So maybe you’ve had your deck for a few years and it’s starting to show its age. You wish you could build a new deck, but let’s face it, money doesn’t grow on trees. We get it. But don’t despair! There are ways to make an old deck look new. Here are three things you…
If you’re thinking of adding a deck or pergola to your backyard in the spring, you might as well do it the winter before. Homeowners mistakenly think that you can’t build a deck in the winter, but in reality, there’s really no good reason to wait until spring. In fact, there are several advantages to…
When you’ve built hundreds of decks, pergolas and other outdoor structures, you get to know the materials you use inside and out. I’ve got some favorites, for sure, but people ask me what I think about composite decking vs. real wood. Frankly, I’m a fan. Composite decking has come a long way from its introduction…
One of the very best ways to decide what kind of deck you’d like is to simply find pictures and examples and create an online idea book. I find that photos and examples are one of the best and fastest ways for clients to convey deck design ideas. If someone says they want a “fancy”…
So you’ve decided it’s time to add that deck to your home and expand your living space, raise your resale value and spend more time in the great outdoors with neighbors, family, and friends. That’s great! But where do you start? How do you make sure you hire the right company and avoid any potential…
Love your pergola, but sad that winter is on its way? You don’t have to abandon the outdoors when cooler weather sets in. Just make a few adjustments and your pergola will be perfectly ready for fall and even winter! Pergolas are one of our favorite things to build at Creative Concepts and Design. Whether…
First things first…what exactly is a pergola? A pergola is simply a structure with open sides that has a flat roof formed of horizontal trelliswork supported on columns or posts. The easiest way to think of it is an oversized arbor. Pergolas have grown in popularity because of their affordability and their versatility. It’s no…
When it comes to choosing the type of wood for your pergola, one of the main questions is about whether to use heavy or light timber. Heavy and light are simply a reference to the size of material used. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. But in the end, it comes down to proportion…
If you’re designing a deck, you want to consider all of your options. Avoid the shoulda, woulda, couldas by considering these popular and updated deck options before you finalize your deck design plans. 1. Modern Railing One of the biggest things we’re seeing in deck design is a variety of modern railing options. Instead of…
What is the most important feature in a landscape design? Is it the hardscaping like the deck, the patio, the pergola, the pool, the retaining wall, the outdoor kitchen, the fire pit? Is it the plants like the foundation garden, the shade trees, the flowering bushes, or the shape of the beds? Or is it…
All decks are beautiful and enhance the look and enjoyment of the homes they adorn. But, one of our favorite things to do is add custom features that really make your deck unique. Many of our homeowners aren’t aware of all of the options we can provide. Here are some of our favorite custom features…
Many homeowners ask, “How much to build a deck in Kansas City?” Knowing how much a deck will cost is tricky even for a pro. There are so many variables to take into account. Materials, terrain, finishes, floor plan, and engineering are your biggest challenges. Here in the Kansas City metro, the cost basis for…
There are a lot of garden structures with lots of fancy names. It’s easy to lump them all together. At Creative Concepts and Design, we build many of these structures. Here’s a little rundown of some of the most popular garden structures and the differences between them. What Is a Pergola? A pergola is a structure…
When it comes to designing the deck of your dreams, the best thing you can do is look around, see what’s available, collect all of the ideas you can and then find a builder. We love it when our customers bring pictures of what they like. It’s very hard to know what you mean when…
Building a deck is fun and exciting. There are so many options you can choose. Once you’ve decided on the type of decking, you must choose the railing that will complement it. The best deck railing will make a statement and add aesthetic appeal. There are so many styles, colors, price points, and material options…
So you’ve decided to add a deck to your home (or replace an old one). There’s a lot to consider and many decisions to make. Since we design and build decks every day, we thought we’d share some great information with you to help you make some of those decisions. Whether you plan to build…
At Creative Concepts and Design, we specialize in building the best decks in the Kansas City area. Many times, our customers ask us, “What is the best material to build a deck?” There are a number of factors to take into consideration when searching for the best decking materials for your new deck. Typically we…
Cedar Creek Oasis Welcome to the Cedar Creek Oasis in Olathe, KS. When we got the call for this project, we knew it would be a big overhaul. We were excited to get started on this project. The home was beautiful and the existing deck overlooked the golf course. However, the existing deck was old…
