Top Trends for New Summer Decks

Summer 2012 is all about comfortable outdoor living. Next to inside the home and at work, the yard is third on the list of places homeowners spend most of their time. As outdoor living spaces become increasingly valued, the simple decks of the past are no longer sufficient. What’s in: more functional outdoor spaces that reflect homeowners’ earth-loving values, like reclaimed wood decking.

Trends in decking this summer include:

Go large. Decks aren’t just for grilling anymore. This season’s decks rival the square footage of a home and include multiple levels; defined “rooms”; planters and other built-in storage; pergolas; and built-ins with extra seating.

Functional kitchens. Going back and forth between the kitchen and deck to grill can be a pain – plus it wastes energy if the A/C is on. Trendy wood decking nowadays is incomplete without a sink, countertop, grill, refrigerator and storage.

Water features. It’s hard to enjoy a water feature that’s tucked in the back corner of a yard. When placed on a deck, the sound of trickling water adds to the relaxing atmosphere of the outdoor space and masks street noise to give you the feeling that you are in a different world.

Deck accessories. Homeowners are now equipping their decks for year-round use. Common accessories for decks include fire pits, lights, outdoor fireplaces and freestanding warmers. Decorative touches are also becoming increasing popular. For example, to enhance the beauty of a reclaimed wood deck, a homeowner may choose to add decorative fascia corners, which cover the gaps in corner joints.

Reclaimed wood. Today’s trendy homeowners build their decks using reclaimed wood. One example of salvaged wood that works well as reclaimed wood decking is our Jakarta Market Blend, which is a rich mix of dense tropical hardwoods rescued from transpacific shipping crates, resulting in a unique, custom-made look. The deck boards made from Jakarta Market Blend come with an eased edge or a hidden clip system to make installation a breeze. Furthermore, this lumber ranks between 1,300 and 3,500 on the Janka scale, making it ideal for outdoor use and heavy traffic. If left unfinished, the different tones in this type of reclaimed wood deck will even out with time.

For other backyard trends and ideas, check out Sunset magazine’s Ultimate Outdoor Living Room, which features our reclaimed wood countertops.

[ Photo by: Quiltsalad, on Flickr, via CC License ]