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The off-season is Prime time to sell outdoor proiects
Haislip, "pressure treated wood will dry and stabilize more evenly in the winter due to reduced humidity."
Michael Reeder, owner of the Archadeck franchise in Columbus, Oh., calls it the "give and take" of the project. "The give refers to the wood's expansion and the take refers to the wood's contraction, which is caused by the effects of varying outdoor temperatures on the wood itself," he says.
Conversely, Reeder says, "a summer deck construction exPoses the pressure treated wood to higher humidity conditions. When drying in the hot sun, treated wood will undergo expansion and contraction that can cause cracking, warping and other damage to the wood itself. Due to the orientation of the sun during the winter months, the sun doesn't beat down on your deck, and the treated wood that holds the key to your project's structural integrity will not undergo these negative effects."
filHene's No rlME like the Present. I Lit<e Archadeck Outdoor Living. a nationwide network of outdoor living contractors, dealers should encourage their customers not to hold off until next spring to construct an outdoor project, citing a number of advantages of a fall or winter build.
With over 100,000 projects built worldwide since 1980, Archadeck is no stranger to the typical building cycle. And. energized by an upturn in home improvement sPending, the company sees homeowners continuing to add decks and other outdoor structures through the cooler months, where historically there has been a decline.
"The fall and winter months can bring many advantages to the outdoor building process," says Rob Haislip, Archadeck vice president. "Not only are contractors typically more available during the winter months, but the cooler conditions can minimize damage to the surrounding landscape as most plants and grasses are dormant in the winter."
A winter project will also cause less lifestyle interruption, because homeowners typically spend less time outdoors and less time participating in outdoor activities during the colder months of the year.
The nature of the materials also makes the "off season" the prime time to build a deck. Although the deck boards may be wood, PVC or composite, the foundations are almost always pressure treated wood. And, saYs
Archadeck has seen huge growth in the hardscapes project category, with outdoor kitchen projects, patios and fire pits gaining in popularity. "People are finding new ways to enhance the use of their outdoor spaces, and we're seeing fire pits and retaining walls being incorporated into deck and patio designs more often," says Haislip.
"Adding a fire pit is the perfect way to extend enjoyment of the outdoors as the weather gets cooler."
The Archadeck team believes that one of the biggest benefits of a fall or winter project is the immediate enjoyment it will bring the following spring. Rather than pursuing a contractor and building a project, the homeowner's outdoor living space is ready to enjoy when they are.
