Monday, September 3rd, 2018
It’s officially the beginning of Fall. No matter what the season, though, people tend to enjoy spending time outdoors even when they just sit on the balcony, porch, veranda or the deck. But wait, can you tell the differences in structure and features with each one?
The Porch (and Veranda)
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the porch is a roofed structure, usually open at the sides, projecting from the face of a building and used to protect the entrance. In the United States, this is what’s referred to as the veranda.
So there you go, you have two terms having just the same meaning and purpose. But there is just a little evidence of the existence of this structure prior to the Classical antiquity. There were many Egyptian wall paintings that indicated the occasional use of porch on some houses.
In Greece, the Tower of the Winds in Athens was a porch that had two columns carrying a pediment. The Romans, on the other hand, had colonnades which were used as porches. These all faced the street. This kind of porch was also seen up until the Early Christian basilicas’ creation. The porch was used as a formal entrance in old structures such as the Basilica of Old St. Peter’s.
The French in Burgundy developed porches that had vaulted structures. These showed great heights and were sometimes even as long as the whole church structure. An example of this fine architecture is the Vézelay abbey church.
If these are exciting enough for you, wait till you learn about the Gothic era and the two porch types that were then created as ecclesiastical buildings. The first one is a tiny, gabled porch that either projected from the south or north walls of a nave. The other one is what’s referred to as the galilee which was constructed so beautifully that it’s short of being a separate building.
The Germans were even more flamboyant in their porch designs. They had theirs frequently styled with tracery, canopies, cusping, etc.
In the Renaissance, porches were chiefly colonnaded porticos.
A Balcony
The Collins English dictionary defines a balcony as any platform on the outside of a building, above ground level, with a wall or railing around it. In a cinema or theater, the balcony is an area of seats above the main seating area.
Would you believe that balconies come with a two thousand year history? The term balcony was derived from the Italian term balcone meaning, a scaffold. The earliest types of balconies have been seen to date back for more than 2,000 years.
The balcony was originally created to increase air circulation especially during the hottest climates in Ancient Greece. Today, the balcony is integral to a building’s façade because it gives the property a more stylish vibe. Plus you get more space to roam in.
Balconies in the UK are Juliet balconies which date all the way back to the late Georgian era. They were created by architects to give structures a prestigious look. They were originally made of wrought-iron and were rectangular and filled the whole span of windows.
If you have traveled in Europe, you might have noticed how the finest balconies seem to have been constructed there. Most even have overlooking views of water-cooled gardens and courtyards.
The Deck
The Merriam-Webster dictionary is something resembling the deck of a ship such as a story or tier of a building or a flat-floored roofless area adjoining a house.
Wood decks can have wrought-iron furnishings. These structures can be used as a part of landscaping, an exterior part of a house, or as an alternative to the patio.
Tags: balcony, balcony history, deck, deck design, deck history, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, patio, patio design, patio history, veranda, veranda history
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Outdoors Style | Comments Off on Porch, Veranda, Deck and Balcony? Do You Know the Difference?
Friday, January 12th, 2018
If you live in a region where good weather comes all-year-round, then you must enjoy it to the fullest. In order to do this, you to be able to go outside, to begin with. If you live in a home, though, that is lacking in lovely outdoor space, then that’s a reason for you to become a little more creative because outdoor living is simply in these days and adding a deck is a most-requested project among many designers.
There are now a lot of durable materials, accessories, and outdoor furniture to choose from as well as shade options. These are the reasons why more and more homeowners want to have their own deck.
An extension outdoor is also a way of extending your living space while enjoying outdoor beauty. This can be a great area for just hanging out with friends, lounging with family, reading a book or dining.
Differentiate Deck from Patio
The first thing that you need to consider is if you really need a patio, a deck or both.
A patio sits on flat ground is often made of pavers, concrete, flagstone or wood. It would be costly to set up a patio on a sloping surface since you will need retaining walls for the level surface.
A deck is a kind of platform that comes with decked tiles or boards. These are usually made of hardwood or a composite material.
The deck is the best kind of outdoor extension if your property comes with sloped yards. This is a place where you can finally have a flat surface where there used to be rolling hills. This is also a wonderful option for homes that sit above the ground.
You can go as high as you want with a deck. A platform deck is the best choice for homes that sit higher than 14 inches from the ground.
You can choose the patio or the deck on their own or you can build a deck that steps down to your patio.
