Month: April 2020

Anyone that lives in Canada appreciates spending time outside – especially in the spring/summer/fall months when the weather is more agreeable. We often find ourselves adding useful outdoor elements to our homes to allow us to use our backyards more.  Decks are an effective way to create a beautiful, livable outdoor space, however the maintenance involved can take away from their enjoyment. So, how about a Stone Deck vs a Wood Deck?

 A wood deck simply put is made of all wood, it’s framed with and cladded with wood decking boards. This is problematic in that it allows the wood to weather and rot over time.  Stone is widely used in landscaping and building industries, as it is highly prized for beauty, durability and strength, and of course it’s maintenance-free qualities. 

Besides these obvious differences, there are some similarities when comparing a stone deck vs a wood deck.

The construction techniques and concepts of both a stone deck and a wood deck can be very similar. The structure itself is framed using pressure treated lumber or similar materials. This framed structure can be either floated or supported by footings, depending on your soil conditions.  These footing supports are either made of concrete or are mechanical screw piles. The actual framing of a stone deck vs a wood deck may require slightly larger framing members, due to the extra weight of the stone in certain cases.  Once you have your structure framed, you can choose one of several innovative products that allow you to create that stone deck.  Both Silca System by StoneDeks and Tiledeck by Evolutiondecks are two products that are attached to the framing and act as a sturdy all weather subfloor to support the stone.

The maintenance of a stone deck vs a wood deck will be very different. A stone deck simply needs a quick pressure wash to get rid of the grime from winter or when needed. A wood deck will require regular maintenance with an extensive process, that includes pressure washing and sanding the deck, followed by applications of a stain or sealer. This can be a very time consuming process depending on the size of the deck!

Another factor to consider for those living in more northern areas is winter maintenance. With snow and ice build-up, keeping your deck clear may be a bit of a challenge.  So how does a stone deck vs wood deck compare for winter maintenance? Some stone products may be affected by salt, so the best option for removing snow and ice is a calcium chloride-based “ice melt” or rock salt. Look for the phrases “safe for concrete”, “safe for flagstone” and “will not kill grass”. Any wood decking boards will discolor, and we would not recommend using salt or ice melt products on any of them.  Using a metal or plastic shovel or even snow blowing will not affect a stone deck, and any non-slip grit that is applied will easily wash off in the spring. Sand or grit, while it offers traction on slippery surfaces, should be avoided on wood decking as it can scratch and damage the surface. Metal shovels, sharp-edge tools and snow blowing are also not recommended for use on wood decking surfaces.

To be able to compare the cost of a stone deck vs a wood deck we need to consider the type of wood being used for the surface to do a fair comparison.  Since both builds, in essence, are the same from the footings to the framing, the difference in pricing will be the cladding materials.  If you are looking at creating a pressure treated or cedar cladded deck, the costs would be less. But both of these options demand a high level of maintenance. If, however, you are planning to clad with exotic woods, such as Ipe or Cumaru in an effort to reduce your maintenance, you will find the costs to be very similar.

When it’s time for you to deciding on a stone deck vs wood deck, make sure to consider the advantages and disadvantages of both options before deciding which one is right for you. And don’t forget to look at the many different styles available in stone – if you want to maintain the “wood deck” look but avoid the maintenance, there are options available to you.

Welcome to the deck revolution!

With several new innovative products being introduced to the hardscape industry over the last several years, we now have the ability to create beautiful maintenance free decks and patios quickly and cost efficiently.  These products also allow us to do conventional tasks more efficiently, such as put a deck in the ground, as opposed to building a standard interlock patio. Here we will look at the advantages of a ground level Deck vs patio.

First, let’s review the basic concept of a ground patio. The area where the patio is to be built is excavated to a depth of 12-24” depending on the soil conditions. The excavated area is compacted, granular material is added and compacted to create the base.  Interlock stone, pavers, or bricks are laid on the compacted base and voila – you have a stone patio.  Now, there are some other steps and materials need in this process such as geotextile, edging, polymeric sand, etc., but this is the basic process. 

This may seem to be a somewhat simple task, so are there advantages of a ground level Deck vs patio and why would you choose this build method?  The reality is that in our harsh Canadian climate with constant freeze-thaw cycles over the winter, despite all your hard work and effort to build and install the ground patio, it will inevitably shift and move.

But how, you ask, can one put a deck in the ground without it rotting out and falling apart over time?  Most people think of a deck as a wood framed structure, supporting wood or composite decking boards. In this scenario, you would be correct to be hesitant to use wood. You are probably now thinking that there are no advantages of a ground level Deck vs patio and I have completely lost my mind.

For those who have read our blog series, you will know we are all about discovering innovative stone decking products that allow you to build that maintenance free deck that will save you time, money and will last!  So, when I speak of a “deck” it is related to the concept of a stone deck and using some of the new products on the market to accomplish this.

These products are designed to minimize excavation, require less granular material to be brought in, create a thermal layer to minimize or eliminate the effects of the freeze-thaw cycles, and can be supported by a proper footing system. These are just some of the advantages of a ground level Deck vs patio, and I haven’t even mentioned the time and effort you will save!

Evolutiondeck manufactures a product called Paverdeck, which is a galvanized steel decking kit that can be fully or partially buried in the ground depending on the topography of your work area.  This deck would either be floated on concrete blocks or supported by footings, depending on your soil conditions, and creates a solid flat surface ready to clad with stone or porcelain pavers. And it does this without the need to excavate, backfill and compact as is necessary in a conventional application.

The Paverdeck System is a sturdy, long lasting subfloor, that will not allow any of the stones or pavers to shift or move.  As you can see, the Paverdeck System demonstrates the advantages of a ground level Deck vs patio.

Two other great products on the market are Stonedeks Soil Grid and Alliance Gator Gator Base.  Both these systems allow for less excavation and the need for less granular materials to be brought in and compacted. They create a thermal insulating layer, which again will help minimize or eliminate the effects of the freeze-thaw cycles.  These two types of ground application products are the perfect choice for the homeowner who is trying to save even more money by doing the work themselves.  This further demonstrates how SoilGrid and Gator Base products prove the advantages of a ground level Deck vs patio.

As more of these innovative products hit the market, the consumer will have even more choices to select from and be able to find the perfect product that fits their needs and skill set.

Welcome to the Stone Deck Revolution!