4 Quarters Design & Build Blog
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.
2010 Product Offerings from TimberTech
December 30th, 2009The deck building industry is being introduced to a couple of new products from TimberTech for the 2010 calendar year; the new offerings will be well received.
First is the introduction of the Accent light in Coastal White, which will pair perfectly with the RadianceRail post sleeve of the same color. This product introduction is very straight-forward. It needs to be there. White railing and posts. . .white light housings that blend into the post. . .I need not say more.
The second product being introduced from TimberTech in 2010 is the ReliaBoard plank. In the TimberTech literature, the ReliaBoard is being billed as “affordable luxury, practical style”. 4 Quarters Design & Build is very excited about this product for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, it is great for the industry. Quite simply, there are too many “value” line composite planks on the market, most of which offer no value post-installation. I will not call them out by name right now, but there are certain retailers out there with a lot of recycled wood and plastic on their shelves that should have been left at their respective recycling facilities. Writing with the Minnesota climate in mind, these composite planks have no place in the deck building industry.
Enter the ReliaBoard. This plank should fill a void in the composite market. I say “should” only because I can’t tell the future. Based on TimberTech’s history in the deck building industry, the resources behind them, and their dedication to quality products, the ReliaBoard should do very well. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are many composite deck planks out there that are terrible, regardless of how inexpensive they may be. The ReliaBoard will enter the low-cost composite market with the technology, experience, and expertise of TimberTech giving it a decisive advantage. Well-informed consumers, cautious consumers who have done their homework, will choose the ReliaBoard every time. The other products out there in the market simply cannot compete with the technology of TimberTech (and the technology of Crane Plastics, parent of TimberTech).
There is one down-side for TimberTech. Consumers who are not personally invested in the idea of the hidden fastener (those who don’t care about seeing surface screws) will likely choose ReliaBoard over TwinFinish. Either way, TimberTech gets the business, but they do so through cannibalization of the non-grooved TwinFinish plank (which also is installed using surface fasteners).
So what makes the ReliaBoard significantly less expensive than the TwinFinish despite the stark similarities? First, the ReliaBoard is offered in only two colors; TwinFinish is offered in three. The ReliaBoard is only available as a non-grooved plank; no ConceaLoc hidden fastening option is available. These two factors reduce the number of products in the family making manufacturing and inventory control far easier and efficient. The last item that makes the ReliaBoard less costly is that there is less material in the plank. By my calculations, there is approximately 20% less material in this plank, which has been achieved via two design elements. First, the plank is smaller than it’s siblings; it is 1/4″ less wide and 1/16″ less tall. The height will never be noticed by the installer or consumer, and the width means that on a deck that extends 14′ off the house wall you will purchase and install two additional deck planks. (The additional deck boards equate to approximately 5% leaving a net material savings of 15%). The other design element that saves raw materials (and could be used to argue that the ReliaBoard is more “green”) is the inclusion of three channels or recesses created during the extrusion process.
Overall, the ReliaBoard should be well-received and is a welcome addition to the composite deck market. Hopefully, for the sake of the industry and its consumers, the ReliaBoard will achieve quick success and take market share away from inferior products that hinder the market segment.
4 Quarters Design & Build Awarded TimberTech Premier Status
December 30th, 2009With 2009 coming to a close, we’ve got another very good deck building year in the books. The challenge now is preparing, in short order, for 2010, which is a tall order due to business currently in the schedule. No complaints. 2009 was supposed to be dreadful and turned out to be great; we are thankful for all of the great clients we’ve served over the past year. . .
One exciting note for 2010 is that 4 Quarters Design & Build has been promoted to Premier Contractor status by TimberTech. Premier Contractor is the highest level awarded by TimberTech. This is a very exciting time for us. 4 Quarters Design & Build worked very diligently to expand its TimberTech business in 2009 and our efforts are paying off. We look forward to further expanding our business with TimberTech in 2010, as there are new product offerings that will help us do that.
TimberTech XLM Desert Bronze: Consumer Response
February 4th, 2009I’m posting again about the new Desert Bronze XLM plank from TimberTech. 4 Quarters Design & Build has been in possession of a sample for exactly 11 days now. We’ve shown the product to six prospective clients; five of them have selected it as their number one choice. Honestly, this comes as no surprise to me. Let me add that the one individual that did not select the Desert Bronze had his heart set on a color from Weatherbest which just so happened to be in the same color family as the TimberTech TwinFinish Cedar. That being said, at least I’ve got him leaning towards a much better deck plank from a superior manufacturer.
Back to the Desert Bronze XLM. Consumer response has been 100% positive; again, I could have predicted this the moment I got my hands on the sample. The bottom line is that TimberTech has a clear winner here. I can also safely predict that we will see additions to the XLM Xotics (my pet name for the product) line in the future. Bear in mind, however, that TimberTech will take the time to get it right, so don’t expect to see anything until 2010 or, dare I say, later.
There is one down side to the Desert Bronze XLM plank, but that downside rests solely in being one of its competitors.
Happy deck building in 2009 ;-)
-Brian
p.s.
Let me be clear about this: XLM Desert Bronze is at the top of the market in terms of price for manufactured decking. That being said, every prospective client I’ve spoken with about this plank has still chosen it as their number one. It looks as though superior aesthetics and engineering trump the increased market price that results from higher manufacturing costs.
