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Double Eagle Fence Issues Guidance on Fencing New Residential Lots

MANSFIELD, TX - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Double Eagle Fence has published guidance on how conditions specific to newly developed residential lots affect fence installation, citing census data showing sustained residential construction across its service area. The guidance addresses properties where no previous fence line exists and where the ground itself has recently been altered by development.
Census figures place Mansfield's 2026 population at an estimated 86,408, up from 72,782 recorded in the 2020 census, an increase of roughly 19 percent in six years. Local reporting has noted that approximately one quarter of the city's land area remains undeveloped and that 842 new home permits were issued in a single recent year. Sustained buildout at that pace means a substantial share of fencing work in the area now takes place on lots that were pasture or raw ground within the past several years.

That distinction matters more than it appears. A lot inside a new subdivision is not undisturbed ground, and the soil a post is set into has usually been graded, cut, filled and compacted before a house was framed on it.
The underlying material remains challenging regardless. The U.S. Department of Agriculture maps Houston Black clay across the Blackland Prairie region, a Vertisol with severe shrink-swell potential that expands when wet and contracts as it dries. Development changes how that soil is arranged on a site without changing what it is.
"On an established lot the ground has settled into a pattern, and the pattern is readable," said Lance Dunaway, Owner of Double Eagle Fence. "On a lot that was graded eighteen months ago, the soil is still finding equilibrium. Fill behaves differently from cut, and a fence line can run across both without anything on the surface indicating where one ends and the other begins."
Several conditions are particular to recent construction. Buried construction debris, displaced fill and abandoned material can sit below grade along a property boundary, which affects where posts can be set and how a hole is dug. Irrigation is often newly installed and shallow, and landscaping has not yet matured to the point where root systems influence soil moisture the way established trees do.
Final grade presents its own complication. Landscaping, drainage corrections and retaining work sometimes follow rather than precede a fence, which means a fence line established early can end up sitting differently once the surrounding grade is finished.
Documentation of the property line carries added weight in these settings. On an established block, existing fences and long-standing landscaping often make a boundary visually obvious, whereas a recently platted lot may have little more than survey pins to work from. Confirming those markers before any hole is dug prevents a fence from being built to the wrong line.
Neighboring construction is a further factor. On a street still being built out, adjacent lots may be under active construction while a homeowner is planning a fence, and a boundary shared with an unbuilt lot involves conditions that have not been established yet.
Dunaway noted that sequencing decisions carry weight on new construction. "The question on a new lot is not only what the fence should be, it is when it should go in," he said. "Waiting until grading and drainage are finished usually produces a straighter line that stays straight, and that is worth more than getting the fence up a few weeks earlier."
Purpose also tends to be undefined at the outset. On an established property a new fence typically replaces an older one and follows a line already drawn. On a newly developed lot, the boundary, the pool area, the pet area and the entry are being separated for the first time, and a single property can carry several fencing needs that call for different materials and heights.
Those decisions interact with material selection rather than following from it. Wood privacy fencing presents a solid surface that transfers wind load to the posts, while chain link allows air through the mesh and places less lateral demand on the same footing. Ornamental and wrought iron carry greater panel weight, and pool enclosures depend on the fence and gate holding alignment. Each behaves differently on soil that has not fully settled.
Gates add a further consideration on new construction. Driveway entries, pedestrian access points and the placement of gate operators or access controls are more easily accommodated when they are planned alongside the fence line rather than added afterward, particularly where power routing and clearance are involved.
Double Eagle Fence is a fence contractor serving Mansfield, Texas and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth area. The company installs wood, chain link, ornamental iron, wrought iron and brick fencing, along with privacy, security, pool, farm, pipe and tennis court fencing, and provides custom gates, gate operators, access controls, core drilling and arbors for residential and commercial properties.


 

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For more information about Double Eagle Fence, contact the company here:
Double Eagle Fence
Lance Dunaway
+16822826943
lcdunaway@gmail.com
1206 Oakmont Ct, Mansfield, TX 76063, United States

North Decks and Outdoor Living Reveals How Clay Soils Affect Deck Stability

CONCORD, NC - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
North Decks and Outdoor Living is drawing attention to how expansive clay soils affect deck supports, following a year of severe moisture swings across the North Carolina Piedmont.
Cabarrus County recorded its third driest year to date in 132 years of record keeping through March 2026, running more than six inches below normal precipitation. Conditions reversed in late July, when the state's wettest rain event in more than a year moved across North Carolina and improved, though did not eliminate, drought classifications. That sequence of prolonged deficit followed by heavy rainfall is the pattern that matters most for structures built on clay.

The North Carolina Geological Survey identifies the Carolina terrane, which encompasses much of the central Piedmont, as one of two regions in the state with the greatest potential for expansive shrink-swell soils. Soil series mapped across these Piedmont uplands carry the characteristic in their official descriptions from the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. The Enon series is rated high in shrink-swell potential with very high surface runoff and low saturated hydraulic conductivity, while the Mecklenburg series is rated moderate. Both are residuum weathered from mafic crystalline rock and both hold substantial clay content below the surface horizon.
Clay behaves differently from sandier soils as moisture changes. Extended dry weather draws water out and the soil contracts. Returning moisture causes it to swell. Ground with low hydraulic conductivity sheds water at the surface rather than absorbing it evenly, which means moisture content can vary considerably across a single property depending on drainage and grade. Two supports set thirty feet apart can sit in measurably different conditions.
For a deck, that movement acts on footings, post bases, and the connection back to the house. Effects tend to develop gradually rather than appearing at once, and the transition from a dry period into a wet one produces a second phase of movement after the first has already occurred.
"Clay is the reason two identical decks on the same street can perform completely differently," said Tyler North, Owner and Founder of North Decks and Outdoor Living. "What is under the footing matters as much as what is above it, and a year like this one applies pressure in both directions."
Footing depth is the primary defense against seasonal soil movement, and reaching undisturbed load-bearing soil rather than backfill or topsoil is what allows a support to carry weight consistently through changing conditions. Grade and drainage determine how water moves across a property and where it collects, which in turn shapes how much moisture reaches the ground around each support. Sites that slope toward a structure or hold water after rainfall present different conditions from those that shed water away, and those differences persist long after construction is complete.
Property owners assessing an existing structure after these conditions can look for specific indicators. A deck surface that no longer sits level, posts that have shifted or no longer sit plumb, separation or movement where the deck attaches to the house, and stairs that have settled at the bottom landing are all worth attention. Gaps opening in soil around post bases can indicate the ground has drawn back from the support. Doors and gates that once operated smoothly and now bind or catch can also point to movement in the structure they are mounted to.
Not every observation of this kind signals a structural problem. Materials settle, and a deck that has been in place through several seasons will show some evidence of the conditions it has passed through. Movement at the house connection is the exception, and warrants evaluation by someone trained to assess deck structures.
North holds certification from the North American Deck and Railing Association in Deck Evaluation and Inspection, along with NADRA certification in Decks Done Right. He noted that soil is one of several site conditions bearing on how a structure performs, alongside drainage, grade, and the depth at which footings reach undisturbed load-bearing soil.
Seasonal moisture is also not the only environmental factor acting on outdoor structures in the region. Piedmont summers combine sustained heat with high humidity, and winters bring periodic freeze and thaw cycles that affect both materials and the ground beneath them. Soil movement operates alongside those conditions rather than in isolation, and a structure encounters all of them across a single year.
"Most of what people notice is minor, and some of it is just a deck settling into place," North said. "The value is in knowing which is which instead of waiting to find out."
Conditions that developed over a full year of drought followed by heavy rainfall are unlikely to resolve quickly, and the ground beneath a structure continues responding to moisture long after surface conditions appear normal. Observing how a deck behaves across changing seasons provides a clearer picture of its condition than any single inspection at one moment in time.
North Decks and Outdoor Living is a family owned company serving the greater Charlotte area from Concord. The company designs and builds custom decks, screened and covered porches, patios, arbors and pergolas, and related outdoor living structures, working in wood, composite, and PVC decking. Services include deck installation, repair, maintenance, and replacement.


