Life On Deck Archives - Page 3 of 18 - DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Passionate about Outdoor Living

June 26th, 2019|Blog, Life On Deck, Outdoor Living|

Ever since I can remember, every holiday, birthday and family event were held outside on the deck and patio if the weather allowed. Beginning with landscaping as a summer job in high school, my career evolved through landscaping, sunrooms and cedar homes before I came to specialize in decks and outdoor living. Not everyone sees a deck and patio the same way. Builders and architects usually see these additions as a necessary extension of the house (if they give any thought to it at all). Typically in the past its main function was as a way to get out of the house with a little space for a grill and table. Mostly square and very generic, this is what we currently refer to as a “builder deck.” Having begun my career in landscaping, I have always viewed a deck and patio area differently, more a part of the overall outdoor [...]

When a Deck Becomes a Room

April 3rd, 2019|Blog, DeckTec News & Updates, Life On Deck|

Whether it’s wood floors, wood furniture or, of course, wood decks and roofs, I’ve always had tremendous appreciation not only for the durability of wood but for the warm, welcoming atmosphere that wood contributes to our living spaces. As I see it, there’s no substitute for the way that wood enhances our sense of home. Wood offers a solid, authentic and earthy feel, with subtle warm tones and natural markings that make each piece as unique as each of our customers. Nothing manufactured or mass-produced can possibly compare with what nature has provided, and that’s why DeckTec relies exclusively on quality softwoods such as Redwood and Cedar and hardwoods like Mahogany and Ipe when creating our custom decks. Over the years I’ve watched the trend toward increasing sophistication in outdoor living, with the outdoor “room” now rivaling the finest interiors in terms of design, furnishings, and material quality. Today’s homeowners [...]

Best Local Cold Weather Micro-Brrrews

February 27th, 2019|Blog, Colorado Life, Life On Deck, Outdoor Recipes|

Beer is a big part of the Colorado lifestyle! For every camping trip, whitewater adventure or 14’er summit there’s beer shared on the back of a tailgate, at one of Colorado’s 300+ taprooms or on your custom redwood deck. But what to do when the temperature drops and the flakes start flying? We’re blessed with plenty of excellent Colorado craft beers for the 65 days of the year when the sun isn’t shining. Find them at your local brewery or stock up until deck weather returns in the spring. These malt-focused beers are perfect for cozying up by the fire after a long day in the Colorado cold and are guaranteed to chase your winter brrrews away! German Dunkel If you’re a fan of Porter be sure to give Dunkel a try – similar to the English favorite but with a cleaner taste from cold fermentation and lagering. Dunkel is [...]

A Season of Gratitude

December 12th, 2018|Blog, DeckTec News & Updates, Life On Deck|

It’s that time of year again, when we collectively pause and take a moment from our busy lives to reflect on the many things we have to be grateful for. No matter the ups and downs of our lives – and we all have some – there’s always so much to appreciate if we just look. We’re blessed to live in an unusually beautiful place full of cultural and recreational riches. The economy is strong and has allowed DeckTec to grow and even expand. (And, if you’re anything like me, you’re probably grateful that the elections are over!) It’s hard for me to believe that 30 years have passed since I founded DeckTec. I was just a spry pup when I started this thing! I still feel young at heart, but the reality is that I’ve grown older and hopefully a bit wiser. With the holidays, I find myself reflecting [...]

My Scary Personal Story: What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been

October 31st, 2018|Blog, DeckTec News & Updates, Life On Deck|

I’ve never liked horror movies or scary movies of any kind. But like most everyone, I’ve had to face some pretty scary things in my own life. When someone once asked me about the scariest thing I’d ever experienced, I told him, “When you have a wife and three small kids and no job, let me tell you, it doesn’t get any scarier than that.” Thirty years ago, before DeckTec, that was me. Broke and scared, I launched DeckTec on a prayer and a maxed-out credit card. It all started back in the late 80s, during one of Denver’s infamous energy-related bust cycles. The economy was so bad at the time that when I cold called people as part of my job selling prefabricated cedar homes, my leads would call me back not because they wanted to buy a home, but because they wanted me to buy their land from [...]