Beyond the Boards
Articles, guides, and other resources written by master deck builders and industry vetrans.
Align Decking is Southern Ontario, Canada’s premiere deck design and construction group. Below you can find many great articles written by our winning team of master deck builders, deck designers, and other industry experts. This blog has articles for everyone from career deck builders to first-time homeowners and crafty DIYers.
Looking for care and maintenance tips for your current deck? You can find it here! How about some inspiration for your upcoming deck project? Yup, we have that too!
Whether you’re building your 100th deck, your 1st, or you’re just getting started testing the waters, we have all the decking articles you could ever wish for!
Featured Articles
About the Author
Hey, I’m Dale 👋, President and Chief Deck Officer at Align Decking. The Beyond the Boards Blog is a passion project started by the team and I to share the knowledge we’ve amassed over our decades of building custom decks.
The 5-Step Deck Audit
The 5-Step Deck Audit is a comprehensive guide designed for homeowners to evaluate the condition of their decks. Many of the decks we inspect each year are in far worse condition than the homeowners think. Arm yourself with the knowledge and resources to preform a self-assessment of your deck, even if you have no construction knowledge at all. Think your deck is safe? You might be surprised…
Helical Piles vs. Concrete Foundations for Decks
One of the most overlooked, yet most important aspects of building a new deck is the footing or foundation. After all, a deck is only as good as the foundations it is built on. This becomes increasingly true when building a deck in areas with drastic temperature fluctuations and harsh winters, such as here in Southern Ontario. Improper foundation selection or installation can result in the need for costly repairs or can lead to the premature failure of the deck. A deck can be a significant investment in many homeowners’ lives. It’s important to understand the foundation options available to you in order to maximize the lifespan and potential of your investment!