Clean Your Deck

Dirt and debris can cause mold, mildew, and eventually lead to rot. Remove this dirt and other debris with a pressure washer. If you do not own one, you can rent one from your local hardware store. Be sure to keep the pressure washer moving to avoid gouging the wood of the deck. Once you have finished, leave it to dry overnight. We recommend doing this earlier in the day to not promote mold and mildew growth throughout the cold damp nights.

Fix and Repair

If there are uneven surfaces on your deck, consider replacing any loose or broken boards. Pay close attention to any areas where the boards cross joints, especially underneath the deck. Also, try to fix any broken or loose nails/screws.

Stain and Seal

Outdoor stains for your deck help seal and protect your deck from the elements. Before applying a stain and sealant, lightly sand the deck and apply. You don’t need to sand too much, just think of it as resurfacing the deck. When you are sanding the deck, it’s crucial to wear safety gear such as protective eyewear, gloves, glasses, and a mask. Make sure to choose a two-day period where the weather forecast predicts clear skies and moderate temperatures. After staining and having enough time (48 hours) to dry, apply a sealant to your deck.

If you are ever in need of professional advice, repairs, or anything else regarding your home improvement projects, call our expert contractors at Rudd Builders today to receive a free quote and consultation.

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There are many online resources for DIY instructions on how to fix your deck, but it’s extremely hard to find detailed information online to know if your deck is beyond repair or not. If you are left wondering whether or not your should try to repair your deck, or just replace it entirely, then review the following information our expert deck contractors provided.

Safety Always Comes First

Your home should always be a safe environment for you, your family, and guests. This is more so important for kids that are running around and are unable to recognize dangerous structures. As decks age, they may develop rot around support posts, loose railings, and in some cases, exposed nails. Any of these can be extremely hazardous and lead to severe injuries. So, if you have an old deck and question its safety, you may want to get it inspected by a professional.

Evaluate, Evaluate, Evaluate

The first thing you should do when deciding if your deck is too far gone, is to do a visual inspection of your deck. Professionals can give you a more detailed inspection, but here are some red flags that can show your deck is too far gone.

• Rotten posts or support beams
• Separation between the deck and your house
• Lots of damage to the deck planks or surface material
• Loose or unstable railings or steps
• Discolored or irregular stains on your wood
• Ground erosion around your supporting posts

Loose boards, steps, or railings are usually fast fixes and should not result in a complete replacement. However, if your deck is riddled with rotting wood and erosion, you will have to tear down the deck and start from scratch.

What do YOU want?

If you feel that the inspection has only pointed out minor issues and your deck is free of hazards, then you can decide if you should fix it or replace it. Fixing a deck takes time, materials, and skills to update it properly and efficiently. The task can be daunting for the average folk and honestly, it’s better left to professionals. At the end of the day, after doing much research you may find that the effort may outweight the rewards for you. Don’t feel pressured to tackle the weight of repair alone, hire a professional deck contructing company that specializes in exceeding your expectations.

Get Professional Assistance

So you have chosen to replace your deck to continue to build fond memories of the outdoors with your friends and family this summer? Give the expert deck contractors at Rudd Builders a call to receive your free consultation and quote.

The post Should you Refurbish or Replace your Aging Deck? appeared first on Salt Lake City Contractors.

So, why get a custom shed? What good would it do? Well, we all struggle with finding space for all of our things. It’s important that we can manage the space and never introduce clutter to your home. Your house should not look like an episode of Hoarders. Having a custom shed gives you full control of the space provided, so you can make sure to have all the space you need for your things. Custom sheds can also be converted to workshops, green houses, and more. Below are some of the benefits of getting a custom shed. 

What You Want and Need

The biggest advantage of getting custom shed is that you can choose what kind of shed and how big or small it needs to be. It is all up to your wants, needs, and budget. You can make the shed of your dreams.

All You

Because it is a “custom-made” shed, you have control of the entire creative process. You can your new shed into anything you want. You can adjust the side, take out things, or add things that will help your shed look a lot better than before.

Less Maintenance

Because you have total control, you also have control over the materials used to make the shed. You can get the best materials to ensure maximum longevity of the shed. Better materials will always mean less overall maintenance.

Selling Rate

Once you have enjoyed your custom shed to your liking and you are selling your home, you will achieve a better resale price, as it is custom made. In many cases you can get quite a big chunk back of the money spent for the project. 

A custom shed has many benefits and advantages, the biggest is having it be tailored to your needs and desires. It is a shed to reflect your ideas of the future you wish to build for your home. Something you can provide that you can be proud of designing. Call our expert shed contractors at Rudd Builders to learn more about getting the shed of your dreams.

