This stunning Western Red Cedar Pavilion is the creation of our friends at Minnesota Pergolas. Western Red Cedar is the preferred choice of wood for all the custom outdoor structures created by Minnesota Pergolas in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Due to the hot summers in the mid-west and cold winters, a covered Cedar pavilion will provide outdoor living space for these happy homeowners all year long!
With shipments of cedar lumber, siding, shingles, shakes, timbers, as well as other specialty building materials leaving our warehouse daily to all over the US, our customers value the quality of our products and our honest business practices, combined with excellent customer service and superior product knowledge. Before your next project, be sure to visit us!
Arbors, trellises and living fences are organic, beautiful ways to define outdoor living spaces, as well as create visual interest. Combined with natural plants, these defining elements create and support ecological diversity by serving as habitats for insects, birds and other small animals. On sloped properties, these structures and their plants can also help immensely with erosion control.
While there are many building materials that arbors, trellises, and fence framework can be made from, Western Red Cedar is an especially popular and eco-friendly choice. Naturally resistant to rot and decay, Western Red Cedar requires no additional treatment to preserve the wood, so there is no need to worry about chemicals seeping into the surrounding soil. Sourced from renewable resources, it is lightweight and easy to work with, and completely recyclable at the end of its useful life.
In addition to defining an outdoor space, a living fence can also add privacy, as well as wind block. In these photos, our customer used our clear Western Red Cedar 2×2″s to create a gridwork for ivy to grown on. While it will take a little bit to get this privacy fence covered in ivy, it is an exceptionally pretty structure to look at in the meantime.
In this photo, a large backyard is defined into a cozy outdoor living space with a network of Western Red Cedar arbors and tumbling evergreen clematis and wisteria vines, string lighting, and horizontally installed fencing.
Drive through almost any neighborhood these days, and you’ll see that outdoor living is on the top of everyone’s minds. From simple decks to massive outdoor structures, including patio covers and pergolas, with so many options in materials, as well as installation methods and tools needed to get the job done right, hiring a contractor might just be your best bet. And money well spent.
Here are some reasons to think about getting some professional help with your next outdoor project:
Design – while Pinterest and magazines have many pictures of beautiful outdoor living spaces, will it actually work in your yard? A professional can help you design a space that will work well with your property’s size while taking things into consideration, such as the natural slope and other factors, and make recommendations that can turn a basic deck or outdoor living room into a masterpiece.
design, craftsmanship, and photo by Skagit Custom Decks
Engineering and Complexity – Each outdoor project is as unique as the person dreaming about it, and each project brings its own set of things that need to be considered, such as weight-bearing requirements (for example, if a hot tub will be placed on your new deck), electrical needs, and attachment points. If a new deck or pergola will be attached to any existing structures, an expert knows how to properly attach a ledger board to your home’s exterior to ensure both your new structure, and your home, are safely connected and protected.
design, craftsmanship, and photo by Washington Deck and Fence
Material Selection – with so many options from natural wood to composites and other manufactured decking projects, stainless steel, and more, a professional has spent the time researching and working with a variety of materials and can help you select the ones that will work best for your project and budget. With tons of experience, they know how to correctly purchase the right amount of materials from the best suppliers with the best support.
design, craftsmanship, and photo by Hillman’s Tranquil Hardscapes
Permitting – a professional has the experience and will be able to interpret your city, county, and state building codes, as well as navigate the permitting process seamlessly. This expertise can help save you lots of time and money.
design, craftsmanship, and photo by Minnesota Pergolas
How to find a good contractor? Always check to make sure anyone who will be doing work on your property is properly licensed and bonded. Your local building association is a great resource to find one in your area who is experienced in the type of project you want, and you can always be assured that they are properly licensed and bonded, as that is a requirement of membership. For help in Skagit and Island Counties, please visit www.Sicba.org for assistance. Outside our area, you can search the database of the National Association of Home Builders to find your local association by simply entering your zip code.
Before your next project, be sure to visit us! We ship nationwide!
Sometimes, thinking outside “the box” can have great rewards! Our customer recently completed this beautiful rooftop deck to enjoy our upcoming beautiful Pacific Northwest evenings. When the weather cools and the “rainy season” begins, the Western Red Cedar deck panels can be removed and stored. Because it is light in weight and naturally resistant to rot and decay, Western Red Cedar is the perfect choice for this type of application.
Each decking panel was made using our 5/4×5” Knotty Western Red Cedar decking, a somewhat uncommon size that allows the look of a wider board but a little lighter on the pocketbook. This decking is Kiln Dried prior to final milling, making for a smoother finished deck board. Beautiful and affordable!
To make each of the removable deck top panels, the 5/4×5″ radius-edged Western Red Cedar decking was screwed to 2×4” Cedar runners cut to the appropriate size for each of the rooftop panels. The size of your panels will depend on your particular roof, all while taking into consideration how the panels will be moved and stored. If you will be moving the panels up and downstairs by yourself, for ease of removal, smaller panels would work better than something that would be stored on the same level moved by two people.
To allow for expansion and contraction of the decking and allow rain and debris to fall through, allow adequate spacing between the deck boards. We recommend at least a 1/4″ gap between boards. When installing the Cedar deck boards to the runners, to prevent corrosion, we recommend using Stainless Steel or coated screws at least 2-1/2″ long for 5/4″ decking.
