A list of the top ten ways to create an outdoor oasis
Tigerwood deck at tree canopy
When you are looking for ways to create the perfect backyard often times we let our dreams of our ideal space be fall to the wayside. Homeowners need to realize that what makes their version of the perfect outdoor living space right for them comes from within. No two people view the idea of outdoor living the same way, that being said we specialize in customizing your dreams to suit your desired function within that space, the area you have available to create your space and your budget.
A covered patio, deck and pergola may fit the bill for your backyard.
We have compiled a list of the top 10 ways to create that outdoor oasis you have been dreaming of. This list will help provide ideas and insight into how you can make your outdoor oasis a reality.
Top 10 ways to create an outdoor oasis
This Circular spa with natural privacy barrier has clean lines and delivers a contemporary feel to the space.
1) Pick you own personal style – create a backyard that flows with style. Create everything from formal by using columns and classic lines, to more modern by using curvilinear edges on your patio or deck edge, sticking to monochromatic color palettes and even introducing metal into the mix. If you can’t decide on just one style, then you can use a combination of well-chosen elements for an eclectic unique look.
2) Embrace textures – this maybe the most crucial design element that is often overlooked when building an outdoor living structure. By mixing wood, composite, stone and other hardscape materials together within your design, you create a feast for the senses. Combining a hardwood deck in combination with a flagstone patio will leave you with a space that begs to be lingered in. On a simpler note, even adding a pergola of rough-hewn cedar in conjunction with a hardscape feature will provide the same stunning contrast.
3) Be creative – outdoor living design is not black and white. There are no set rules, so go ahead and think outside the box. Employ the use of unexpected design opportunities to add visual interest. From adding a seating wall around your fire pit to placing deck lighting in an unusual spot to create ambiance, these details make the difference. A little creativity goes a long way.
This Flagstone patio with fire pit, bench retaining wall and adjoining deck shows how mixing textures can produce a lovely outcome.
4) Work with what you have – take a good look at your backyard and cultivate your outdoor living space with ingenuity. Mature trees, a spectacular view, or the slope of your yard can all be used to your advantage to get the most function and enjoyment out of your outdoor structure design.
5) Live outdoors and still have privacy– by designing your backyard with intimacy in mind; you can still have a highly functional outdoor space that offers privacy. Retaining walls and privacy walls are a great asset to your space and add a way to keep prying eyes away. This can also be achieved through landscaping methods, such as borders that can add color and lush foliage to your space too.
6) Choose your function – in order to get the most from your space, it is important to decide what you want the primary use of your space to be. Entertaining, cooking and dining, relaxing and even a need for a shaded area are viable reasons to choose one structure over another. If you intend to use your space for multiple functions then a design that includes multiple outdoor areas that offers separate designated functions may be your best choice.
This Reading nook on Tigerwood multi-level deck at canopy level provides a place for intimacy and to spend quiet moments.
7) Borrow upon the elements of nature – the 5 elements of nature are water, metal, earth, wood and fire. By using one or more of these elements in your outdoor space you will create an atmosphere that blends with your backyard. An outdoor fireplace or fire pit adds an intoxicating feel to any outdoor design. The flame, the sound and the warmth bring out some primitive instinct that makes us want to be near it. Water plays on our senses in much the same manner. By adding a water feature such as a rock waterfall into your outdoor space, you will hear the soothing sounds of moving water on a regular basis which relax and renew.
8) Decide the amount of maintenance your material choices will require– many times homeowners convey their wishes to use certain materials without realizing the amount of maintenance their structure will require. For example an Ipe or Tigerwood deck requires annual maintenance, and sometimes more frequent in certain climates, to keep the wood looking new. In order to maintain your structure to get optimum results, it is important to decide the amount of time you are willing to put forth to maintain your investment. Many of the materials we have available require little or no maintenance and will remain looking new for many years to come.
Covered patio with custom outdoor limestone fireplace in Austin
9) Create an outdoor room – screen porches, covered patios and 3 season rooms can now be treated as an outdoor room with all the functionality and creature comforts that an interior living room can provide. Outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, ceiling fans, outdoor televisions, recessed lighting and plenty of electrical outlets are some of the many options available in outdoor structure design. The hardest part is deciding what you want to include in your space.
