Decks, porches and gazebos

When you're planning a new garden space or looking to transform a LEED, Passive House or Green Home's exterior space in an eco-friendly way, an important part of the whole sustainability of exterior areas can be overlooked - and that's good, sound building practices & science applied to low impact & durable materials to make a beautiful & sustainable outside space for friends & family to enjoy. Whether you're entertaining in the garden, relaxing surrounded by the sounds, smells and colors of nature or indeed working in your low impact, well insulated garden office to save yet another soulless commute & the pollution that inevitably causes, you'll find all manner of ideas in this section to make it easy to enjoy the great outdoors, without resorting to synthetic materials or chemicals that can damage insects & animals - including us Humans!

How to stain or paint Cedar wood decking when renovating old decks

We recently helped renovate and stain a huge red cedar deck that had been exposed to all weathers, ice, rain and simple living - burgers dripping relish and ketchup - and all the things we enjoy on a backyard deck. How to stain or paint an old cedar deck to make it look new and last longer. Staining or painting an…

Decks, porches and gazebos

How to restore a cedar wood deck easily

If you’re looking to learn how to make old deck boards look new, you can easily extend the life of a grey cedar deck by pressure washing and staining. Restoring a weathered cedar deck easily, step by step Cedar decking boards turn gray in a few short years if untreated, and can make your deck look much older and…

Decks, porches and gazebos

Building a deck? Our top tips to make your deck last longer

How to build decks with greater durability - permits, deck materials, railings, foundations & construction techniques for longer lasting decks including natural wood finishing oils & stains. Deck building tips for a durable deck construction: Meeting setbacks and getting building permits in Canada & US Raised Deck…