 

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For more information about North Decks and Outdoor Living, contact the company here:
North Decks and Outdoor Living
Tyler North
+17046909390
tyler@northdecks.com
7008 Merrymount Ct, Concord, NC 28025, United States

J&A Deck & Fence Details Drainage Effects of a Drought-to-Storm Shift

GERMANTOWN, MD - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
J&A Deck & Fence is drawing attention to a seasonal transition that affects how water moves around decks and fences, as forecasters point to a wetter pattern arriving on ground that has spent much of the summer dry.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, roughly 71 percent of Maryland was under active drought as of mid-July 2026, with portions of the state in severe and extreme categories. National Weather Service records place this summer among the five warmest starts in 155 years of Washington-area observations, with rainfall running below average across the period. Forecasters have since pointed to a strengthening El Nino bringing higher humidity and more frequent thunderstorm activity to the Mid-Atlantic through late summer.

The combination is what matters rather than either condition alone. Soils across Montgomery County belong to the Piedmont group and are largely clay, formed from weathered igneous and metamorphic rock. Clay hardens and cracks as it dries, and hardened clay does not absorb a sudden downpour the way the same soil would at normal moisture content. Water that would ordinarily soak in instead runs across the surface or channels directly into open cracks, reaching deeper soil than it typically would during steady seasonal rainfall.
"The first real storms after a dry spell behave differently than people expect," said Josh Arrington, Owner of J&A Deck & Fence. "The same two inches of rain that disappears into the ground in April will sit on the surface in August. Homeowners see standing water where they have never seen it before and assume something changed with the deck. Usually what changed is the ground."
That distinction matters because standing water near posts and at grade is a different condition than water shedding cleanly off a deck surface. Water pooling around the base of a post, or collecting beneath a structure where it previously drained away, keeps the surrounding soil saturated for longer stretches than it would be under a normal rainfall pattern. Soil that stays saturated behaves differently under load than soil that drains within hours.
Where a deck meets the house is the location that warrants particular attention during a wet stretch. Flashing at that connection directs water away from the structure rather than into the framing behind it, and the connection is examined during inspection for that reason. Runoff arriving in concentrated volume, rather than spread evenly across a longer rainfall, tests that detail more than steady spring rain does.
Arrington noted that the response varies considerably from property to property. Grading, downspout placement and discharge distance, tree cover, natural drainage paths across the lot, and the way the structure was originally built all determine where water travels once it reaches the ground. Two decks on the same street, built in the same year, can behave differently under identical rainfall.
"There is no general answer that applies to every yard," Arrington said. "What we look at is where the water actually goes on that specific property, and whether anything has already started moving."
The cycle also tends to repeat rather than resolve on its own. Once cracks open in dry clay and admit water at depth, the soil swells, then contracts again during the next dry stretch. That repeated shrink and swell is the mechanism behind gradual movement around footings and posts, as opposed to a single failure event. Movement of this kind usually appears cumulatively over several seasons rather than after any one storm.
Deck footings across the region are set below roughly 30 inches, the frost depth commonly applied in Maryland, so they bear on soil that stays comparatively stable through seasonal swings. Fence posts sit closer to the active surface layer, which is a substantial part of why fence lines often show visible movement before decks do.
Observations worth noting during the transition include water standing beneath a deck longer than it once did, soil washing away or channeling around posts, new drainage paths forming across a yard, sections of decking staying damp well after a storm has passed, or a fence line that has shifted noticeably since spring. None of these confirms a structural problem on its own. Each indicates that water is moving differently than it did earlier in the year, which is useful information heading into fall and the freeze and thaw cycles that follow it.
The same considerations apply to projects still in the planning stage. Site grading, footing depth, post-setting method, board spacing and the way water is directed away from a structure are decisions made before construction begins, and they largely determine how a deck or fence handles seasonal extremes across the decades that follow. Structures built without attention to drainage tend to reveal the shortfall gradually, through accumulated small movements rather than an obvious single failure.
Founded in 2020 and based in Germantown, Maryland, J&A Deck & Fence designs, builds and repairs decks, fences, patios, porches and outdoor living spaces for residential and commercial property owners across Montgomery County. Owner Josh Arrington has worked in the trade for 12 years.


 

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For more information about J&A Deck And Fence, contact the company here:
J&A Deck And Fence
Joshua Arrington
+13013888811
joshua@j-ahomeimprovement.com
13416 Country Ridge Dr, Germantown, MD 20874, United States

Deck It Outlines Footing Considerations as Dry Conditions Persist

BOLTON, MA - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Deck It, a Massachusetts deck builder specializing in composite and PVC construction, has outlined how a third consecutive year of drought is affecting site assessment and footing installation on residential deck projects. The company said ground conditions encountered during excavation this season have differed from what crews typically find in the region, prompting closer review at the earliest stage of construction.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs declared Level 3 Critical Drought conditions in the Central and Northeast Regions in March 2026, citing limited groundwater recharge over the winter. According to NOAA data cited by state officials, April 2026 was the driest April statewide since 2010, with rainfall ranging from 1.5 to 3 inches against a typical 4.12 inches. U.S. Drought Monitor data showed approximately 67 percent of Massachusetts under active drought conditions in late July. State drought declarations note that the current drought began in 2024 and has produced declining groundwater across nearly all regions.

For deck construction, the effect appears during the earliest phase of a project rather than in the finished structure. Ground that has been dry for an extended period excavates differently than moist soil, and the water table encountered at footing depth may sit lower than in previous seasons. Both are conditions a crew evaluates on site rather than from a plan drawn in advance.
"When the ground has been dry this long, what we hit at footing depth is not always what the property looked like the last time we worked in that neighborhood," said Patrick Byrne, co-founder of Deck It. "We are checking conditions as we dig rather than assuming, because the same lot can behave differently in a third drought year than it did in a normal one."
Footing depth itself does not change with rainfall. Deck footings in Massachusetts are set below the depth at which soil freezes, a figure driven by winter conditions rather than by summer moisture levels. What extended dry weather affects is the excavation itself, the condition of the surrounding soil, and how the site behaves once moisture returns.
Soil survey data published by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service classifies much of eastern and central Massachusetts as glacial till and sandy loam, materials that carry low shrink-swell potential compared with the expansive clay soils found in other parts of the country. That distinction matters because construction guidance written for clay-heavy regions does not transfer directly to New England conditions. The more relevant local factors are groundwater level, the presence of fill or organic material, and how a particular parcel drains.
Properties with fill, buried organic matter, or previously disturbed ground are more likely to show movement following an extended dry period than properties sitting on undisturbed native soil. Older lots that have been graded, landscaped, or built over multiple times can present conditions that differ substantially from a neighboring property.
"Most of what determines whether a deck stays level over twenty years happens before anyone sees a board," said Jake Zbikowski, co-founder of Deck It. "The footings get buried and forgotten, and they are the one part of a deck that is close to impossible to correct once everything above them exists."
Deck It said site conditions are reviewed during the design phase, before framing begins, alongside deck layout, framing plan and permitting. The company produces a three-dimensional design during that stage, allowing a proposed layout to be reviewed against the actual property before materials are ordered. Permitting is handled by the company on the projects it builds.
Sloped properties introduce a further consideration. On ground that falls away from the house, posts vary in height across the structure and footings carry differing loads, which makes site assessment more consequential than on level ground. Multi-level designs are one response to that condition, allowing a deck to follow existing grade rather than sit on a single elevated platform.
Conditions are also expected to remain relevant into the following seasons. UMass Extension has documented that drought impacts can be delayed until the next season or longer, meaning the effects of consecutive dry years are frequently observed after the drought itself has ended. Ground that has not recharged before winter can respond differently through freeze and thaw cycles than ground entering winter at normal moisture levels.
Deck It said the current conditions do not change the fundamentals of how a deck is built, but they do reinforce the value of assessing each property individually rather than applying a standard approach across a region.
Founded in 2017 and focused exclusively on decking since 2021, Deck It designs and builds custom decks, porches and sunrooms for residential and commercial properties across Central Massachusetts and the MetroWest region, operating from a showroom in Bolton. The company is a TimberTech Platinum Pro and Trex Pro Platinum contractor and a member of the North American Deck and Railing Association. In 2025 the company was named Top Contractor of the Northeast by TimberTech, an award recognizing the volume of TimberTech products installed.


