Wider Composite Deck Boards

Wide format composites bring a more modern look to a deck, reminiscent of the latest interior flooring trends for wider hardwood floors. Fewer joint lines also mean a cleaner and more minimalistic design, with quicker installations for you because less time is spent cutting and fastening. The availability of matching 3 1/2” and 5 1/2” widths of composites mean you can mix and match different boards, allowing enough visual control that each deck you build can be something of a unique, custom project.

As a contractor, you know that few homeowners have the ability to accurately visualize designs properly in their mind based on verbal descriptions alone or even from photos in isolation. This is why it’s so valuable to learn and use 3D digital design tools to help your deck clients envision better and understand the options you’re suggesting. This might seem like it’s for the client’s benefit, but it’s also for yours. The better a client understands what a completed deck will look like ahead of time (ideally in three dimensions), the more likely you are to avoid misunderstandings, change orders and profit-sapping hassles. But before you show any designs, ask your clients to send you images of decks that they like, especially the patterns of deck boards. Photos of appealing decks shot on a phone, or deck images taken off the internet can help begin a design conversation with your client.

6. Learn the options: It’s not enough for you to have pamphlets and web pages to show clients, you’ve also got to know the content in these things well enough to talk about them in normal conversation.