10) The details make the difference– an outdoor structure without decorative accents or outdoor furnishings that individualize it is just an empty shell without character or personalization. By choosing furnishings that offer comfort and style to your space you will want to use it more often, and so will others. A comfy outdoor sofa with overstuffed cushions will create a place that you will never want to leave. The small touches that put the icing on the cake are the decorative touches like planters placed on your new deck stuffed with beautiful foliage and blooms, or maybe a reclaimed architectural piece placed as a focal point; these things are the glue that binds the perfect outdoor oasis together.
Jim Odom Archadeck of Austin
Whether you are ready for a new deck, yearning for a quiet spot to keep the sun off of you so you can read in the garden, or are ready to transform your entire backyard with an outdoor living combination structure, we can make it happen. Outdoor living is all about fun, friends and family; to us outdoor living is personal. Contact Archadeck of Austin to learn what the stuff of dreams are made of.
Call for a free consultation: (512) 259 – 8282
Email:Austin@archadeck.net
See more inspiring images of other outdoor living areas by visiting our shade gallery, outdoor living gallery and patio and hardscapes gallery located on our website.
Integrating nature into your Austin outdoor living area
Archadeck of Austin cares about the natural landscape and enjoys working with existing trees within the area where you may be considering adding a deck or other outdoor living structure. We like to design your outdoor structure to fit your existing trees instead of clearing the area. Not only does this keep the beauty of your landscape intact, it makes for an interesting design feature of your deck.
One example of the way we make every effort to integrate any existing trees of worth into your outdoor living design is a stunning Tigerwood deck flanked by double flagstone patios on either side that we completed in the Oak Hill community in South Austin. The area where the deck and double patio lies contains some majestic, mature conifers that we were able to incorporate into the layout and design of the structures to preserve the beauty of the landscape and not harm the trees.
The foundation of any good outdoor structure design begins with working with the landscape when possible. Many builders set off on their projects by initially “clearing off” the entire area where an outdoor structure is to be built. We like to look at all the individual characteristics of each landscape, as well as the home, when we design outdoor structures. Mature trees can take years, even decades to reach a size where they provide optimal shade in a homeowners backyard. With this in mind, combined with the trees’ beauty, why would clearing off the area of trees be the automatic choice or the right choice?
Leaving the tree(s), and working the design around the tree is sometimes the glue that holds the entire design together. It adds visual interest, adds shade without having to use an awning or other protective covering, and it opens the door to so many stunning possibilities. One way we make use of an integrated tree is to add built-in bench seating around the tree. This outcome is similar to the style of a French Tete-a-Tete chair or bench from a by-gone area. It provides an intimate place to strike up a conversation and adds much-needed seating when entertaining outdoors.
Contact Archadeck of Austin to learn more about integrating a tree, or trees into your deck or other outdoor design. Incorporating existing trees into your deck may be easier than you think. We specialize in creating an outdoor space that is unique. Our outdoor spaces are designed to fit your individuality and lifestyle in a way that is certain to make heads turn to take a second glance.
Jim Odom Archadeck of Austin
Call us today for a free consultation, we can meet with you to discuss the existing landscape in and around your proposed area and work with your existing foundation plantings and trees to give you the best outdoor structure possible. (512) 259 – 8282 Austin@archadeck.net
See more unique design features for outdoor living structures by visiting our design feature gallery located on our website. We also have a plethora of inspirational deck photos from past projects to view on our many deck photo galleries, also located on our website.
Great architecture feeds a great lifestyle.
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Here is the design rendering for this beautiful deck by Archadeck of Austin from another angle.
We always welcome the opportunity to be able to work hand in hand with a skilled architect. We welcome the opportunity to work with customers whose architect developed a plan for their outdoor living space. However, often, the homeowner will bring in the landscaping plan which was drawn up by their landscape architect and based on this Archadeck of Austin incorporates an outdoor living space to fit in with their landscaping. The dilemma with this is that it is best to design the outdoor structure first and then customize the landscaping to fit in with the structure’s style and dimensions as well as that of the existing home.
In the case of this homeowner, they came to us while they were still in process with another contractor that had left them frustrated because of the number of mistakes they were seeing. These homeowners brought their architect’s design to the table along with the confidence that we could turn this project into something they could be proud of.
This photo shows the vision from the original architects drawing.
When we received their architect’s design, we put it through our standards and structural warranty design process that Archadeck of Austin does with all it’s plans and also drew a set of plans that fit our criteria for loading and other structural aspects.