 

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For more information about Deck It, contact the company here:
Deck It - Bolton
Deck It Marketing
+19785435501
marketing@deckitnow.com
1092 Main St, Bolton, MA 01740, United States

EJS Deck and Home Solutions Introduces Drought Deck Guidance

HANSON, MA - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
EJS Deck and Home Solutions has introduced new guidance for homeowners on how extended dry conditions affect outdoor structures, following a drought across Massachusetts that has now persisted through parts of three consecutive years. The guidance covers what changes in a deck during prolonged dry weather, what homeowners can observe themselves, and when a structure warrants professional evaluation.
As of late July, roughly two thirds of Massachusetts was under active drought conditions according to the United States Drought Monitor, with the majority classified as moderate and a smaller portion at severe. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has issued a series of drought declarations since 2024, citing declining groundwater levels, reduced streamflow, and falling pond levels across nearly every region of the state. The Southeast Region, which includes much of the South Shore, was placed at a mild drought level in May.

Homeowners in the region generally associate deck movement with winter. Frost heave is the familiar mechanism, and the deep frost line that governs footing depth in Massachusetts reflects it. After several dry years, the more immediate concern for many properties is the opposite condition.
Wood loses moisture in sustained dry weather, and it changes dimension as it does. Boards shrink slightly across their width, which opens gaps that were tight when the deck was built. Surface checking appears as fine splits along the grain, and cupping or warping develops where one face has dried faster than the other. The same process affects framing lumber beneath the surface, and as framing members shrink, the fasteners and connectors holding them can loosen.
"The surface tells you the least," said Josh Steinman, Owner of EJS Deck and Home Solutions. "Composite and PVC do not change with moisture the way wood does, so a deck can look completely sound from above while the wood frame underneath has been moving for two summers."
Ground conditions are widely misunderstood in this market. Much of the published advice on drought and foundations describes soils with high clay content, which shrink substantially as they dry and swell again when moisture returns. Soils across the South Shore are largely coastal-plain sands and glacial till, which behave differently and are far less prone to that cycle. Movement is still possible where fill, silt, or organic material sits beneath a structure, and prolonged dry conditions can expose or undermine shallow footings, but the mechanism is not the shrink-and-swell pattern common in other parts of the country.
The guidance recommends that homeowners walk their deck and look for a small number of observable changes. Gaps between boards that have widened noticeably since the deck was installed indicate moisture loss in the decking. A railing that feels different underhand than it did the previous season suggests movement at a post connection. Stairs that have settled at one side, soft or eroded ground around a post base, or a visible gap where the deck meets the house are all worth noting.
Timing matters when assessing what is found. Wood moves with humidity throughout the season, and some apparent changes settle back after a period of normal conditions. The guidance suggests recording observations rather than acting on them immediately, and paying attention to what has not corrected itself after several weeks.
"Write it down and look again later," Steinman said. "Most of what people notice in August is seasonal. What matters is the thing that is still there in October."
When drought does break, the return of moisture introduces its own movement as soils re-wet and timber takes up water again. Structures that have been carrying loosened connections through a dry period can shift further during that transition, which is why the guidance treats the current period as a useful time for homeowners to establish a baseline.
Where framing damage proves extensive, targeted repair is often not the appropriate remedy. Deterioration at ledger connections, widespread checking through joists, or compromised post-to-footing connections generally call for rebuilding the structure rather than addressing individual components. EJS Deck and Home Solutions builds replacement structures in composite, PVC, and wood, and evaluates existing framing as part of planning any rebuild.
EJS Deck and Home Solutions is a family-owned deck and outdoor living contractor serving the South Shore of Massachusetts from offices in Hanson and Norwell. Founded in 2021 by Josh Steinman, who has worked in construction for more than two decades, the company builds custom decks along with porches, screened porches, pergolas, gazebos, patios, and outdoor kitchens. It is a member of the North American Deck and Railing Association.


 

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For more information about EJS Deck and Home Solutions, contact the company here:
EJS Deck and Home Solutions
Josh Steinman
+16173626621
josh@ejshomeimprovement.com
1000 Main St #208, Hanson, MA 02341, United States

Hemlock Decks & Porches Details Heat Effects on Composite Decking

WORCESTER, MA - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Following a July that set overnight temperature records across southern New England, Hemlock Decks & Porches has issued guidance on how sustained heat affects composite and PVC deck boards and on the installation requirements that determine whether a surface accommodates that movement.
The Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University reported that Providence tied its all-time warmest low temperature on record at 80 degrees during July, in a record extending back to 1904, and that the month was the only July on record there with a low of at least 80 degrees. Boston recorded a high of 101 degrees during the same period, and heat index values reached 118 degrees in parts of the region.

Composite and PVC deck boards change dimension with temperature, and manufacturers address that behavior through required gapping at board ends and where boards meet fixed objects. Those requirements are keyed to the temperature at the time of installation rather than to any single day's conditions. Trex publishes butt joint gapping that differs above and below 40 degrees for its composite lines, and specifies a larger clearance where boards meet a solid object such as a wall or post. TimberTech publishes temperature-based butt joint tables in its installation guide for the same reason.
The practical effect is that a board installed on a cold day is already contracted and requires a wider gap to accommodate later expansion, while a board installed during heat is closer to its expanded dimension and requires less. A deck gapped against the manufacturer's table for the installation temperature is built to absorb the full seasonal range. A deck gapped without reference to that table can reach the limits of its tolerance during sustained heat.
"Gapping is not a rule of thumb, it is a table, and the number changes with the temperature on the day the boards go down," said Teddy Labonte, Owner of Hemlock Decks & Porches. "A crew that gaps everything the same way regardless of conditions is guessing, and a hot July is when that guess gets tested."
The extent of movement varies between products. PVC boards, including the TimberTech AZEK line, exhibit greater thermal expansion than wood-plastic composite products, while mineral-based composite boards such as those produced by Deckorators show comparatively little dimensional change with temperature. Board width matters as well, since wider boards move more than narrower ones over the same temperature change. Hemlock Decks & Porches installs Trex, TimberTech by AZEK and Deckorators products, and sets gapping from the installation instructions for the specific product and fastener system rather than from a general figure.
Color also influences the temperature a board reaches. Darker boards absorb more solar radiation and reach higher surface temperatures than lighter boards of the same product under identical exposure.
Fastening method is addressed directly in manufacturer guidance, and the requirement is more specific than a general preference for concealed systems. The TimberTech composite installation guide advises that in areas of high heat build or sunlight, tighter joist spacing of six to eight inches maximum be used along with additional framing, and that top-down fastening rather than concealed fastening be used in those locations. Following the guidance for the product and the exposure is what preserves warranty coverage, since manufacturer warranties are written on the assumption that the installation instructions were followed.
Framing material behaves differently from the decking above it. Wood framing responds primarily to moisture content rather than temperature, and its dimensional change along the length of a joist is comparatively small. Metal framing responds to temperature, with aluminum expanding more than steel over the same increase. The interaction between decking and substructure is therefore not uniform across framing types.
Joist spacing affects performance under heat for reasons beyond fastening. Closer spacing reduces the unsupported span between bearing points, which limits deflection in a board that has warmed, and manufacturers specify tighter spacing for diagonal installations and areas of concentrated heat.
"Most of the calls we get after a heat wave are about boards that were installed tight or fastened the wrong way for the exposure," Labonte said. "The material did what the manufacturer said it would do. The installation did not leave it anywhere to go."
Boards that have shifted out of alignment, gaps that have closed completely, or fasteners that have worked loose can be evaluated against the manufacturer's requirements for that product. Hemlock Decks & Porches provides deck repair, resurfacing and full replacement where board movement has affected alignment, fastening or the connections beneath.


