4 Quarters Design & Build Blog
TimberTech XLM – 2 New Color Offerings
January 6th, 2011As a deck builder in the Twin Cities market, it’s no secret that 4 Quarters Design & Build is a big proponent of PVC decking. With this in mind, I thought I would write a quick note on what’s new in 2011 regarding TimberTech XLM decking.
The first new color release is Harbor Stone. It’s been on the ground at the distribution level since late November/early December. It’s base tone is similar to the RiverRock, though it appears darker due to the variegated solid PVC cap. The variegated cap is what you would expect if you are familiar with Desert Bronze, which no longer exists and has been replaced with Harvest Bronze, and RusticBark. It’s a very nice looking plank and will be an easy choice for anyone interested in the gray color palette. It should be a big deal in the northeast region of the U.S. market.
The second new color release is Walnut Grove, which won’t be available until May 2011, at the very earliest, so I’m told. The fact that I was born and raised in Minnesota makes it difficult for me to talk about TimberTech XLM Walnut Grove without Laura Ingalls and the Little House on the Prairie theme music springing into my brain. I guess I’ll have to get over it, which won’t be easy, because I can assure you that the moment the color name crosses my lips, the prospective client I’m talking to will immediately make reference.
The sample pieces I’ve seen of XLM Walnut Grove are quite nice. I’ve been asking TimberTech for this color in an XLM plank for about two years now, and I have archived blog posts to prove it. (While waiting, I was fortunate that Azek brought Acacia to market so I had a walnut-colored PVC deck plank for my clients. . .we’ll see how the two compare side by side when I can view whole planks rather than sample pieces.) I love the deep, rich color, and I’m excited for this product to finally arrive. It will be a winner, especially for the 4 Quarters client.
2011 Home & Landscape Expo Changes Venue.
January 6th, 2011For those in the Twin Cities market looking to attend the 2011 Home & Landscape Expo, don’t go to the Metrodome. The roof remains collapsed. The word is that the roof will not be fixed until March. How deflating.
The new venue is the Minneapolis Convention Center. The event will be held January 14-16.
4 Quarters will be exhibiting products and materials related to deck building and outdoor living. I don’t know our exact booth location as I’ve yet to see a floor plan for the show.
My hope is that L&L Exhibition Management, the company that produces the show, has been able to tap the necessary advertising and PR channels to get the word out. As the first show of the season, the Home & Landscape Expo has been held at the Metrodome for many years and is directly associated with the venue in the public eye.
One thing on our side is the fact that every year the show’s schedule is heavily dictated on the performance, (ahem!) and sometimes the lack thereof, of the Minnesota Vikings. The show is always scheduled for two weekends, and depending on the NFL playoff schedule, we end up with one, the other, or both. So, the public is forced to pay some attention every year to simply know the Home & Landscape Expo event schedule. This year, they’ll have to do the same, along with finding a new place to park.
Regardless of public attendance, I’ll be at the Minneapolis Convention Center January 14-16, ready and able to talk about deck building products, deck design and deck construction, and outdoor living. 4 Quarters has a lot going on for 2011, about all of which I’m very excited! We’ll see you out there!
4 Quarters Design & Build Joins NADRA
December 2nd, 2010I am pleased to announce that 4 Quarters Design & Build is now a national member of the North American Deck and Railing Association. NADRA is a national organization dedicated to promoting best-practice building techniques, ensuring consumer safety, education, and awareness, and giving back to local communities with their Deck for a Soldier program.
I am happy to lead a team of dedicated individuals whose primary objective is to build the finest decks in the Twin Cities market. NADRA promotes similar ideals on a national level for the betterment of our industry. In conjunction with 4 Quarters Design & Build’s national membership, we are actively involved in the formation of the Minnesota Chapter of NADRA. We at 4 Quarters look forward to playing a significant role in developing our local chapter, and promoting the ideals set forth by NADRA on a national level.
More on the Minnesota Chapter of NADRA will follow as the organization continues to take shape. As the Twin Cities premier deck and outdoor living designer and builder, 4 Quarters is committed to improving our industry on behalf of the consumers who need our talent and expertise.
