| Exterior
Expressions Standard |
Common Practice |
Our Reason |
| Unlimited material selection, regarding your deck porch or gazebo |
Push only one product |
Customize the look and wants of each homeowner |
| Dumpster on every job site |
Pile waste and garbage in yard |
Keeps your home clean and orderly without killing your grass throughout the process |
| Organized and stacked materials |
Unorganized piles around the yard |
Keeps your home clean and orderly throughout the construction process |
| Minimum 6" x 6" support posts |
4" x 4" support posts |
Additional reinforcement to last longer; Thicker to look better |
| 48" - 60" deep footings |
42" footings |
Minnesota's extremely cold winters can cause footings to heave; The deeper the footing, the less likely to heave |
| Anchor attachment from support posts to footings |
No attachment or bury posts |
Attach post to footing to secure post from moving |
| Don't bury support posts |
Bury support posts with footing |
Frost will grab and heave underground posts causing structural instability/damage |
| Use 2" x 10" or 2" x 12" framing joists |
2" x 8" framing joists |
Strengthens deck, increasing desk's life |
| 12" x 12" posts, top and bottom rail glue and screwed |
Screwed only |
Holds better, stronger and longer |
| Install new water barrier flashing |
No water-proofing or no flashing |
Prevents water damage on house where structure is attached |
| Use material specific fasteners |
Standard trim screws |
Screws may disintegrate, break or allow decking to heave, warp or loosen |
| Decking attached at every joist |
Attached to every other joist |
Prevents warping, mushrooming and heavy decking |
| Decking and railing always attached with screws |
Nails occasionally used |
Nails lead to heaving and warping; Nails chip and damage the decking |
| Attach screws in "perfect" line |
Screws attached randomly |
Aligned screws have a more uniformed look |
| Use finish head screws on railing (when possible) |
Nailed or regular screws |
Finish head screws look better by matching and blending with materials color |
| Small baluster under bottom rail |
No rail support |
Provides extra support that reduces sag over time |
| Railing posts average 5' span (when possible) |
Longer span (avg. 5'6"+) |
Stronger more supportive railings |
| Continuous top rail |
Top rail inserted between each post |
Stronger more supportive railings |
| Inside finish on porch's house wall |
Leave siding on inside of porch |
Creates an inside room ambiance |
| Vaulted porch ceilings |
Flat porch ceiling with cheaper rafters |
Looks better, creates a larger and more open space |
| Use custom sized screen inserts |
Stretch 1-piece screens |
Much easier to remove, clean and repair screens |
| Insulate ceilings of screen porches |
No insulation |
Keeps room much cooler in summer |
