 25 years now I have followed my passion creating unique deck designs. Specializing in composite materials, we were the first in our area to design and create decks utilizing two-tone colors, borders, custom inlays and curves. Although we offer wood frame projects, 80% of our work is framed with steel and we lean toward helical piers.

Q. Where do you draw your inspiration from?

A. I enjoy the challenge of creating unique and creative projects that the clients love. Having been blessed to win multiple NADRA awards, my father is the one who inspired me to specialize in decks and the challenge is what continues to motivate me and my designs.

Q. How did you first start using Westbury?

A. I started using Westbury a decade ago and it’s our go-to rail. I believe it’s the best railing out there. We love the VertiCable railing system.