 

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For more information about Hemlock Decks Porches and Home Additions, contact the company here:
Hemlock Decks Porches and Home Additions
Hemlock Contracting
+17745250509
support@deckfencemarketers.com
24 Everard St, Worcester, MA 01605, United States

Backyard Builders Announces Guidance on Decking Materials and Regional Moisture

LYMAN, SC - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Decking materials respond differently to sustained moisture, and federal research places the southeastern United States in the highest hazard zone in the continental country for decay of wood exposed above ground. Backyard Builders Decks and Outdoor Living has outlined how those regional conditions factor into material selection for new deck projects.
The USDA Forest Products Laboratory publishes climate index values for estimating decay hazard to wood exposed outdoors above ground, calculated from National Climatic Data Center records for locations across the country. Values below 35 indicate little decay risk, values between 35 and 70 indicate moderate risk, and values above 70 indicate high risk. Regions that combine high rainfall with a mild climate carry the greatest hazard, a description that covers both the Southeast and the Pacific Northwest.

Those conditions apply year round rather than seasonally. Warm temperatures and frequent precipitation together create the environment in which decay develops, which means the exposure a deck faces is a function of regional climate rather than of any single wet stretch. Material selection accounts for that sustained condition.
Wood, composite and PVC decking respond to moisture in different ways. Pressure-treated wood absorbs and releases water as humidity and precipitation change through the year, and the boards expand and contract accordingly. Cedar and redwood contain natural oils that resist moisture absorption more effectively than untreated lumber, though prolonged wet exposure still affects them. Denser hardwood species including ipe, tigerwood and cumaru limit moisture penetration through grain structure, and manufacturers of those products publish maintenance schedules distinct from those written for softwoods.
Composite and PVC boards absorb less water than solid wood because of their manufactured composition, and manufacturers publish product-specific gapping and installation requirements that account for the difference. Actual performance varies by formulation, species, installation method and manufacturer specification, which is why material guidance is established per product rather than per category.
"Two decks built with the same boards can perform very differently depending on what the site does with water," said Jason White, owner of Backyard Builders Decks and Outdoor Living. "Shade, airflow underneath and which way the yard drains change the exposure, so material selection has to start with the site rather than with a sample."
Site conditions shape that exposure directly. Properties with limited airflow beneath the deck, heavy tree canopy or northern orientation retain moisture longer than open, south-facing sites. A structure built close to grade holds humidity differently than an elevated one with open space beneath it. Those differences influence board spacing, ventilation and grading alongside the choice of material itself.
Framing materials respond to moisture at different rates as well. Wood, steel, aluminum and composite framing each behave differently under sustained exposure, and framing selection is made to suit both the decking material above it and the drainage conditions of the property. Because framing is concealed once decking is installed, decisions made at that stage are not readily revisited later.
Structural fasteners and connectors sit within the same exposure. Hardware selection is specified alongside framing material rather than treated as a separate consideration, since connection points carry load and remain in contact with treated lumber over the service life of the structure.
Deck design and consultation is the stage at which those variables are assessed. A property assessment establishes how the site handles water, what the orientation and canopy conditions are, and how the intended structure will sit relative to grade. Three-dimensional models and two-dimensional plans are produced before material is ordered, so that the specification reflects site conditions rather than being adjusted during construction.
Maintenance requirements follow from the material selected. Wood decks are cleaned, sealed and stained on a recurring cycle to manage moisture absorption, and the interval depends on exposure as much as on age. Exotic hardwoods follow separate schedules from softwoods and pressure-treated lumber. Composite and PVC surfaces have their own cleaning requirements published by their manufacturers.
Periodic inspection applies across all materials. Early moisture-related wear appears on the surface before it reaches framing and connections, and identifying it at that stage keeps the work within the scope of cleaning, sealing or board replacement rather than structural repair. Existing decks that have gone several seasons without inspection are the ones where surface wear and structural wear are most easily confused.


 

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For more information about Backyard Builders Decks and Outdoor Living, contact the company here:
Backyard Builders Decks and Outdoor Living
Jason white
+18647401274
jason@backyardbuildersdeck.com
200 Newman Dr, Lyman, SC 29365, United States

Deck It Details Tree Condition Checks as Drought Enters Third Year

BURLINGTON, MA - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Deck It, a Massachusetts deck builder specializing in composite and PVC construction, has outlined how tree condition is being weighed during site assessment for new deck projects as the state enters a third consecutive year of drought. The company said the trees standing over and around a proposed deck location have become a more prominent part of the conversation than in normal years.
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has reported that the current drought began in 2024 and has produced declining groundwater across nearly all regions of the state. In March 2026, the Central and Northeast Regions were declared to be in Level 3 Critical Drought following limited groundwater recharge over the winter. U.S. Drought Monitor data showed approximately 67 percent of Massachusetts under active drought conditions in late July.

The relevance to deck construction is a matter of timing rather than immediacy. According to a UMass Extension fact sheet on long-term drought effects on trees and shrubs, the visible symptoms of drought are only part of the picture, and the more consequential effects often appear well afterward. The publication describes delayed secondary effects including Armillaria root rot, an opportunistic soil fungus that invades roots weakened by stress. In large trees with extensive root systems, symptoms of decline may not appear until half the root system has been killed, which the fact sheet notes can occur several years after the original drought event.
That timeline matters for a structure with a service life measured in decades. A tree that appeared healthy when a deck was built in 2023 may be in a different condition now, and a tree that appears healthy today may be carrying stress that has not yet surfaced.
"When we walk a property, we are looking at what is over the space as much as what is under it," said Patrick Byrne, co-founder of Deck It. "A homeowner is thinking about where the sun hits and where the door comes out. Part of our job is to also look up and note what is standing there and how close it is."
Deck It said the company assesses the deck and the site, not the trees themselves, and refers questions about tree health or condition to a certified arborist. The distinction matters because evaluating whether a specific tree is sound requires training the company does not hold and does not claim.
Where tree condition does affect the company's work is in siting decisions. The position of a deck relative to mature trees influences the layout, the available footprint and how much of the yard remains usable once the structure is in place. Root systems also factor into where footings can reasonably be excavated, since digging within the root zone of a large tree presents complications that a more open portion of a property does not.
Shade is the other consideration, and it cuts both ways. Existing canopy is frequently the reason a particular corner of a yard is comfortable in July, and a design can be planned around it. But that cover is not permanent. Trees grow, are pruned, decline or are removed, and a space that depends entirely on a neighboring tree for afternoon relief is subject to changes outside the property owner's control.
"We have had homeowners tell us the spot they picked is the only shaded part of the yard," said Jake Zbikowski, co-founder of Deck It. "That is worth knowing before the design is finished, because if that shade is coming from one tree, the plan should not assume it will be there in fifteen years."
Existing decks raise a related question. Changes to the surrounding landscape accumulate quietly over time, and a deck built with a particular canopy overhead may now sit under something considerably larger, or under nothing at all. Homeowners evaluating an addition or a change in layout are reassessing the property as it stands rather than as it stood at the time of the original build.
Deck It said site conditions are reviewed during the design phase, before framing begins. The company produces a three-dimensional design during that stage, which allows a proposed layout to be reviewed against the actual property, including existing tree cover and how it falls across the space through the day.
The company added that the current conditions do not change how a deck is built, but they do reinforce the case for evaluating each property on its own terms rather than applying a standard approach across a region.
Founded in 2017 and focused exclusively on decking since 2021, Deck It designs and builds custom decks, porches and sunrooms for residential and commercial properties across Central Massachusetts and the MetroWest region, operating from a showroom in Bolton. Services include new deck construction, deck replacement, framing, railing systems, deck lighting and under-deck drainage. The company is a TimberTech Platinum Pro and Trex Pro Platinum contractor and a member of the North American Deck and Railing Association. In 2025 the company was named Top Contractor of the Northeast by TimberTech, an award recognizing volume of TimberTech products installed.


 

###
For more information about Deck It , contact the company here:
Deck It - Burlington
Deck It Marketing
+19789714455
marketing@deckitnow.com
1500 District Ave, Burlington, MA 01803, United States
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WJC Decks and Remodeling Details Shade Design After Summer Heat Wave

ANDOVER, MN - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
WJC Decks and Remodeling has issued design guidance on shade planning for residential outdoor living spaces, following a July heat stretch that left many Minnesota decks and patios unusable through the middle of the day.
The guidance follows a mid-July period in which parts of Minnesota recorded ten consecutive days at or above 90 degrees, according to National Weather Service data, contributing to flash drought conditions across much of the state. During that stretch, outdoor spaces without overhead structures went largely unused between late morning and early evening, compressing usable hours into a narrow window at either end of the day.