Deck Uses
Typically, homeowners want a multipurpose deck. This is an area where the family can eat, hang out or cook. The sky’s the limit, actually, with regard to the activities that you can do in this space. Depending also on your budget, you can even consider installing an outdoor television, a fire pit, a fireplace, a small outdoor kitchen, a water feature, even a hot tub.
Figure out what you would do with the deck that is about to be set up. Doing so will let you realize what size and safety measures will be set. You also need to know what the level of foot traffic would be. If you will be hosting a lot of parties, then you need a more durable material for your flooring as well as your outdoor furniture.
The last thing that you would want is to build a deck that’s too small or actually too large for your actual needs. Think also on how you can still have privacy on the deck. You wouldn’t want the entire neighborhood spying on your latest party.
Accessibility
Another thing that you need to consider when building a deck is how you and your family will be able to access it. If you already have a door that leads directly outdoors then, congratulations, that’s the perfect spot to begin.
But if you’re setting up a deck in a place where there’s no door, then you will need to make a budget for the opening of a wall. If you are going to break down a load-bearing wall, then that’s going to be a bigger issue.
Material Choices
Flooring options for decks are composite boards and wood. Wood has always been the more dominant of the two. The former are engineered pieces compared to the natural beauty that wood offers.
Consider also the shade options for your retractable awnings, umbrellas, or screened-in porch. Lastly, don’t forget the lighting. Whatever theme you chose, just make sure that the lighting fixture that you get will complement the rest of the design elements.
Tags: deck, deck design, deck style, deck vs. patio, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, patio vs. deck
Posted in Accents, Outdoors Style | Comments Off on The Joys of Adding a Deck to Your Home
Saturday, January 21st, 2017
Do you ever wonder how much a porch or deck remodeling would cost? Deck and porch contractors are professionals that can help you assess this. Apart from consulting with them, you can also do your own deck research.
First, you must understand a few factors that will affect the project cost (whether to increase or decrease it). These factors include the budget, height of the structure, its shape, railing length, benches and steps, permits, removal of the old structure, built-in features, longevity, your personal preference, and the cost of materials.
Let’s discuss a few –
Budget
The budget will always have a direct effect on the remodeling cost, after all, if you don’t have ample budget, then you won’t be able to create your dream porch or deck. Having a smaller budget could also mean letting go of certain features such as rails, benches and rails.
Set the budget for the deck project before you even begin it. If you don’t do this, you could end up overspending, or worse, be left with an unfinished project.
Material Costs
The deck cost depends hugely on the kind of wood that you have chosen. There are plenty of options for wood if you want to make a beautiful and improved deck. The prices vary from $1 per square foot or as high as $41 for every square foot.
Keep in mind that wood isn’t the only choice that you can use. You can also use vinyl, plastic, concrete or aluminum. All these options offer different benefits and features.
Height
The higher your deck, the more materials you are going to use to complete it. So, yes, higher decks cost a lot more. Just think of it like a home. A three-story home is a lot costlier than a studio-type home within the same community.
Shape
The deck can be fashioned in any shape that you want. It can be a basic square, the unique S-shape or it can even be abstract. The more complex the shape, the costlier it is going to be. Unique designs, after all, take more time to plan and be built. Also, they could require extra permits that standard decks no longer need.
Railing Length
Remember that not all decks need rails. If you are building one that’s off the ground or are adding to the second story, then rails are a must-have.
Rails also add a certain beauty to single-story decks. You can just have shortened rails for such. Remember that the partial rail is cheaper than the full rail.
Benches and Steps
What is the main function for your porch or deck? You are likely to be building this deck so that your friends and your family could enjoy the outdoors throughout the year. Of course, you will need benches and other seating units installed. Benches could also increase the value of the house when it’s already time to sell.
Steps are also features that are not really needful. They are nice to have, though. Steps also do not add much to the deck’s overall cost so if you want some steps installed, go ahead and do so.
Old Deck Removal
If you already have an existing deck, then it would also cost more to have it removed and then to have a new one built. It will take manual labor to remove the previous one, so, you might need to shell out an extra thousand dollars to about $1,500 for the whole project.
Permits and Insurance
Building a new deck means you are likely going to apply for a permit. Decking contractors can do this for you. This extra service will also cost you more.
Any structural addition requires insurance so if this is your first deck, then you will need to have insurance. Remodeling could require an increased insurance premium.
Tags: deck, deck and porch, deck design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, porch, porch design
Posted in Outdoors Style | Comments Off on Deck and Porch Remodeling: Factors That Affect the Cost
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