Deck railings are one of the first lines of defense in the safety of the people on your deck. While they're under minimal loading in a typical condition, the code plans for a worst case scenario with the loading and construction requirements of your railings. Fortunately, these requirements are easily demystified with some of my favorite deck resources.

May is National Deck Safety Month, and a perfect time to give your deck a once-over before the outdoor summer gathering season begins! Your residential deck is a place for gathering, accessing your home or yard, and enjoying the great outdoors. While it is, for the most part, a simple structure, having the important resources and knowledge about your deck can help you ensure your deck’s safety and longevity.

Remodeling your home can be a big overwhelming process with a lot of moving pieces at any given time.  Here’s a list of a few things I think are important while you’re in the midst of the big projects.  Taking on some of these things while you’re already torn apart could serve to save you time, money, and headache down the road.

Your location is perfect – close to work, school, hobbies, and family, but the house is just too small.  Add a kid or two, or a family gathering and there is literally no space left.  A lot of times, the next logical step is to add on.  There are a handful of limitations to look in to depending on your property and jurisdiction. Read more to find out about these things to consider, as well as the structural considerations!

An unfinished (or poorly finished) basement can be as good as a blank slate for you to add livable space and make your home your own.  In this time when home prices keep us in place, perhaps the next expansion you need is already right below you!

Interior remodels tend to be more forgiving.  Exterior renovations, however, require some additional considerations.  Here, we’ll talk about planning your exterior home renovations, and some things to consider as you make design decisions early on in the process.