2009 Home and Patio Show
February 4th, 2009It’s official. 4 Quarters Design & Build will be exhibiting in booth numbers 165 and 166 on the main floor of the 2009 Home and Patio Show being held February 19-22, 2009 at the Rivercentre in St. Paul. On display will be the finest in decking materials, including products from TimberTech and Railcraft. Also in our booth will be Ipe and Cedar deck planks, deck lighting, and planter boxes. If traffic is anything like we had at the Metrodome show, we will call it a success. We look forward to seeing you there.
Reskin or Rebuild? How to Determine What You Should Do.
January 27th, 2009I run a lot of sales calls with many different types of people, all of whom have very different needs. I often find myself in an appointment with someone who believes they need a whole new deck; often it is with someone who believes they simply need new decking and railing installed over their existing framework. Many of these people really don’t know what the best course of action is for them. And why should they? Deck building is not their area of expertise. That is why they call me.
While there are seldom clearly defined guildelines that will determine whether a reskin is in order, or if a rebuild is necessary, there are some important questions to ask to help determine which option to pursue. So how does one determine which option, reskin or rebuild, is right for them? Let’s take a look at some important determining factors.
The first question I like to ask is this: How does the structure stand up to today’s building codes and practices? If we’re looking at the structure to determine whether we can salvage the framing, we need to answer this question thoroughly. We can do this by asking more questions. What is the size of the footings? Can we determine the footing depth? What are the sizes of the structural posts and joists? Are these framing members undersized or overspanned? If the answers to these questions don’t stack up against current codes and practices, a red flag is raised.
The foundation of a deck is of utmost importance, as it is with any structure. I first determine whether there is evidence of heaving or movement in the structure due to inadequate footings. If there is eveidence of heaving due to frost or unstable soil, new footings are a must.
The next question to ask is: If there is evidence of heaving or structural movement, is it extensive enough that it has compromised the integrity of the framed structure and its attachment to the home? This can be determined by thoroughly inspecting the framing lumber. More specifically, the connections between the framing members and its attachment to the house. Are there framing members that are not securely connected to adjoining members? If so, this is another red flag; it may be time to consider a rebuild.
Next on the list is to inspect the framing for signs of rot and decay. Some rot is very easy to identify. In other cases, you need to take a closer look. If there is clear evidence of deterioration, this is simply one more indicator leading you to a rebuild. If, however, there are no clear signs of rot, it is still prudent to take a closer look. Start by looking for discoloration, fungal growth, and areas that seem to be perpetually wet. In these areas, use a thumbnail or any hard object to test whether the lumber is soft and easily marked. If yes, the lumber may be starting to decay, even if there is no visual evidence of rot.
I need to note that one of the most common questions I am asked is: “My deck is fifteen (or ten, or twenty, or whatever) years old, don’t you think it should be completely replaced?” The answer is, age often tells me nothing. I’ve seen structures that are twenty-five years old that are in perfectly good shape and are great candidates for a reskin/rerail. One of the reasons for this is that prior to 2004 most treated lumber was treated with arsenic which is phenomenal for preserving wood. Health and environmental concerns are the only reasons for which we no longer treat wood with arsenic.
These are all fundamental questions that need to be asked, and answered. Once I have weighed all these factors, I’m ready to make a recommendation to my prospective client, but only after we have talked about all of these issues and any other questions they may have. The purpose in carefully considering all of these questions is to determine what the best course of action is for the client. As owner and operator of 4 Quarters Design & Build, I am not interested in needlessly spending my clients money. It’s quite simple: If the structure is sound, use it; if not, start anew so that the clients’ investment is maximized over the long term. If I believe a structure is not in need of replacement I make sure that it is clearly known. Conversely, if a structure is bad, and a client insists on simply giving their deck a facelift with new decking and railing, I refuse. No one is well served in this scenario. Ultimately, a client has new decking and railing on a structure that will fail long before they can adequately utilize their investment. And my reputation gets a black eye for not convincing them of this. It’s a lose-lose situation.
To summarize, there are three main indicators that will help determine whether your deck is a candidate for a replank/rerail, or if you need to consider building from scratch. First, inspect the footings and foundation to determine if they are sound or if there is evidence to the contrary. Second, inspect the framework and lumber; determine whether the points of connection are sound and also determine if there is evidence of rot and decay. Finally, determine whether the structure has the ability to handle the loads placed upon it. (This is a concern as many of today’s decking products have considerably more weight than traditional deck planks.) This refers back to the issue of code compliancy and the utilization of properly sized/spanned framing lumber.
Whether you are considering a reskin or rebuild, your investment is substantial. Make the most of your investment by determining which scenario is best for you. Hiring a competent, qualified, and honest contractor will take the guesswork away from yo
TimberTech XLM Desert Bronze
January 27th, 2009The industry now has samples of the new Desert Bronze XLM plank from TimberTech. 4 Quarters Design & Build is very excited about this. We’ve already shown this product to three prospective clients, with more to follow today. We’ve only had our sample for two days and the feedback we are getting is very positive. I posted about this prior to actually having product in-hand, and I can now say with certainty: The Desert Bronze XLM plank is a perfect union between the aesthetic dominance of TimberTech Earthwoods and the technical superiority of TimberTech XLM.