The company, based in Andover, notes that whether an outdoor space remains usable in those conditions is largely settled before construction begins. Sun exposure across the property, the orientation of the house, and the way a household intends to use the space determine where shade is needed and what form it should take. Those decisions are difficult to revisit once framing is complete.
"Shade is a framing decision, not a furniture decision," said Phil Haluptzok, Owner of WJC Decks and Remodeling. "Once the posts are set, the options narrow considerably. Walking the yard at different times of day before anything is drawn tends to change where people want the structure to sit."
Pergolas remain the most common approach. Attached pergolas extend from the house over a deck or patio and draw on the existing structure for support. Freestanding versions cover open yard areas away from the home, which allows the structure to be positioned according to where shade is actually needed rather than where the house happens to sit. Classic designs filter light through spaced rafters, meaning the degree of coverage is settled at the time of construction. Fixed louvered systems, including Struxure, angle slats to block more direct sunlight while allowing air to continue moving through the structure.
Covered decks and covered porches provide fuller overhead protection from both sun and rain. That additional coverage can extend the use of a space beyond the summer months into spring and autumn, when conditions in the region become less predictable and shelter from rain matters as much as shelter from sun. Screened porches, three-season rooms, and sunrooms enclose the area further, adding protection from insects and wind alongside shade, with each option offering a different balance between enclosure and openness.
At ground level, covered patios serve a comparable function for spaces built directly on grade. Privacy screens positioned along a perimeter address a related problem, since low-angle light from the east and west arrives beneath overhead structures and is not resolved by a roof or a pergola alone. Screens placed along the sides of a deck or patio reduce that side light during the hours when the sun sits closest to the horizon.
Orientation is frequently the deciding factor in how well any of these structures perform. A structure placed to shelter a west-facing yard through the afternoon sits differently than one intended to cover a space used primarily in the morning. The same footprint can produce noticeably different results depending on where it lands relative to the house and which direction the space opens toward. Mature trees, neighbouring rooflines, and the height of the deck itself all shift the calculation further.
The company incorporates that assessment into its on-site consultation, which covers measurements, the homeowner's intended use of the space, and a realistic scope and timeline before design work begins. Design follows, with permit acquisition, foundation preparation, construction, and a final inspection completing the process. Considering shade at the consultation stage rather than after construction allows the structure to be sized and positioned alongside the deck or patio layout, instead of being fitted to a footprint that was settled without it.
Material and structure choices also interact with the surrounding site. A pergola that sits well on a level lot may need different foundation support on a sloped one, and the same shade structure can require a different approach depending on ground conditions across the property. Those factors are typically identified during the site visit rather than at the point of construction.
WJC Decks and Remodeling is a family-owned deck and outdoor living contractor founded in 2016, serving Andover and the surrounding north metro. The company designs and builds composite and PVC decks along with porches, pergolas, patios, privacy screens, and other outdoor structures, with all work handled by its own crews from consultation through final walkthrough.


 

###
For more information about WJC Decks and Remodeling, contact the company here:
WJC Decks and Remodeling
Phil Haluptzok
+16129771197
wjcremodeling@gmail.com
7JF8+3G Andover, Minnesota, USA

Deck It Details Shade Planning After Repeated Summer Heat Waves

FRAMINGHAM, MA - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Deck It, a Massachusetts deck builder specializing in composite and PVC construction, has outlined how shade planning and site orientation are being weighed earlier in outdoor living design following a summer of repeated heat waves across the state. The company said homeowners are raising questions during the design phase about how a proposed space will perform during the hottest hours of the day, rather than after construction is complete.
Boston recorded back-to-back days of triple-digit temperatures in early July. NBC10 Boston reported that back-to-back 100-degree days had occurred only three times previously in the city's recorded history, in 1911, 1919 and 1944. According to the National Weather Service, the July 2 high broke the daily record of 98 degrees set in 1963.

The heat was not confined to a single stretch. WBUR reported in mid-July that the season had become the hottest meteorological summer in Boston's recorded history to that point, and that the city had already reached its typical annual total of roughly 12 days at or above 90 degrees. The National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention placed much of southern New England under major to extreme heat risk during the early July period, when heat index values across Middlesex, Worcester and Norfolk counties ranged from 105 to 112 degrees.
A second heat wave followed roughly two weeks later, with forecast highs near 97 degrees. By definition in New England, a heat wave requires three consecutive days at or above 90 degrees, and the region cleared that threshold more than once during the season.
For outdoor living design, conditions of that kind change which questions come up first. Because the sun tracks westward across the sky through the course of the day, a deck on the western side of a house takes direct exposure during the late afternoon and evening, while an eastern exposure receives its direct sun in the morning. Deck It said that difference is significant because the late afternoon and evening are the hours most households actually use an outdoor space.
"Orientation is not a detail people bring up on their own, but it decides whether the space gets used," said Jake Zbikowski, co-founder of Deck It. "A homeowner can put real money into a deck and then find they sit on it twice a month because it is in full sun exactly when they want to be outside."
Shade in a deck project is a structural decision rather than a decorative one. A screened porch or a roofed structure carries weight that an open deck does not, including the roof assembly itself and, in New England, seasonal snow load. Deck It said that unless a deck was originally framed with that additional load accounted for, adding cover later typically requires structural work below the surface rather than an addition built on top of the existing frame.
Deck It said the design phase is where those decisions are made. The company produces a three-dimensional design during that stage, allowing a proposed layout to be reviewed against the actual property, including how the house, existing tree cover and neighboring structures fall across the space at different hours.
"We would rather have the conversation about sun and shade before anything is framed," said Patrick Byrne, co-founder of Deck It. "Once the frame is up, the options narrow considerably, and the fix becomes more work than doing it correctly the first time."
Multi-level layouts offer another approach. Separating a deck into levels can place a dining area under cover while leaving an open section for the parts of the day when sun is welcome. Privacy screens, typically installed to interrupt a sightline from a neighboring property, also cast shade depending on placement and orientation, and can serve both functions when positioned during design.
Screened porches and sunrooms extend the same reasoning. A screened structure trades some light and openness for shelter from sun, rain and insects, which affects how many hours of the day and how many weeks of the year the space stays comfortable. A sunroom, enclosed in glass rather than screen, changes the calculation again and functions across more of the year.
Existing tree canopy is a further variable. Mature trees provide shade that a design can be planned around, but that cover shifts as trees grow, are pruned or are removed, and a space that depends entirely on a neighboring tree for afternoon relief is subject to changes outside the property owner's control.
Existing decks present a related question. Homeowners considering an addition or a change in layout may find that the reconfiguration alters which sections receive direct exposure, and that a space which worked at one size performs differently once expanded or divided.
Timing also factors in. Projects intended for use during the following summer are generally planned well ahead of the season, since design, permitting and construction each occupy their own portion of the schedule before a finished space is available.
Deck It said the heat has also prompted questions about decking surfaces, though the company noted that surface temperature varies by product line, color and exposure, and that manufacturer documentation remains the appropriate reference for any specific comparison.
Founded in 2017 and focused exclusively on decking since 2021, Deck It designs and builds custom decks, porches and sunrooms for residential and commercial properties across Central Massachusetts and the MetroWest region, operating from a showroom in Bolton. The company is a TimberTech Platinum Pro and Trex Pro Platinum contractor and a member of the North American Deck and Railing Association. In 2025 the company was named Top Contractor of the Northeast by TimberTech, an award recognizing volume of TimberTech products installed.