For more information on planning and installing your decking, including a list of tools and other items needed; please visit our blog on Deck Installation by clicking HERE. If you have other questions, our team of experts is happy to help.
A properly planned for and constructed deck can add significant value and curb appeal to your home. A place to bring family and friends together outdoors, it also helps make memories.
Here are some tips for bringing your dream into reality.
Deck Location
Using an existing doorway that provides access to your deck is a great place to start. If that is not an option, consider converting an existing window into a door that will allow access to the deck off your home’s kitchen or dining room for ease of access. Another consideration when planning where your new deck will be, is what time of day it is likely to be used and whether you prefer outdoor activities directly in the sun or in the shade.
Deck Size
When determining the size of your deck, consider what types of activities you will be enjoying, as well as how many people will likely be participating in those activities on your new deck. Take into consideration the size of all pieces of outdoor furniture, grill, hot tub or other items you will place on the deck, as well as the deck’s size in proportion to your home and surroundings.
A deck that is 12×12’ could reasonably accommodate a small round patio table and four chairs. On average, most decks range in between 200 and 300 square feet.
Deck Height
To ensure a smooth transition going inside and out, the top of your deck should be just below the bottom of the door’s threshold. Should you want the deck higher or lower to capture a view, or if your lot is sloped, consider building a deck with multi-layers and/or adding stairs. A multi-level deck can add interest to your deck where you can designate certain areas for certain types of activities.
Once you have determined your deck height, be sure to check your local building codes to determine if railings will be needed around the deck at all levels, as those will need to be budgeted in.
Deck Top
With so many decking options to choose from on the market today, finding a budget that works for you and a general idea of the deck material you desire (wood vs. man-made materials) is a great place to start narrowing down what product is right for you for the deck top.
A deck top constructed of Knotty Western Red Cedar will provide many years of service and currently is the most cost-effective option; while the cost of clear grades of Cedar decking will be on the high end of the scale.
If you love the look and feel of real wood and are interested in exploring other decking options, Red Batu, commonly referred to as “Mahogany”, is an extremely durable hardwood that is sustainably harvested and is currently the best priced hardwood decking option we offer. Going up the scale is Ipe “Ironwood”, as well as other exotic hardwoods such as Tigerwood, Purple Heart.
If a deck top constructed out of man-made materials, such as composite or cellular PVC, is more interesting to you, we offer a wide range of products produced by Timbertech and AZEK. Backed with excellent support and warranties, these products have a fairly wide range of price points and colors to select from.
No matter what product you choose, regular cleaning and maintenance will be required. How much of it is determined by the product you choose and the look you want to maintain.
Deck Framing
Now that you have determined the size and height of your deck, as well as the decking you like, configuring the proper framing for the deck is the next order of business. The size of the deck, as well as the number of footings and beams, local building codes, decking type, and manufacturer’s recommendations all need to be factored in.
In general, the framing joists are spaced 16” apart when using a 5/4×6″ decking product, but can vary based on the decking product selected.
Recommended joist spacing for Western Red Cedar Decking
Thickness (in.)
Width (in.)
Grade Category (in.)
Span
1-1/4
4
All clear grade categories
16
1-1/4
4
All knotty grade categories
12
1-1/4
6
All clear and knotty grade categories
16
2
4
All clear and knotty grade categories
24
2
6
All clear and knotty grade categories
24
The joist size need is directly related to the size of the deck. Joists spaced 16 inches on center can span 1.5 times in feet their depth in inches. A 2×8 up to 12 feet; 2×10 to 15 feet and 2×12 to 18 feet.
Using high quality pressure treated lumber is recommended. Use caution when choosing products based solely on price, as there are differences in the type of wood used, as well as pressure treating products and methods.
Deck Fasteners
Selecting the right fasteners for the job is often overlooked until the very last minute, however, all the fasteners and hardware used to construct your deck should be a priority. A properly constructed deck relies on all the connection points of the under framing to stay firmly connected and the deck top to stay securely fastened down.
Fasteners should be selected based on your application, environment, and the material being used. All fasteners for outdoor use should be corrosion resistant, and special care should be taken when selecting products that will be installed near saltwater.
Most decking can be secured using nails, screws or hidden fasteners, and should be selected based on the look you desire, as well as the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Deck Add Ons
Should your new dream deck require a railing, there are countless options in both wood and man-made materials, including powder-coated aluminum, stainless steel cable, composite materials, and glass. These can be mixed and matched is countless options to provide the exact look you desire.
When selecting a railing, always be sure the railing you select complies with local building codes and follow all manufacturer’s recommendations for installation.
Adding built-in planter boxes, benches, timber frame structures or a pergola can help define your deck as a custom outdoor living area. To elevate the feeling of your new outdoor living area to a welcoming extension of your home, add lighting, a fireplace or patio heater, and carefully selected accessories.
Need some inspiration to help you visualize your dream deck? We have a great gallery of projects on Pinterest just waiting for you!
For help in selecting the right materials for your job, as well as help designing your dream deck, please contact our team of professionals to assist you.
