Next-door neighbors Mike and Stephanie Schneider and Carlos Zayas and wife Rita Pons had the same problem when they bought their Atlanta homes off Oak Grove Road: dated decks.

Original to the houses, built in the mid-1990s, both decks were basic, square and small, Stephanie Schneider said.

Frank Niemeir / AJC (ENLARGE)

Tailor Decks built this deck for the Schneider family using Ipe, a Brazilian hardwood.

Frank Niemeir / AJC (ENLARGE)

For their deck, Carlos Zayas and Rita Pons selected PureWood, a wood ttreated with a substance insects can't digest.

Frank Niemeir / AJC (ENLARGE)

Lizie Zayas enjoys her family's new deck.

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With three young children to each couple's name, the need for functional, attractive outdoor space was ever-increasing, so both families decided a deck redo was in order.

While their tastes in materials and finishes differed, the families had a few common desires; namely, that their deck be built by John Paulin of Tailor Decks in Atlanta, as well as the addition of a screened-in porch and grilling space.

According to the North American Deck and Railing Association, more than 25 percent of U.S. homes have a deck. And while decking choices include everything from plastics to composites, most people still prefer pressure-treated wood for its cost, longevity and natural appeal.

Paulin said about 75 percent of his clients ask for a screened-in porch in addition to a traditional decking space.

"It's almost like a magnet [drawing people outside]," Paulin said. "I hear that from all of my customers.

The Schneiders

The Schneiders envisioned a deck to be an expansion of their living space, but with outdoor appeal.

"Our goal for this project was to make this additional living space as year-round as possible," Stephanie explained.

Their new deck consists of a completely outdoor space for dining and grilling, as well as a screened-in porch with fireplace and removable glass windows, allowing the family to use the room during the colder months. Copper-accented lanterns light the frame of the deck, as well as the staircase.

Below the second-level deck, Paulin's team constructed a second stone fireplace and seating area outside the basement door, giving the family multi-level outdoor options.

For the deck itself, the Schneiders selected ipe lumber, a smooth, rich Brazilian hardwood, for its durability and smoothness.

"One of the biggest issues was our kids were getting splinters all the time" from the old deck, Stephanie said.

Paulin said ipe has its pros and cons; while it's hardy and rarely cracks or splinters, it needs annual staining to keep its rich color.

The Schneiders don't mind the maintenance; they love the smooth wood and didn't care for the look of composite decking material.

Stephanie said the family spends so much time in their screened-in porch that they've installed a television in the space, which overlooks a hilly backyard and tall trees.

"We probably use this more than our living room," she said. "In the evening, you almost feel like you're on vacation in a log cabin in the woods."

Zayas-Pons family

Rita Pons and Carlos Zayas were so impressed with the Schneiders' results that they, too, hired Paulin for their deck renovation.

Like their neighbors, the couple wanted a screened-in porch and an outside grilling and dining area.

"We didn't want a sunroom because it doesn't feel like the outdoors; it becomes just another room," Rita said.

The Zayas-Pons family chose a new wood material for their deck called Pure Wood. Its manufacturer describes PureWood as a yellow pine that is thermally treated to convert the sugars within the wood into a substance that insects can't digest. Paulin said Pure Wood is also mold- and fungus-resistant.

Rita said she likes the rich texture of the wood planks, which have a ribbed finish (or linea) that she finds easy on the feet. She also doesn't worry about her children slipping on the deck or getting splinters. She wasn't worried about testing out this product because it comes with a 25-year warranty.

"We wanted something a little different," Rita said of their wood selection. "This is great — I love how it feels when you walk on it."

Like he does with most of his projects, Paulin laid the planks diagonally, which he said adds strength, as well as visual interest. The deck railing has a special cut-out area that accommodates the family's grill. And like the Schneider project, Paulin offset the wood with powder-coated aluminum balusters.

While ipe wood requires annual staining, PureWood should be restained roughly every two years, Paulin said.

Since the project was completed in March, the family spends every night in the cedar, gable-roofed screened-in porch, Rita said.

"We eat out here every night," she said. "It's like being on vacation."

Safety first

Roughly half of the estimated 40 million decks in the U.S. need some type of repair or replacement, said Ricardo Arevalo, a structural engineer with Simpson Strong-Tie, which manufacturers structural building products.

"The reason you have issues with decks is improper design, improper construction, or really the big one, improper maintenance," he said.

Between 2000 and 2006, more than 30 people died as a result of deck collapses, according to the North American Deck and Railing Association.

A number of high profile deck collapses have occurred in metro Atlanta in the past several years; in 2006, a Doraville family of four was injured in a deck collapse while inspecting a home for sale. And 11 people in Forest Park were hurt when a deck collapsed beneath them during a candlelight vigil in 2003.

A deck is expected to last 10 to 15 years, and even when constructed perfectly, can still fail with age, Arevalo said. "That's why you have to do an annual inspection."

Arevalo said to look for these warning signs of an unsafe deck.

1) Loose or missing connections. "If it moves, it's more than likely that something is missing that should make it stable." A deck should be constructed with wood members, nails, screws and metal connectors; if it's just nails, Arevalo said your deck is likely unsafe.

2) Cracks. Some cracks in wood are normal, he said, but large cracks could be a symptom of stress or overloading, which can weaken the deck.

3) Rotted wood. If a deck isn't properly maintained, wood rot is likely, he said. To check for rotted wood, take a hammer and tap lightly on the board; if hammer goes into wood easily or makes an indention, it may be rotted. Also check the bottom of wood posts and under deck boards for signs of rot.

4) Corrosion. Metal exposed to air over time can corrode, so be sure to check the status of any metal connections and nails and screws. Arevalo said metal should have a galvanized coating to protect it from the elements, or consumers can use stainless steel, which is the most impervious metal.

Arevalo advises homeowners to take their deck remodel as seriously as they would home construction."Don't skimp or take shortcuts when dealing with the deck just because it's an outside structure," he said. "Treat the deck with the same attention and care as you would your home."

What to ask your contractor

Arevalo advises homeowners to ask their deck contractors if they are using galvanized connectors and how they are securing the ledger, a wood interface between house and deck, to the home.

"This is the most critical connection that surprisingly people will do with nails, because it is easiest," he said. "But they absolutely at minimum need screws and bolts."

Paulin adds that homeowners should ask if their contractor has worker's compensation and liability insurance; if they are a licensed contractor in Georgia; whether they pursue building permits prior to construction in accordance with state law, and how long he or she has been in the deck construction business.

Sources: Ricardo Arevalo, a structural engineer with Simpson Strong-Tie and John Paulin of Tailor Decks in Atlanta.