A pergola example

If you can’t stand the sun, get in the shade

Colorado boasts over 300 days of sun, and while it’s great to soak up some rays once in awhile, many people prefer the option of some shade. Most of us don’t enjoy sitting in the mid-afternoon sun, specially when hanging on the back deck and letting your kids play.

For this reason, we at Constructive Builders have identified a couple of easy, and nice-looking, solutions to add shade to your backyard.

The first are sun sails. They have these for sale at McGuckins here in

Sun Sail Example

Boulder (and a lot of other places I’m sure), and they’re basically big sheets of sail cloth that you can hang up to cover portions of side or overhead sun. We can construct simple poles or loop fasteners to keep the sun sail in place, and if you want to take it down for a party or during the winter, it’s easy to remove. They can look pretty cool, especially if you like a more colorful back yard. However, one thing to watch out for is wind gusts, which might cause some problems for these sails and can be rather prevalent in Boulder, Louisville, etc.

The second is a wooden sun shade. Built to divert the sun based on your latitude, these shades add an architectural element and can also add privacy. Check out this great article from Fine Homebuilding “Drawing Board: Designing Sunscreens”.

You can also build a pergola type structure, which can look really nice and provide some intermittent sun protection.

If you’re looking for a reliable, local contractor, to help with these projects, feel free to contact us!

With more of us entertaining at home to save money, it’s time to take a look at your backyard and consider adding on a deck! Decks are one of our favorite things to build, and are a great investment for homeowners, for a few reasons:

1. Decks are a fast and relatively affordable way to add usable space to your home. And the investment is enjoyable almost year-round in Colorado.
2. According to Remodeling magazine, decks place fourth in remodeling ROI, and boast an 86.7% return on investment while adding usable space to your home. They’re especially attractive off of a dining area, as they can easily create an indoor-outdoor dining and entertaining space.
3. We enjoy working outside and ensuring that quality framing and footings are used so that your deck lasts for the long haul.

Here’s a useful site for calculating the cost of adding a deck.

Ready for a BBQ?

In terms of materials, our favorite composite decking company is Timber Tech. Their composite decking looks, in our opinion, the most like regular wood. They are a little more expensive than some others, but the look is superior if you’re really seeking a natural looking deck.

Some environmental advocates question how eco-friendly these composite decking products actually are, given the energy required to recycle and press the products together. We like the composite products for their environmental qualities and because they’re easier to care for, but another good choice are Sustainably Harvested woods, such as cedar or ipe. The Forest Stewardship Council certifies wood so you can trust that it was harvested properly.

Here’s a good article from The Daily Green on picking sustainable wood.

So, to sum it up: Adding a deck is a relatively low cost way to increase your home’s value and increasing your quality of life this summer. And, if you pick the right materials, you can do it without too much harm on our planet.

Contact us for a bid on building your deck this spring!