4 Quarters Talks Proper Deck Construction On WCCO TV News
July 14th, 2010A recent deck collapse in Coon Rapids, MN injured a family and brought into focus a few issues we see in the deck building industry when a home’s deck is not properly built. WCCO TV sought out 4 Quarters Design & Build for our deck building expertise on what may have contributed to the deck’s problem.
I discussed a few of the elements that may have caused the deck to separate from the home, causing the accident. Proper fastening with the right hardware is an obvious one, but also proper water management can also factor in.
As this unfortunate story shows, you can’t place enough emphasis on proper deck construction. 4 Quarters Design & Build ensures that every step of your deck’s construction process is done right, avoiding these types of accidents down the road.
Contact us for more information on our deck building services or to discuss possible concerns with your deck.
TimberTech XLM Rustic Bark Available Soon!
May 7th, 2010Deck building season is in full swing and 4 Quarters Design & Build is anxiously awaiting the release of the new XLM Rustic Bark. We’re introducing the color to a number of clients, and the feedback is very positive. TimberTech is telling us that they will begin shipping full trucks to distributors this coming week. The 4 Quarters client base is very attracted to this product and we anticipate selling much more than we already have. Due to the buzz surrounding this product, I anticipate initial shortages at distributors in the early stages of the launch, much like we dealt with last year regarding Desert Bronze. Ultimately, it will be worth the wait; TimberTech has another winner here and the wise consumer will be patient for what is one of the best looking and best performing planks on the market. I look forward to building the first 4 Quarters Design & Build deck with XLM Rustic Bark and getting photos posted on www.4qdb.com
The 2010 Home & Patio Show, St. Paul RiverCentre
February 9th, 20104 Quarters Design & Build is gearing up for the Home and Patio Show coming up February 18-21 at the St. Paul RiverCentre. As a leading deck designer and builder in the Twin Cities market, we look forward to displaying our work and talking with many prospective clients.
Come down and see us on the main floor in booth numbers 212 and 213.
The 2010 International Builder's Show in Review
February 9th, 2010Well, a full two weeks has eclipsed since the start of IBS 2010, and we’re still sifting through a lot of information that continues to come in. One thing is certain: There has been, and will continue to be, a lot of action in the world of deck building. Because I have no interest in delivering an epic IBS recap reminiscent of Tolstoy’s War and Peace, I’ll give you the highlights that I see will relate to 4 Quarters Design & Build this year.
ReliaBoard Deck Planks
First off, TimberTech dedicated a fair percentage of their display to their new ReliaBoard plank. I’ve already blogged about this product, but it’s worth noting again. Now that the building world has seen the product in a more proper context (i.e. a deck display rather than a sample piece) I can say, with much more confidence, that we have a very promising product here. While it lacks the flare and sex appeal traditional to many previous product launches from its maker, it should be a very solid performer at a very attractive price. More and more, I think this plank is the industry dark horse, and I won’t be surprised if it is wildly successful this year. This is primarily due to the fact that it bridges an enormous price gap between cedar and the XLM plank (or any of the XLM’s competitors). It even bridges the gap between cedar and the TwinFinish plank (and, of course, the TwinFinish plank’s competitors). Time will tell. . .
Deck Building Outlook
From a company standpoint, I predict that 4 Quarters will design and build fewer cedar decks this year because of the ReliaBoard, as a portion of our client demographic would like to go low-maintenance but opt for cedar due to budget constraints. Those in the aforementioned demographic won’t have to stretch as far with the ReliaBoard on the kitchen table.
In another corner of the decking world lives a company called Azek. Let me describe their 2010 product debuts in one word: Big. About a month ago in my blog, I asked TimberTech for an XLM plank in the dark brown Earthwoods Walnut color. While we don’t know when we’ll see such an animal from TimberTech, Azek has already produced, and a gorgeous animal it is. No, I’m not jumping ship; 4 Quarters is a TimberTech Premier Contractor for a reason. But on aesthetics alone, this is going to be a tough plank to sell against, especially for a deck builder that is very color and style conscientious. (Yes, I’m referring to myself, in particular.) To be honest, if a prospective client has their heart set on Azek Kona, I won’t even try to sell them out of it, even though I could probably do so.
Along with three very rich new plank colors, Azek diplayed some very nice composite railing profiles and large, bold newel posts to match. To all the consumers out there, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at many of these new offerings.
