Answer Hub
Homeowner answers
Straight answers from an architect-trained craftsman about decks, pergolas, wood restoration and outdoor living in North County San Diego.
Showing 181 to 202 of 202 answers, newest first RSS feed
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How often should a west-facing wood front door be recoated in Carlsbad?
Plan on a light maintenance coat of varnish about once a year on a west-facing door with little overhang, and every two to three years if the door is shaded by…
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What is the best wood for outdoor projects near the coast in San Diego?
For most coastal San Diego decks, pergolas and fences, the strong choices are redwood, western red cedar, dense tropical hardwoods such as ipe, and…
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How do I plan a deck layout that fits our furniture and gives us shade?
Lay out the deck around the furniture you will actually use, not the square footage. Measure your dining table with chairs pulled out and add a walkway behind…
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How do I inspect my own deck or balcony for rot before it becomes dangerous?
Take a flat screwdriver or an awl and probe the places water collects: post bottoms, the ledger against the house, joist ends, railing post bases, stair…
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Should I build a deck, a patio or a paver courtyard behind my house?
Choose by the ground, not the look. If your back door sits well above the yard or the lot slopes, a deck gets you a level outdoor floor without retaining walls…
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What size pergola do I need for an outdoor dining table or a lounge set?
Measure the furniture, then add room to pull out chairs and walk around. A six-seat rectangular table typically wants a shade footprint close to ten by…
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How is a wood front door refinished?
A proper front door refinish means taking the door back to bare wood, not just recoating. We remove the hardware, strip or sand off the failed finish, sand…
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How does coastal weather in North County San Diego affect outdoor wood?
Coastal North County is gentle on people and hard on wood. The marine layer keeps surfaces damp for hours most mornings, salt in the air attacks fasteners and…
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Where does wood rot usually start on a house or deck?
Rot starts where wood stays wet: post bases sitting on concrete or in soil, the ledger where a deck or balcony meets the house, the ends of joists, fascia…
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Should I stain or paint the exterior wood on my house in North County?
Stain if the wood is in good shape and you want to see the grain; paint if the wood is rough, patched or already painted. Semi-transparent oil stains are the…
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Which outdoor projects need a building permit in Carlsbad, and which are exempt?
Most do. An attached deck, a raised deck, a pergola big enough to shade a table and any structural repair need a Carlsbad building permit. The California…
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How long does a deck last in North County San Diego?
A well-built deck near the coast typically lasts 15 to 30 years, and the surface and the frame age on different clocks. Pressure-treated framing that is…
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How much shade does a pergola really give, and how do rafter spacing and direction change it?
A pergola with rafters set on edge and spaced close together can block most of the direct sun at midday and even more in late afternoon. Rafter depth, spacing…
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Should my pergola be attached to the house or freestanding?
Attach a pergola when you want it to read as part of the house, cover a door or window wall, and save the cost of one row of posts. Go freestanding when the…
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What is dry rot, and why is it called dry when my wood is wet?
Dry rot is a fungus, not a dry condition. Brown rot fungi digest the cellulose in wood and leave it dark, brittle, and cracked into cubes, which looks dry…
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Penetrating oil or film-forming finish: which is better for exterior wood in San Diego?
For horizontal surfaces like deck boards, stair treads and pergola tops, a penetrating oil finish is usually the better choice. It soaks into the wood, wears…
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Do I need a permit to build a deck in Carlsbad?
Often, yes. The California Residential Code exempts only small, low, detached decks from a building permit: generally those under 200 square feet, no more than…
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What should I think about before building a deck or pergola in Carlsbad?
Before building a deck or pergola in Carlsbad, settle five things: how you will actually use the space, where sun and wind hit your yard through the day, what…
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How can I tell if the damage on my deck or trim is wood rot or termites?
Wood rot is soft, dark or crumbly wood that breaks into cubes or stringy fibers and is almost always wet or recently wet. Termite damage is hollowed wood with…
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Is composite or wood decking better for a coastal home in Carlsbad?
For most homes within a few miles of the coast in Carlsbad and North County, a quality capped composite is the lower-maintenance choice: it will not rot, split…
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What is the difference between a pergola, a covered patio, a gazebo and a louvered roof?
A pergola is an open frame of posts, beams and spaced rafters that filters sun but does not keep out rain. A covered patio has a solid roof, usually tied to…
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Can a gray, weathered deck be restored, or does it need to be replaced?
Most gray decks can be restored. The gray is a thin layer of sun-damaged surface fibers, not deep decay. If the boards are solid when you probe them with a…
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