Top Trends for Decks in 2015

Josh Franklin, sales associate and landscape designer with Deckscapes of Virginia in Cartharpin, Virginia, says customers ask for composite materials, typically a combination of recycled plastics and wood fibers, more than wood decking, which may be more susceptible to splintering, warping and cracking.

“We’ve noticed a large push for composite,” he says. “It’s lower maintenance, you don’t have to stain it or maintain it on a yearly basis. It’s become increasingly popular over the last five years but continues to gain popularity.”

Ralph Ford, owner of Deckmasters in Greenwood, Indiana, says most customers come to him asking for composite, as well. “Everyone wants the new vinyls and new composites,” he says. “Everybody sees the luxury in those items.” However, Ford says composite costs more, so he still also builds a large percentage of decks with pressure-treated pine.

You can expect to pay at least $2,000 for a 200-square-foot wooden deck, but most decks typically range from 350 to 700 square feet in size, and cost about $5,000 to $10,000, according to Ford. Composite decks, however, usually cost $10,000 or more for the same size deck.

Gone are the days when customers wanted one flat surface for their decks.

Ford says he often builds multi-level decks, which he notes are different from multi-story decks, which typically feature two separate entertaining areas.
Instead, multi-level decks allow those on the main deck to easily interact from the different levels while still incorporating a more unique design.

According to Ford, there are two main color groups from which to choose for decking — the wood tones, which is their name for brown, or gray.

Since composite deck manufacturer Trex released the new color, “Island Mist,” last year, Franklin says he’s seen an increase in demand for the gray hue.

“It’s what they call a variegated decking board between charcoal and gray, and that’s become popular, especially in the last six months. That’s the color people are seeking out,” he says.

Island Mist isn’t the only variegated color gaining popularity. According to Franklin, customers are leaning toward two-toned decking in other hues, as well.

“A lot of the composite market has moved toward two-toned decking board colors within composite,” Franklin says. “People are staying away from solid colors. It’s kind of like how you see in hardwood, there will be two or three different colors, like in mahogany or oak. So they’re doing it with two-toned decking boards.”

The increase of composite decks’ popularity comes with a new design: curved decks.

“They are popular with the composite industry,” Franklin says. “You can heat up that board until it’s almost like a spaghetti noodle. When it cools down, it maintains its rigid form, but it allows deck builders to create custom curves, things that weren’t possible with traditional lumber.”

Ford says Deckmasters builds non-rectangular decks 95 percent of the time, with a focus on custom designs.

Customers have always considered outdoor lighting important, Franklin says. But more homeowners are moving from installing the lights around the deck using tiki torches and other temporary solutions to installing permanent lighting on the decking itself.

“A lot of people are interested in accent lighting drawing attention to posts of the deck,” he says. “Aesthetics has become an important point.”

According to Ford, adding solar and low-voltage lighting fixtures should only increase the cost of your project by a few hundred dollars, and most deck builders can install them. However, if you go with regular voltage lighting, you need to hire an electrician.