Did you know? Learn 5 deck design details you need to know.

Discover 5 Tips for better deck design. [DIY University website]( [Premium Workshops]( [NEW! DIY Quick Class Subscription]( [Quick Classes]( [Discover 5 Details You Need to Know About Backyard Decks]( [Steve Maxwell shares what you need to know, whether you are building a new deck or refinishing your existing backyard deck. Then learn how to build custom wood cabinets.]( [Learn More]( [Premium Workshop]( Q&A with Steve Maxwell Improving the quality of your current deck design or planning to build a new deck? Steve Maxwell is here to tell us a little bit about his newest course and share his best advice for building a backyard deck. Q: What top three things would you tell someone planning a new deck this year? The first thing to understand is that most decks are built far less well than they could be. This includes both appearance and rot resistance. If you go with the kind of construction methods most people do (even most professionals), you’ll be getting less deck life and beauty for your dollar than you otherwise could. The second thing to understand is that the sun and weather will turn any unstained wood gray in time. Go ahead and use fancy tropical hardwoods for the walking surfaces on your deck, but just realize that it will look pretty much like barnboard if you don’t also keep that wood finished. And third, don’t be deterred by the cost of good deck wood alternatives. They do cost more than basic, pressure-treated lumber, but alternatives such as plastic lumber or composites also never rot and they never need to be finished. More and more people are seeing this as a good deal. Q: What advice would you give someone with old deck that’s too much work to keep finished? Too much work staining and re-staining is the #1 complaint of wooden deck owners everywhere. I hear this complaint all the time. Part of this problem stems from the fact that many deck stains just don’t last all that long. They’re bad right from the start. Applying products that have proven themselves in independant testing is a great way to reduce the maintenance load. Different finishing products demand different maintenance responsibilities. Some are simply much easier to maintain than others. Q: What top 5 technical details does this course share for making any deck design better? The five most important details for a great, long-lasting deck of any size and shape are: - A support structure that’s reliably solid and has the smallest possible areas of rot-promoting wood-to-wood contact. - A deck railing system that will always remain solid. - A deck stair system that’s comfortable, safe and reliably solid over the long haul. - An informed choice of deck surface materials to suit your expectations. - A deck finishing strategy that suits your idea of good looks and minimal maintenance. [Steve Maxwell Headshot]( Instructor Steve Maxwell Steve Maxwell is an award winning how-to building instructor. He is also a carpenter and home builder living on Manitoulin Island, Canada. Steve's been teaching people to succeed with hands-on how-to skills through his articles, courses, videos and teaching seminars since 1988. [How to Build a Deck]( [Premium Workshop]( Enrollment Closes: June 20, 2019 Workshop Length: 5 weeks Course Start Date: June 13, 2019 Course End Date: July 26, 2019 Price: $129 Save 10% through May 31, 2019 with EARLYBIRD10 [Learn More]( Featured Course [Premium Workshop]( [How to Build Kitchen Cabinets]( Enrollment Closes: June 13, 2019 Workshop Length: 5 weeks Course Start Date: June 6, 2019 Course End Date: July 19, 2019 Price: $149 Instructor: Steve Maxwell [Steve Maxwell Headshot]( Building your own custom kitchen cabinets is one of the most enjoyable and profitable improvements you can make to your home. You’ll save money, elevate your woodworking projects skills, and enjoy the process of building custom cabinets that will last. This premium online workshop is for woodworkers who want real wood and real craftsmanship at the heart of their homes. [Learn More]( Quick Class Check out this Quick Class for more great online learning. [Master the Circular Saw]( [Quick Class]( [Price: $19.95 Circular saws are one of the most useful power tools a DIYer can own. And mastering the skills to use a circular saw will open up a world of possibilities. With the tips and techniques you'll learn in this course, you'll be able to build everything from birdhouses to bookcases to backyard decks.]( [Enroll Now!]( [DIYU Quick Class Subscription: Start Your FREE 2-Week Trial - Learn More >>]( [DIYU Quick Class Subscription: Start Your FREE 2-Week Trial - Learn More >>]( [DIY University website]( You are subscribed to this email as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe or update your Email Preferences, [click here](. View our [privacy policy](. Trusted Media Brands, Inc. 1610 N. 2nd St., Suite 102 Milwaukee, WI 53212 Copyright © 2019 Trusted Media Brands. All rights reserved.