Why​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ More Orono Homeowners Are Reconsidering Their Backyard Decks After Several Minnesota Winters

 

One thing we've certainly learned through our work with homeowners in Orono and the rest of the Minneapolis area, is this: people tend not to give much thought to their decking until after a few winters in Minnesota have taken place Deck Builder in Orono, MN.

Initially, everything appears perfect. The boards are sturdy, the stain is new, and everyone pictures summer nights outdoors with friends and a barbeque while the children play in the yard. But then the freezing and thawing cycles, the snowdrifts, the moisture of spring and those humid, very hot afternoons of July come. All of a sudden, the deck feels less inviting.

It has been a great pleasure to engage with the homeowners across the west metro who almost all said, "We thought we'd use the deck all the time, but somehow we barely used it last summer."

It usually comes down to the fact that although the outdoor space was desired, the deck was simply not constructed in a way that the homeowner's lifestyle could be incorporated.

Common Backyard Deck Issues in Orono

A family we talked to who lives near Lake Minnetonka had a deck that was right on paper. It was a very big one. It went around the house. And there was plenty of room. However by the time a few years passed, they realized that no one was really out there.

Another problem may have been the sun. By late afternoon, it was so hot that no one could stand it anymore. One more point is maintenance. Every spring,sanding, staining, and replacing boards got warped were the ongoing activities. Also, sections became slippery and uneven in the aftermath of long winters.

And honestly, such a situation is actually pretty typical in Minnesota.

Our weather is of such character as to expose every weakness or shortcut in an outdoor project. Snow that melts during the day and refreezes in the night. Moisture gets trapped in poorly drained areas. Even good quality wood is changing its size constantly during the seasons.

What is still attractive in the first summer may be very different after four or five winters.

The backyard solutions Orono residents are focusing on these days

One of the things that we are seeing happening quite often is that homeowners are focusing less on “showpiece” decks and more on functionality. They want outdoor environments that they will really use on a regular basis and not only during one summer party in July.

Clean, easy-to-care-for materials are often brought up in discussion. It was not so long ago that many homeowners were choosing traditional wood automatically simply because it looked to them as the most natural option. However, nowadays more and more families are becoming aware of how much time one has to invest in maintenance activities when living in the Minnesota climate.

Quite often, we have heard homeowners talk about how they were tired of dedicating entire weekends to scraping stain or pressure washing mildew off boards every spring.

That does not necessarily mean that there are no homeowners who want the same thing. Several people still love the wood and its natural character. Some others even value top-quality more than anything else. The main thing that has changed is people are now looking at a picture of the long-term future. They are thinking of better questions about what living with the ownership will feel like after 10 years, not only about what looks nice during installation week.

The ways families are using their outdoor spaces is the other interesting aspect of the story.

Rather than opening one big rectangle, many homeowners are opting for smaller, functional areas. A quiet shaded corner for morning coffee. Wide stairs on which kids can sit during backyard gatherings. Space for a grill that does not interfere with the seating area. Lighting that makes the deck feel conducive after sunset.

Unexpectedly, details that are little make a difference in people's minds.

Being in sympathy with the yard through design rather than fighting it

Properties in Orono can be gorgeous. At the same time, they come with difficulties. Landscapes with a slope, mature trees, lakeside moisture, and uneven grading all have an impact on the way outdoor areas operate.

One resident whom we interviewed wanted a huge flat deck that would cover the entire backyard. Nevertheless, after talking about how they made use of the space, they realized that it really made more sense to keep some natural yard flow.

This is something that we have been able to point out a lot over the years: that outdoor spaces that work the best are those that allow the property to be itself rather than those that force the property to be hidden behind the structure.

Occasionally a smallish deck with elegant transitions into the yard is so much more welcoming than the enormous platform that cleaves the landscape in two.

Apart from missing this point, a lot of homeowners do not realize that drainage could be a problem until they start to observe the presence of their symptoms. Poor water flow around a deck could give rise to muddy areas, pools of water, erosion, or patches of dangerous ice in the winter.

And drainage problems in Minnesota do not stay small for very long.