 

###
For more information about Deck It, contact the company here:
Deck It - Framingham
Deck It Marketing
+19789337290
marketing@deckitnow.com
945 Concord St, Framingham, MA 01701, United States
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Cedarbrook Deck & Patio Addresses Drought Impact on Footing Stability

MT AIRY, MD - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Cedarbrook Deck & Patio is advising Maryland homeowners to watch for signs of ground movement beneath decks, porches and patios following months of drought across the state. The company, which builds outdoor living structures in central Maryland, reports that seasonal soil movement is among the more common causes of changes homeowners notice in structures that were built correctly and have performed well for years.
The U.S. Drought Monitor recorded roughly 71 percent of Maryland in drought as of mid-July 2026, with severe conditions across the central portion of the state. Federal drought impact reporting for the period covering mid-June through mid-July documented agricultural effects in Frederick County, one of the two counties that meet at Mount Airy. Conditions across the Mid-Atlantic ran warmer than normal through the spring, and dry weather persisted into the summer months.

Prolonged dry weather draws moisture out of the ground. Clay-heavy Piedmont soils, common across the Frederick and Carroll County area, lose volume as they dry. That volume change can transfer into the footings and posts carrying an outdoor structure, and the effect is gradual enough that it usually goes unnoticed while it is happening.
Recovery is rarely uniform. When rainfall returns, soil takes on moisture at different rates depending on drainage, slope, shade, and what sits above it. A yard can absorb water quickly in one corner and slowly in another, and ground that has been through a full dry cycle does not always return to precisely where it started.
Homeowners typically notice the result before they notice the cause. A gate that no longer latches cleanly, a railing slightly out of plumb, a patio joint that has opened, or a section of decking that has developed a low spot are all worth a closer look after a dry season. So is a set of stairs that feels different underfoot than it did in the spring.
"People assume something has gone wrong with the deck itself," said Mike Arneson Jr., Owner and President of Cedarbrook Deck & Patio. "Often the deck is doing exactly what it was built to do, and the ground underneath it has changed. That is a different problem with a different answer, and it is worth knowing which one is in front of you before spending money on the wrong fix."
Arneson holds a deck evaluation and inspection certification through the North American Deck and Railing Association, a credential covering the assessment of existing structures rather than new construction alone.
The foundation method plays into how a structure responds to seasonal ground movement. Cedarbrook builds on helical piers, Diamond Piers and traditional concrete footings, and the selection depends on conditions at the individual site rather than on a standard approach applied everywhere. Slope, drainage, depth to rock and the composition of the soil itself all factor into that decision at the design stage.
Ground conditions in the Piedmont region can vary considerably across short distances. A single property can contain more than one soil type, and the difference between two lots on the same street is often greater than homeowners expect.
"Two houses a few doors apart can sit on noticeably different ground," Arneson said. "That is not unusual here. It is the reason a method that works well on one site is not automatically the right call on the next one, and it is why the site assessment matters more than most people realize."
The company suggests that homeowners with structures more than a few years old walk the perimeter after an extended dry stretch. Gaps that have opened at the base of posts, changes in how doors and gates operate, settling visible at the bottom of stairs, and separation where a patio meets a walkway are all straightforward to spot without special equipment.
Timing carries some weight as well. Ground that has been through a dry summer heads into the autumn and winter months, when moisture returns and temperatures cycle above and below freezing. Movement that began during a drought does not necessarily stop when the rain does, which is one reason late summer is a practical point in the year to take stock of an existing structure.
Publicly available data can help homeowners understand their own property. The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service publishes soil survey information by address through its Web Soil Survey, including drainage characteristics and shrink-swell potential for specific soil series. The service is free and covers the Mount Airy area in detail.


Cedarbrook Deck & Patio is a family-owned design and build firm founded in 2006, serving homeowners in Frederick, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery and Washington counties in central Maryland. The company designs and builds decks, porches, patios and related outdoor living structures.

###
For more information about Cedarbrook Deck & Patio, contact the company here:
Cedarbrook Deck & Patio
Cedarbrook Deck & Patio
+13019018890
office@cedarbrookinc.com
2303 Back Acre Cir, Mt Airy, MD 21771, United States
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Deck and Patio TuneUp Updates Material Guidance for Humid Conditions

WILMINGTON, NC - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Deck and Patio TuneUp has updated the guidance it provides to property owners on decking material selection, citing NOAA's August 6, 2026 hurricane season outlook revision and the extended humid period it implies for the southeastern North Carolina coast. The licensed North Carolina general contractor says exposure duration, rather than rainfall volume, is the condition that most often separates materials that perform locally from those that do not.
NOAA raised the probability of a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season from 55 percent to 75 percent in its August update, attributing the revision to a very strong El Niño pattern expected to persist through the fall. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center places the probability of that pattern continuing through the December 2026 to February 2027 period at 96 percent, and El Niño is historically associated with wetter cool-season conditions across the Southeast. NOAA states that the outlook is a general guide to overall seasonal activity and is not a landfall forecast.

For outdoor structures, the practical consequence is a longer period of elevated moisture rather than a shorter period of severe weather. That distinction matters at the point of material selection, because materials respond differently to sustained exposure than they do to intermittent exposure.
The underlying mechanism is documented in published technical literature. The USDA Forest Products Laboratory reports that wood decay fungi become active once wood moisture content remains sustained above a threshold level, which means the duration of wetting governs deterioration more than the quantity of water involved. A surface that dries fully between wetting events behaves differently from one that does not, even when both receive identical rainfall.
The American Wood Protection Association use category system reflects the same principle in how it classifies exposure. Above-ground applications and ground-contact applications are specified separately, with different preservative retention levels required for each, because the two positions differ in how long a member stays wet and how readily it dries afterward.
"The material that suits a property is decided by the conditions at that property, not by what looks right in a sample," said Mark Pacheco, Co-Owner of Deck and Patio TuneUp. "Two houses on the same street can present different exposures, and that changes the specification."
Site conditions vary considerably across the region. The Natural Resources Conservation Service publishes drainage classifications for individual soil series through its Web Soil Survey, and soils across southeastern North Carolina range from excessively drained sands to poorly drained flats, sometimes within a single subdivision. Drainage class affects how long the ground beneath a structure holds water after rainfall, which in turn affects the moisture environment surrounding the framing above it.
Elevation, airflow and sun exposure produce further variation within a single property. A section of deck with restricted air movement beneath it holds moisture longer than an exposed section receiving the same rainfall, and a shaded portion of a structure dries more slowly than a portion in direct sun. Those differences occur across distances measured in feet rather than miles.
Material categories differ in composition, and those differences determine how each responds to moisture. Pressure-treated lumber and dense tropical hardwoods are both wood but differ in density and grain structure. Composite decking combines wood fiber with polymer. PVC decking contains no wood content. The performance characteristics of any specific product are documented in that manufacturer's published technical data and, where applicable, in evaluation reports issued by ICC Evaluation Service, which assesses products against defined criteria including moisture behavior.
Deck and Patio TuneUp install composite, PVC, pressure-treated wood and hardwood decking, and select among them according to the exposure conditions present at each site rather than applying a single default specification across every project.
The same reasoning applies below the walking surface, where conditions differ from those above it. Ground-level areas beneath a deck experience slower air movement and later drying than the exposed surface, and framing occupies that zone continuously rather than seasonally. Under decking systems channel water away from the framing beneath an elevated deck, reducing the duration of moisture contact on the structural members below while creating dry usable space at ground level.
Deck and Patio TuneUp evaluates existing structures through its deck repair and assessment work, distinguishing surface weathering from structural change rather than treating the two as a single condition. A structure can show substantial surface wear while remaining sound, or present an acceptable surface while its supporting members have begun to deteriorate. Separating those two conditions determines the scope of any work that follows.
Deck and Patio TuneUp is a licensed North Carolina general contractor that designs and builds custom decks, porches, pergolas and outdoor living structures for residential and commercial properties throughout southeastern North Carolina. The company was founded in 2013 and provides 3D design, permit acquisition and dedicated project management across the projects it builds.