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5 Most Durable Materials

We know that flooring installation in your home can be pretty expensive and time-consuming, so it’s best to get it right the first time. This is why we have taken the liberty to list some of our recommendations for those seeking durable materials. Below are our top 5 recommended most durable flooring options to install for your flooring remodel. 

Hardwood

Hardwood is one of the most common options for flooring in the United States. Coming in either planks or strips, the most common wood used in making hardwood floors includes oak, maple, and mahogany; but, some manufacturers also offer exotic wood varieties such as Brazilian Cherry and Tigerwood.

Many people pick hardwood flooring because it just looks great in any home and increases the value of your home by quite a bit. This material is very durable and can be easily refinished should the wood lose its luster. If you are considering installing hardwood in your home, ensure to place it in areas of the house with low moisture. This will guarantee that the material won’t shrink, swell, or split. 

Bamboo

Bamboo is an eco-friendly alternative to hardwood flooring material while sharing the same look. It also comes in planks and strips with a variety of grain patterns. This material is easier to maintain as the refinishing process is quick and easy. Much like hardwood, this material is seldom suitable for high moister. Try to avoid dark colors as the colorants used to give the material color weakens its fibers.

Ceramic Tiles

Ceramic tiles are manufactured from a mixture of shale and clay that is then heat-treated in a kiln. These fun tiles come with different patterns, colors, and shapes, making them a desirable material to match your interior design. 

This material is best in higher-traffic areas such as kitchens and hallways. They are a fantastic option for wet rooms like the bathroom or laundry room since they are naturally water-resistant. 

Laminate

Laminate flooring is similar to hardwood. However, they are made of compressed wood or plywood covered by a thin veneer. Since they are still made of wood materials, laminate won’t be an excellent option for high-moisture and wet areas like bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements with leak problems.

Vinyl

For a flexible, resilient, and economical option, try vinyl. It is made from PVC plastic (polyvinyl chloride). Some vinyl comes with felt layers that make the tiles softer; others are cushioned with layers of foam and even textured to have a similar feeling to hardwood floors. They come in peel-and-stick backing that doesn’t require additional adhesives before installment. Vinyl is also by far the cheapest flooring material to maintain. 

Once you have picked your desired material, you need an experienced contractor to make sure all your tiles are appropriately placed, leveled, and more. Our contractors at Rudd Builders are experts in home remodeling; call our offices today to get a free consultation and start building the home of your dreams.

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Out Door Deck

A deck is an area that is raised above ground that is typically on the same level as the main level of the house, is usually outdoors, and has room for an outdoor table, seating, and typically, a grill. 

You can almost always find a deck on houses with daylight basements, or basements that rise above the ground. This raised basement allows for a basement due to the extra height of the main level where the deck is then attached. 

Out Door Patio

A patio is a concrete or wooden extension to the backside of a home. It can sometimes be a designated area entirely separate from the house. A patio is almost included in every home that has an underground basement. 

Not all Homes Can Have a Deck

Even if your home has the optimal setup for a deck (elevated basement), you can still choose to get a patio area. However, it would be kind of inconvenient to access your patio when it is essentially on the basement floor.

Patios are very easy to maintain and clean while also being extremely durable, low-maintenance, and cost-effective. You can also add covering (like awnings) to a patio, as well as gazebos, pergolas, or even a canopy. 

Patios are a lot more private too, as they are on ground level and keeps you out-of-sight behind your fencing. Even if you find that your home can have a deck, consider if a patio could be more worth it in the long run. 

Patio Requirements

Now, keep in mind, that even if you decide you want a patio, there are many specific requirements it needs in order to be a practical and resilient patio. 

First of all, the patio’s foundation must be installed or poured on level ground, whereas a deck could be built on the edge of a cliff. If you opt for a concrete foundation you will find that it will crack over time. In Utah, the freeze and refreeze throughout the year will even cause these cracks and eventually chunks will breaking off. 

Since the patio is on the ground is prone to weeds and mud stains. It may be a good idea to pressure wash your patio often to keep it clean and pristine.

So, Which One?

The deciding factor to knowing if you should choose a deck or patio is determining the type of house you live in, which room your house would have access to the deck or patio, and which option would be the best accommodated by your house. 

If you find yourself back where you started, not knowing which direction to go, contact us here at Rudd Builders. We will evaluate your property and give you a solid recommendation and give you a solid vision for you to obtain one of these luxurious decks/patios.

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