What Local Deck Projects Have Taught Us

A big thing that comes as a shock to many would-be homeowners is the realization that bigger does not equal better every time.

Compact decks have turned out to be the choice of gathering spot for whole families simply because the layout allowed it organically. On the other hand, large decks have occasionally felt empty or disjointed from the yard.

Comfort is a factor, as well.

The exposure to the sun and wind in Orono is so significant that it may completely change the feelings that one has of the deck at different times of the day. There are those who end up telling us that a late afternoon visit to their deck is impossible as it becomes hot due to being overexposed to sun rays. Others have to cope with ongoing exposure to the wind from open lots near the water.

Very often, simple things like changing the place of stairs, covering the deck partially for shade, or rearranging the seating areas lead to more major changes than the ones that come from costly upgrades.

People also do not think about this, but usability through winter is something that should be pre-planned too.

After snowing days in a row, homeowners get more and more thoughtful about their details like stairs with a proper non-slip surface, paths wide enough for easy snow clearing, and lighting that guides them during the dark evenings of winter. Those decisions that are practical may not always be the most inspiring during the design phase, but when it is January, they are going to be very important.

Regrettable Mistakes That Are Made By Homeowners

The one mistake that we have been hearing about a ton recently is to pick the materials solely reliant on the lowest price at the time.

Saving money before has come across as a smart move initially but after several years' worth maintenance, fastening up, sealing, and replacing boards, many homeowners come to the conclusion that the “cheaper” option did not really save them anything.

Another big problem is that we rarely see owners paying attention to drainage until the issues have gotten serious.

Deck, beautiful as it may be, is still highly susceptible to damage if water pools both under or around it. We have seen countless instances of homeowners forced to deal with muddy transitions between yard and deck, ground shifting, build-ups of icy patches near stairs, etc. This is the result of the lack of properly managed water drainage.

On top of that, people often forget just how quickly their needs as a family can change.

Deck-planning couples might end up with a totally different set of priorities in five years. Kids no longer need to be looked after. Family visits become more frequent. There also may be greater importance put on having an outdoor dining area. There are situations in which homeowners wish that from the very start they had more flexible seating or easier yard access.

Outdoor spaces with the best potential are ones that seem to permit change over time and that do not dictate exactly how homeowners must use them.

What Makes a Deck Look Complete?

Usually, homeowners' favorite features are not the most eye-catching ones.

Take lighting for example. Han bringing in some really soft stair lighting or subtly illuminating the posts can totally alter the feeling of warmth that a deck gives when the sun has gone down. Handy lighting is a real blessing for summertime in Minnesota when most people try to keep the patio time going for as long as possible.

Privacy is also a major selling point, especially in areas where homes are close together. Anyway, not many are willing to end up feeling caged. We have come across excellent usage of landscaping, pergolas, or partial privacy screens that offer separation without creating an enclosed atmosphere.

Then, there is flow.

Decks that truly win people's hearts tend to feel like a natural continuation of the house rather than a separate platform stuck to the back door. Having seamless navigation between the kitchen, backyard, and seating areas results in houses being used more frequently as families come and go from there.

Why Outdoor Living in Minnesota Is a Whole Different Thing

Long winters might be one of the reasons why outdoor spaces are cherished here so much.

The months of snow, gray skies, and cold temperatures will be over very soon, those first warm evenings are crucial and people are going to want to have spaces that they feel comfortable in where they can relax, gather with neighbors, eat dinner outside, or simply sit quietly after work.

Opening seasons to the outdoors lead to great talk with homeowners. You've been more in your house during the winter so you "rethink" your home as a place for outdoor living. You start paying attention: what works, what doesn't, what's comfortable, function, what you spend most of your time at." So that's one reason why homeowners take so much care when planning their backyard decks in Orono.

Leisure time outdoors, home-cooked food, kids' laughter, pleasant chit-chat, good music, good weather, nature, and comfortable furniture - just the things to make your backyard enjoyable and cozy. One of the best possible courses of action to keep your home and your family away from stay-at-home boredom during the months of winter is to get the family involved in the tasks of preparing, organizing baying and setting up of the deck each ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌year!