 

###
For more information about Deck and Patio TuneUp, contact the company here:
Deck and Patio TuneUp - Hampstead
Mark Pacheco
+19106657511
markapacheco@gmail.com
311 Judges Rd #1c, Wilmington, NC 28405, United States

Deck and Patio TuneUp Updates Substructure Guidance for Wetter Season

WILMINGTON, NC - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Deck and Patio TuneUp has updated the guidance it provides to property owners regarding deck substructure condition, following NOAA's August 6, 2026 revision of its Atlantic hurricane season outlook. The company, a licensed North Carolina general contractor, says the revised outlook shifts the practical priority for coastal outdoor structures away from wind resistance and toward sustained moisture exposure.
NOAA raised the probability of a below-normal Atlantic hurricane season from 55 percent to 75 percent in its August update, with a 20 percent chance of a near-normal season and a 5 percent chance of above-normal activity. The agency attributed the revision to a very strong El Niño pattern expected to persist through the fall. NOAA states that the outlook is a general guide to overall seasonal activity, is not a landfall forecast, and does not predict levels of activity for any particular location.

The same climate pattern carries a secondary implication for outdoor structures. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center places the probability of El Niño continuing through the December 2026 to February 2027 period at 96 percent, and the pattern is historically associated with wetter cool-season conditions across the Southeast. A season with fewer high-wind events does not reduce the total water exposure a deck absorbs. It redistributes that exposure across a longer stretch of the calendar.
That distinction matters because the two exposure types affect a structure in different ways. Wind damage tends to be visible, and visible damage prompts repair. Moisture damage accumulates below the walking surface, where it is not observed until it has progressed far enough to reach the deck boards above it.
According to the USDA Forest Products Laboratory, wood decay fungi become active once wood moisture content remains sustained above a threshold level, which means prolonged periods of elevated humidity produce more cumulative deterioration than individual rainfall events. The American Wood Protection Association use category system classifies above-ground exposure and ground-contact exposure separately for this reason, specifying different preservative retention levels for each. The distinction reflects how differently a structural member performs depending on how long it stays wet and how readily it dries.
"The framing carries the load, not the boards, and the framing is the part nobody looks at," said Mark Pacheco, Co-Owner of Deck and Patio TuneUp. "A quieter storm season tends to make people less attentive to their outdoor structures, and this year that is the opposite of what conditions call for."
The regions of a substructure most affected by sustained moisture are those where air circulation is restricted and water drains slowly. Restricted airflow extends the period during which a structural member holds moisture, and that duration, rather than the volume of water involved, is what governs whether deterioration begins. Areas that dry quickly between wetting events behave differently from those that remain damp for extended periods, even when both receive the same rainfall.
Soil conditions influence the same process. The Natural Resources Conservation Service publishes drainage classifications for individual soil series through its Web Soil Survey, and soils across southeastern North Carolina range from excessively drained sands to poorly drained flats, sometimes within a single subdivision. Two properties on the same street can present substantially different moisture conditions at ground level, which affects how long the lower portion of a structure stays wet after rainfall.
Deck and Patio TuneUp evaluates these conditions as part of its deck repair and assessment work, which distinguishes surface weathering from structural change rather than treating the two as a single category. A deck can show significant surface wear while remaining structurally sound, and a deck can present an acceptable surface while its supporting members have begun to deteriorate. Separating the two determines whether a project is a repair or a replacement.
Water management is the corresponding consideration in new construction. Under decking systems channel water away from the framing beneath an elevated deck, reducing the duration of moisture contact on the structural members below and creating usable dry space at ground level. On raised coastal homes, that area is frequently unused, and directing water away from the framing addresses the moisture exposure and the space at the same time.
Material selection carries similar weight. Composite and PVC decking behave differently from wood in sustained humidity, and the difference is a function of composition rather than of appearance. Deck and Patio TuneUp install composite, PVC, pressure-treated wood and hardwood decking, with the specification determined by the exposure conditions present at a given site.
Deck and Patio TuneUp is a licensed North Carolina general contractor that designs and builds custom decks, porches, pergolas and outdoor living structures for residential and commercial properties throughout southeastern North Carolina. The company was founded in 2013 and provides 3D design, permit acquisition and dedicated project management across the projects it builds.


 

###
For more information about Deck and Patio TuneUp, contact the company here:
Deck and Patio TuneUp - Wilmington
Jeff Hamilton
+19106657511
deckandpatiotuneup@gmail.com
311 Judges Rd #1c, Wilmington, NC 28405, United States

Woodridge Deck & Gazebo Co. Updates Shade Structure Guidance

SCHAUMBURG, IL - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Woodridge Deck & Gazebo Co. has updated the design guidance it provides to property owners following a July heat event in which overnight conditions, rather than daytime highs, proved the more difficult factor for outdoor spaces. The company, a TimberTech Platinum contractor and Deckorators Certified Elite installer, now weights evening ventilation alongside daytime sun control when specifying covered structures.
The revision follows documented conditions across the region. Illinois State Climatologist Trent Ford reported that during the first week of July 2026, high temperatures reached the mid-90s with heat index values climbing past 100, and identified the persistent humidity and warm nights as the more remarkable feature of the event rather than the afternoon peaks. Ford noted that Chicago recorded more than 60 consecutive hours with heat index values above 80 degrees. The atmospheric ridge responsible for the heat also suppressed rainfall through the same period, leaving surfaces dry as well as warm.

Regional climate data provides additional context for why the effect is felt unevenly across the metropolitan area. The Illinois State Water Survey documents that urban areas across northeastern Illinois average roughly two degrees warmer than surrounding rural land, with the difference most pronounced overnight, when built surfaces release heat absorbed during the day. The same source describes the moderating influence of Lake Michigan on communities near the shoreline, where lake breezes provide relief from summer heat that does not extend as reliably to areas further inland. Communities across the northwest suburbs sit far enough from the lake that they receive less of that moderating effect.
Longer-term records indicate the pattern is not isolated to a single season. The Illinois State Water Survey reports that summer has accounted for most of the increase in precipitation across northern and central Illinois, and that the frequency of very hot days in northern Illinois is projected to rise substantially over the coming decades. Warm nights are among the changes documented alongside the daytime figures that receive more attention.
The practical consequence for outdoor structures is a matter of timing rather than tolerance. Materials that absorb heat through the day release it more slowly when air temperatures remain elevated after sunset. That affects when a covered space becomes comfortable in the evening rather than whether it does at all. A structure that can be opened after dark ventilates differently from one that remains closed, and that difference is more noticeable during a stretch of consecutive warm nights than during an isolated hot afternoon.
"For most of the years we have been building, shade was a question in the middle of the afternoon," said Eric Hoffman, owner of Woodridge Deck & Gazebo Co. "What we saw in July was different. The daytime numbers were high, but the nights were what people noticed. If a structure cannot open up after dark, the space stays warm longer than the weather alone would explain."
The updated guidance centers on adjustable and openable systems. Louvered pergolas with operable louvers, whether motorized or manually adjusted, allow a covered area to be closed against direct sun during peak hours and opened after sunset once the angle of the sun is no longer the governing factor. Screen rooms and screened porches occupy a position between open-air and fully enclosed construction, retaining airflow while providing a barrier. Retractable systems allow coverage to be deployed during a heat event and withdrawn when conditions moderate, which suits a climate where individual weeks vary considerably.
Fixed-roof structures remain appropriate where continuous overhead protection is the objective, and the company continues to build pavilions, covered porches, and permanent patio covers for that purpose. In those cases the evaluation shifts to how the sides of the structure are treated, since openable or screened sides change how air moves beneath a permanent roof. Orientation matters as well, because the direction a structure faces determines which hours of direct sun it receives and how quickly the surrounding surfaces shed accumulated heat once the sun drops.
The company reports that the change has affected the design stage more than the construction stage. Layout, orientation, and the choice between fixed and adjustable overhead systems are settled during planning, when 3D renderings and floor plans are produced, rather than after a structure is standing.
"The question we ask now is what the structure does at nine at night, not just at two in the afternoon," Hoffman said. "That is a different conversation than the one we were having ten years ago, and it changes which system fits a particular property."


Woodridge Deck & Gazebo Co. is a family-owned builder of custom decks, gazebos, pergolas, pavilions, porches, and sunrooms serving communities across the Chicago area. The company is a TimberTech Platinum contractor and a Deckorators Certified Elite installer, handles local permitting in-house, and maintains a showroom where property owners can view and select materials.