Wood Decks & Materials
Shifting gears to talk about natural wood products, there seems to be some turbulence in the hardwoods market, particularly with Ipe. Talking with suppliers, there are some potential sourcing issues on the horizon. Some on the inside of the market apparently saw this coming which may explain why there were a few companies displaying alternatives to the traditional hardwoods that have historically dominated the market. Whatever is going on, the new players have some very attractive species they are trying to introduce. Once distribution has been figured out and testing and code compliancy has been addressed, we’ll know more. Fodder for a later post. . .
And the list goes on and on. I could write for hours and still not cover everything. We’ve got some great railing options looming on the horizon, but until the information becomes more clear and timely, I’ll save it. Suffice it to say that there are a lot of exciting things happening for us now, and it appears that it’s not going to slow down anytime soon. It’s interesting (and curious) to see all of this upward movement in a down market.
Until next time. . .
The 4 Quarters Design & Build 2010 TimberTech Wish List. . .
January 14th, 2010When TimberTech introduced the XLM plank, and we began learning about its attributes, I quickly became a much more excited deck buider. Finally, we had a product that catapulted the low-mainenance market segment forward. Finally, we had a product that was technically far superior to any previous offering from any manufacturer. The industry began cl0sing in on the holy grail of decking, the deck plank trifecta: scratch resistant, fade resistant, mold/mildew resistant. The TimberTech XLM plank, in my expeience, does this better than any other manufactured deck product.
Now for the “Wish List” part of this post, because I am a demanding builder. . .
For 2010, 4 Quarters Design & Build wants a TimberTech XLM plank in the EarthWoods color Tropical Walnut. I’ve heard rumors about this plank being in development right now; if true, I have one other request: hurry! This is a plea to the individuals involved in product development and marketing over at TimberTech corporate. This product offering is an absolute necessity! (At least, in the eyes of 4 Quarters Design & Build, it is.) I may sound a bit selfish, but this is, afterall, my wish list. I literally daydream about the style and design possibilities with such a product. Yes, you’re right, we already have the color in grooved and non-grooved EarthWoods planks, fascia, riser boards, and Floorizon planks. I’m sorry, but it’s just not the same. I need, I mean the industry needs, a plank that is deep and rich in color while offering the technical advantages of the XLM plank.
I’ve even started branding this product for TimberTech. TimbeTech XLM English Walnut. The Perfect Union of Utility and Luxury. . .or. . .Technically Superior, Classically Styled. . .or. . .Unparalleled Beauty, Unmatched Performance.
Whatever it may be, however it comes about, I beg of you TimberTech, bring this plank to market. Pretty please with sugar on top.
The 2010 Home & Landscape Expo
January 14th, 2010We just wrapped up the 2010 Home & Landscape Expo at the Metrodome in Minneapolis this past weekend. Overall, it was a good show. I spoke to numerous people, both vendors and attendees, all of whom had positive responses to the show.
The 4 Quarters Design & Build booth was quite a departue from previous years. For this years’ trade shows, I wanted to further exhibit our material and design capabilities. As a newly christened TimberTech Premier Contractor, 4 Quarters Design & Build represented its design capabilities and the TimberTech product line very well. The feedback I received was great, again from both exhibitors and attendees; this made all of the work that went into the booth very worthwhile.
We are looking forward to exhibiting at the Home & Patio Show at the St. Paul Rivercentre February 18-21 and the Home & Garden Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center February 24-28, 2010. Below is a photo of our booth located in feature 3 at the Metrodome.
TimberTech ReliaBoard
January 14th, 2010I wanted to publish a quick note on the TimberTech ReliaBoard. I wrote about this product a couple of weeks ago and made mention about the product dimensions, specifically the width of the board.
The 2010 TimberTech brochure lists the plank width as 5-3/16″, which I compared to their other products with a plank width of 5-7/16″. I noted the ReliaBoard was 1/4″ less wide. I’ve been informed that the information in TimberTech’s brochure is listed wrong due to a typographical error and that the ReliaBoard is the same width as other TimberTech planks.
The good news about this is that board for board you get the same surface coverage, thus making the ReliaBoard an even greater value than I had previously stated.
View more on our composite deck construction as we are a TiberTech Premier Contractor in Minnesota.