BBR Bulletin – June Newsletter
Brown Bros Roofing is happy to announce the launch of our home improvement newsletter that we are calling, the “BBR Bulletin”. In each edition, we will highlight a home improvement topic, a product we use, a team member or maybe, a special project we’ve recently completed. If you have a special request, please email marketing@brownbrosroofing.
For distribution purposes, we are using our current customer email list, and will have a SUBSCRIBE button on our website for new folks to join in the fun. However, if for any reason you wish stop receiving the newsletter, please click the UNSUBSCRIBE button.
This month, for all that well-earned summer fun and family get togethers, we’re talking about porches and decks. Thank you and welcome to the BBR Bulletin. Don’t forget to give us a call (781-329-2895) or email us for your next home improvement project.
Decks & Porches
Large or small, decks and porches have been the highlight of summers for years. Houses built during the Victorian era and early 20th century (before air conditioning) often have what’s known as a “sleeping porch”. A sleeping porch is an enclosed deck or balcony with screened windows, typically accessible via one of the second or third-story bedrooms and located on a corner of the house to catch as much cross-breeze as possible. Another type of porch is a “farmer’s porch” or simply a “front porch”. Farmer’s porches are wide and narrow front porches extending across all or most of the home. They may even wrap around a side of the home. Farmer’s porches were around long before the term “decks” became popular but that is exactly what they too were built for outdoor living.
Today, decks may be attached to the back of the house and entered by a door from the kitchen, family room etc. or steps from the backyard. They may even connect to a backyard pool. They may be covered by a pergola, an awning that’s attached to the house or be uncovered and just waiting for tables and umbrellas. We are also very likely to find a gas grill or even an outdoor kitchen on to- day’s decks. Today’s decks and porches are build of wood, composite, PVC or a combination thereof.
Anatomy of a Porch/Deck
Before calling a contractor to rebuild an existing deck or porch or build a new one, it’s important for homeowners to understand their construction basics and some of the terminology. Since a picture speaks a thousand words, we thought an illustration might be helpful.
Decks and porches are built on concrete footings. On top of the footings are support posts. Then there are beams, ledgers and joists/bridges to form the main structure/frame of the deck and flashing between the frame and the house. Decking goes over the frame. Of course, you need stairs, which are comprised of the stringers that hold the treads and risers. For safety, there are railings/posts and optionally, there are extras such as solar or hardwired lights, and drink rails. Etc. Finally, don’t forget all that hardware to hold it together –ya know, the nuts and bolts.
Material
Now that you know some of the basics, you can have some fun and select the material. Outside of the concrete footers, the frame of the deck/porch is made with pressure-treated wood. The decking and railings, however, may be pine, fur, cedar, redwood, etc.). Or, you may select a PVC or composite product from manufacturers such as Timbertech/Azek or Trex for the decking and railing. For the railings, you may also select aluminum, cable, glass panels or wrought iron.
