Southold
does live a little different than a typical town Deck Builder in Southhold, NY. More room
to breathe, wider sky, and water is nature’s blessing here. Even if you are not
“right on the shore”. Backyards in Southold are more than just an extension of
the house or decoration; a lot of folks actually use them. So the talks about
decks, in Southold, rather go like “How can a deck fit into our lifestyle
here?” than “What’s the newest trend?”
At
Decks by Decker, the crew has been engaged with the Southold community
extensively. Most of the time, it was us, standing in a backyard with a coffee
cup in hand, while homeowners shared their thoughts, frustrations, and needs
with us. We keep seeing the same concerns.
Why Deck Decisions in Southold Are Different
From the Rest of Suffolk County
The
location of Southold being on the North Fork already influences how the
homeowners come up with outdoor living spaces. It is slower paced, yet nature
is still quite wild.
Salt Air, Wind, and Sun — The North Fork
Standard
Even
if the house is not on the water, the salt air will find its way to it. It will
be on the surface, in the fasteners, and generally speed up the deterioration –
even the locals who have stayed here all their life are surprised by this. When
that is combined with the incessant coastal winds and scorching summer sun, the
deck may look worn out too soon.
We
have observed situations where the boards got discolored because one half was
exposed to the sun in the afternoon, and the other part was in the shade. We
also know that the soil in such areas hardly ever dries up, so the moisture
stays longer after a rainfall. None of this is a problem if you choose the
right materials for the deck.
Older Homes, Larger Lots, and Natural Views
Many
of the houses in Southold are old, and apart from their large yards,
long-distance views of fields, vineyards, or water feature are quite common.
What a homeowner desires is usually a deck that is not the dominator of the
property but its extension in a harmonious way.
This
more often than not leads to a minimalistic approach, leaving the nature to do
its thing, selecting the railings that are transparent for the eye and
refraining from installation of unnecessary elements that are not in line with
the existing environment.
Typical Southold Tale
Sometimes
conversations with people say everything. In this case, the story of a couple
who have been living in their house for twenty years is so vivid that it sticks
in our mind till this day. The old wooden deck definitely showed the effects of
the passing time. However, in the evening, sitting outside was their little
paradise and pain in the neck only came from maintenance.
What They Thought Was The Core Issue
It
actually was not the decking at all that upset them the most – it was how much
of their time it took. After the yearly rounds of sanding, staining, and
swapping rotten boards, it just felt like they were catering to a royal guest.
The thought of losing the charm and gaining convenience through replacement was
so awful that they kept living with the problem.
This
is the dilemma that is faced by many people around here – they want sturdy
stuff but they do not want the modern look or that feeling of being
disconnected from nature.
Unexpected Things That Were Made Real
Small
things, really, made a big difference to these two people. How the deck was
positioned, whether or not the air circulates under it, and even the distance
between the planks reflected how the users felt about the space and how the
deck aged over time. It all results in a deck they like and not one they have
to do chores for.
Material Doubts are Very Common Questions
Regardless
of the fact that Southold is quite diverse in itself, the matter of which
materials to use seems to engage people the most.
The Popularity of Maintenance-Free
"Maintenance-free"
to a North Fork resident is a loaded term. It is not a synonym for
no-maintenance, but rather it implies fewer breakdowns and a couple of weekends
less spent on fixes per year. What people desire in a material is that they do
not get splinters, are moisture resistant, and their colors do not wash out
quickly from the sun.
We
are aware that the people here have a sensible attitude about it. They
recognize the harshness of the environment and what they ask for is a proper
aging of the product that has not been neglected.
Longevity vs. Look — Where to Draw the Line
Some
materials are extremely appealing to the eye when new but get more and more
demanding in terms of care the older they get. On the other hand, there are
those that you hardly ever have to think about but they have a twofold problem:
in summer they get hot and look monotonous. Unfortunately, there is no good or
bad in the absolute sense but the question is more of whether the material fits
the user.
Moreover,
the discussion gets even better as it moves from 'how will the deck look the
first summer' to 'how will I live on this deck every day.'
Five Lessons From Our Southold, NY Decking
Experience
Every
time we do a deck, the list of our learnings becomes a bit longer, but there
are a few points that keep coming up.
How Coastal Living Breaks Norms
The
homeowners here are generally very future-oriented. Most people anticipate
living in their homes not only years but decades. Hence, a lot of the time the
choices they make are not really trend-related but are more focused on the
durability and the comfort aspect. A deck here is expected to be capable of
hosting anything from a peaceful morning to a noisy family reunion with minimal
care.
Why is That Architecturally Simple
Attractiveness
We
indeed have seen that those decks whose shape was simple and design has fewer
decorative elements experienced somewhat more even weathering. However, this
does not equal to dull: it is well-crafted. If the materials, arrangement, and
exposure were all taken into consideration, the deck does not vie with nature
but becomes one with it.
Typical Pre-Deck Building Chats
Such
things come up preetymuch as a matter of fact and mostly before the topic of
details is even touched upon.
Being Able to Use One’s Deck in Summer As Well
Southold
is especially lively during the summer and people often expect a deck to be
there as soon as the heat arrives. It really does matter if you think ahead.
Weather is a very big player and can change plans at the last minute,
especially when we have those coastal tempests, so it is good to be prepared
for that.
On
the other hand, revising projects in one’s mind and going over the
possibilities well before is only to the advantage of the homeowner.
Making a Deck Functional for One’s Life Rather
Than for Parties
It
is easy to image a fully packed deck but in reality, most of the time, it is
just a couple of folks enjoying their private company. A deck that feels right
is a deck that is made for everyday: morning coffee, dinner under the stars, a
book and the sound of the sea breeze.
If
all these beautiful moments are attended to, then the deck as a place to be
makes a lot of sense.
Weathering of a Southold Deck
Decks
here have their story to tell. Exposure to the sun comes with fading, with time
recognizable paths are created by the foot traffic, and materials get their
gentle wear with age. If the issue of the soundness of the construction and the
thoughtful planning have been taken care of, then this is all good.
Proper
ventilation, drainage, and the right attitude go a long way.
North Fork, Last Words After Deck Work
After
working for the Southold community for some time now, one thing is crystal
clear, that decks should not be seen as just "nice-to-have" outdoor
elements but rather as integral parts of homes and of the people's lifestyle.
The best ones do not even require any input. They are at the owner's disposal
the whole day, they can take any weather, any season, in short – North Fork
living and they do not even ask for much back.
One
can say that a deck is really a place when it is in harmony with land, house
and the people using it.
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