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For more information about Woodridge Deck & Gazebo Co., contact the company here:
Woodridge Deck & Gazebo Co.
Cristina B
+18472500086
chicagocristy@gmail.com
2246 Palmer Dr #101, Schaumburg, IL 60173, United States

Dr.Decks Outlines How Public Soil Survey Data Guides Deck Framing Choices

TACOMA, WA - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Dr.Decks, a custom deck builder founded in 1991, has outlined how publicly available soil survey data can inform footing and framing decisions for residential decks across the Puget Sound lowland, where glacial deposits vary sharply between neighboring properties.
The glacial history of western Washington left a layered patchwork of material beneath the region. Pierce County Public Works documents that Vashon still predominates in the level to hilly topography of Fircrest, University Place, Steilacoom and the northern portions of the City of Tacoma, while Vashon outwash occurs across the remaining, more rolling areas of the basin. The same documentation notes that glacial deposits in the area extend to considerable depth, with the thickness of the upper layer ranging widely from one location to the next.

Guidance published by Washington State University Extension describes the structure of a typical till profile in more detail. The upper portion is relatively permeable and has drained freely since the glaciers retreated. The lower portion is a very dense and nearly impermeable basal till, often called hardpan, which usually appears 20 to 40 inches below the surface. Water moves readily through the upper horizon and then meets a layer it cannot pass through.
Those conditions carry practical consequences for any structure anchored to the ground. Engineering literature on glacial till in the Puget Lowland describes the material as a very dense, silty, gravelly sand with scattered cobbles and boulders, generally difficult to excavate and frequently requiring ripping. The same research notes that because of its load-deformation characteristics, it can provide excellent support for structures, while also observing that it can be satisfactorily compacted only during dry weather, a characteristic that restricts its usability across the region.
"The ground changes from one street to the next here, and sometimes within a single lot," said Jason Russell, owner of Dr.Decks. "Two footings ten feet apart can sit in completely different material. That is something to establish during design rather than discover during construction."
Homeowners can review the soil classifications mapped for their own parcel through the Web Soil Survey maintained by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, which publishes drainage class, depth to any restrictive layer, and related properties by location. The same underlying data is used by engineers, planners and public agencies across Pierce County. The Washington Geological Survey publishes surficial geology mapping for the region that covers the distribution of till, outwash and non-glacial deposits in greater detail.
The variation is not limited to glacial material. Pierce County documentation identifies non-glacial strata in the area that include floodplain sediments along with mineral and organic deposits associated with former lakes and bogs. Those fine-grained layers tend to be more uniform than glacial outwash but carry lower permeability, which affects how water behaves beneath a structure built above them. Properties near the region's many creeks, lakes and low-lying basins may sit on materially different ground than a property a short distance uphill.
Seasonal timing compounds the effect. The South Puget Sound receives sustained rainfall across the autumn and winter months, followed by a comparatively dry summer. Soil that holds moisture through the wet season and then dries out has a measurable influence on the environment immediately beneath a deck, where airflow is often restricted and evaporation is slower than in open ground.
Ground conditions also influence material selection above the framing. Where soil retains moisture through the long wet season, the structure sits above a persistent source of humidity for months at a time. Dr.Decks specifies composite and PVC decking alongside wood, matching the surface material to the elevation, airflow and moisture exposure of each site rather than applying a single standard to every project. Elevation above grade, the degree of shading, proximity to standing water and the amount of air circulation beneath the frame all factor into that assessment.
"A deck is a structure before it is a surface," Russell said. "The decisions that determine how it holds up over twenty years are mostly made before anyone opens a box of boards."
The company incorporates 3D design modeling into its planning process, allowing property owners to see how a proposed structure sits on the site and how framing and material choices work together against the conditions their particular lot presents. Layout, elevation changes and the relationship between the structure and the surrounding grade are reviewed at that stage, when adjustments remain straightforward. Permits for deck construction in the area are obtained through Pierce County or the City of Tacoma depending on the property.
Dr.Decks is a family-owned deck and outdoor living contractor founded in 1991 by Jason Russell, serving Tacoma and the surrounding South Puget Sound region. The company designs and builds custom decks, porches, pergolas and outdoor living structures, and is known for shaping composite and PVC boards into curves through a process called deck board bending.


 

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For more information about Dr.Decks, contact the company here:
Dr.Decks
Jason Russell
+12535287303
drdecksog@gmail.com
4440 S 49th St, Tacoma, WA 98409, United States

Alki Deck Builders Adds Sun Exposure Modeling to Deck Design Process

SEATTLE, WA - September 02, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - 
Alki Deck Builders has added sun exposure and shadow modeling to the 3D design stage of its deck projects, allowing property owners to see how a structure's orientation will affect the finished space before construction begins. The addition addresses a design factor that most homeowners encounter only after a deck is built and in use.
Orientation determines how much direct sun a deck surface receives and at what point in the day it arrives. South-facing decks take the longest cumulative exposure across the summer months, with sun tracking across the surface for the greatest number of hours. West-facing sections absorb concentrated late-afternoon sun at a low angle, often peaking during the hours a household is most likely to be outside.

East-facing and north-facing areas receive considerably less direct sun and stay cooler through the day. On sloped and irregular lots, which are common across the Seattle area, a single deck can contain sections facing three different directions, each behaving differently across an afternoon.
Surface color is the variable most directly tied to how warm a walking surface becomes. Darker surfaces absorb a higher proportion of incoming solar radiation than lighter ones, a relationship that holds regardless of whether the board is wood, composite or PVC. Several decking manufacturers publish thermal data for individual products, and ASTM D7032 establishes the performance standard against which composite and plastic deck boards, stair treads and guards are evaluated.
"I like building decks because I like creating spaces you can use, and they're the most fun to build," said Luke Triemstra, Owner of Alki Deck Builders. "A deck that sits empty every August afternoon isn't doing its job, and that usually traces back to a decision made before anyone picked up a board."
The company's design process models shadow patterns and sun angles across a proposed deck at different times of day, identifying which sections will carry the heaviest exposure. Material and layout decisions for those sections can then be evaluated against the site itself rather than against a sample viewed indoors under artificial light.
Modeling also surfaces the effect of existing structures. A neighboring house, a garage roof or a mature tree can shade a section of yard for part of the day and leave it fully exposed for the rest, and those patterns shift as the sun tracks lower through the year. A corner that sits in shade during a July evening may take direct sun in late September.
Overhead structures address exposure directly by intercepting sunlight before it reaches the surface. Alki Deck Builders installs louvered pergolas with adjustable louvers, which allow a homeowner to close coverage over a west-facing section during afternoon hours while leaving other areas open to the sky.
Covered decks, covered porches and solid roof structures provide fixed coverage where consistent shade takes priority over adjustability. Each approach suits a different section of a property, and the choice between them is usually settled by how the space is intended to be used rather than by appearance alone.
Combining fixed and adjustable coverage across a single structure allows different sections of an outdoor space to serve different purposes through the course of a day. The approach is most relevant on properties where a full-coverage roof would eliminate light the homeowner wants to keep, particularly on lots where the deck also functions as the primary source of daylight into adjacent rooms.
Site conditions in the region introduce further variables. Slope, tree cover and proximity to the water all affect how much direct sun a given section receives and how quickly surfaces dry after rain. Properties on the western edge of the area contend with afternoon exposure off the water in addition to whatever the orientation of the house dictates.
Alki Deck Builders assesses these conditions during an on-site consultation before design work begins, evaluating slope, drainage and existing structures alongside sun exposure. The company also offers virtual consultations for property owners in the earlier stages of planning.
The design stage is the point at which orientation decisions carry the least cost. Board direction, stair placement, the position of railings and the location of any overhead structure can all be revised while a project exists only as a model. Once framing is in place, the same revisions involve material and labor that has already been committed.
Property owners considering an outdoor project can review orientation and material considerations with a qualified contractor during planning, when layout changes carry no construction cost and the full range of options remains open.
Alki Deck Builders is a deck and outdoor living contractor based in West Seattle and serving King and Snohomish counties. The company designs and builds custom decks, pergolas, porches, patios and outdoor living structures, and handles permit acquisition for the projects it builds.


 

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For more information about Alki Deck Builders, contact the company here:
Alki Deck Builders
Luke Triemstra
+14256007664
luke@alkidecks.com
5220 37th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126, United States