The structure Archadeck of Austin is building for these homeowners is a 1,000 square foot Tigerwood deck. It will have a roof over the dining area portion which is right off the homes master bedroom. The deck will also have a cooking area on the other end. There is a split level staircase. There will be a roof structure that will be over the dining area and a shade structure over the entire remainder of the deck. The shade structure is quite unique in that it uses a truss system of framing in order to maintain the size of the structure using minimal posts. The most unique feature of this deck is that when most people build a deck, you don’t want to see any framing that is visible, on this deck the details of the framing will be one of the main focal points of the structure. We are using large 8 x 8 beams, opposed to the usual 6 x 6 that are commonly used. The beams are made of Douglas Fir and all the framing is oversized to take on a personality of its own to accentuate the entire structure. The beams are kept from actually touching the ground by the addition of custom-made steel. The structure will use a bullwire railing system to maximize the view. The deck will have a beautiful non-obtrusive view of a canyon.
Archadeck of Austin is busy at work making this dream a reality for these Austin homeowners.
The homeowners’ desire is for an architectural look that also has the characteristics of age-old craftsmanship. In most cases a structure can either possess architectural quality or functional quality, this structure will have both.The beauty of the framing system in itself, alone is worth talking about. Great architecture like this feeds great living. When you have a home that is well designed and well-built by an experienced builder, you live well in it. Where there are focal details and striking architectural beauty, it makes you living experience even better. Adversely, the same is true. When you have a detail that you just aren’t happy with, these small elements can detract from your living experience. This is why it is so crucial to start with great architecture and design, it can make a world of difference in the way you think, feel and live day-to-day.
Another angle from the design rendering shows attention to every detail.
If you have an architect’s drawing already done in anticipation of building your outdoor structure Archadeck of Austin can turn that rendering into a reality. Even if you don’t have an architects drawing, our talented design team can create a drawing and rendering and plans based on what you have in mind. We are a full service outdoor structure company that can consult, design, plan and build the outdoor structure of your dreams. Contact Archadeck of Austin to learn more (512) 259-8282 austin@archadeck.net
Jim Odom Archadeck of Austin
See more gorgeous Tigerwood decks built by Archadeck of Austin by visiting our photo galleries at http://www.archadeck-austin.com /gallery.asp?selpics=Decks&subcat=Tigerwood
Tigerwood becomes the talk of the town in this Bee Cave, TX community
It is clearly evident that style and elegance can be contagious. Within the Falcon Head West community of Bee Cave, TX nearly all the residents that live in the same cul-de-sac came down with the same symptoms, a yearning for the simple, elegant and classic sensibility which entails the desire to have a deck made of Tigerwood.
Design rendering prepared for these homeowners in Bee Cave, TX depicting their future tigerwood deck
These homeowners in Bee Cave, TX contacted Archadeck of Austin when they initially built their home and once they closed on the house we began work right away on the deck when they moved in. It is always nice to have your entire home ready and waiting when it is time to move into your new house, including any outdoor structures. The Falcon Head West community is an upscale neighborhood in Bee Cave, TX and has a very hilly terrain. These homeowners decided upon a tigerwood deck because of its classic beauty and sensibility. We built a two-story deck and decked over an existing patio with sleeper framing. The final dimensions in length on this new deck came to a substantial 48′ long.
This photo shows the diagonal design and custom railing on this tigerwood deck in Bee Cave, TX
We installed the decking in a stunning diagonal pattern and alternated 4″ and 6″ boards for even more of a custom look to accommodate the varying widths. The railing is a tigerwood Deckorator panel rail which we constructed on site with black aluminum pickets. We finished up the structure with lattice skirting because this is a requirement within the neighborhoods HOA (Home Owners Association) guidelines. The homeowner opted to stain the new deck himself.
Upon completion of the new deck, four of this homeowners neighbors decided to add a tigerwood deck to their home as well. What is it they say about first impressions? Choosing a tigerwood deck not only adds beauty to your home with the woods natural rich and exotic hues, tigerwood is an example of classic fine wood at it’s best.
Tigerwood's contagious rich hues and elegance are apparent in this photo
If you are considering a new deck or a re-deck, tigerwood is a stunning option. It is durable, resilient and has rich hues that exude elegance and refinement. Contact Archadeck of Austin to learn more about decks and other outdoor living structures. Call us at (512) 259-8282 or email us at austin@archadeck.net
You can see more or our breathtaking tigerwood deck designs by visiting our photo gallery at http://www.archadeck-austin.com/gallery.asp?selpics=Decks&subcat=Tigerwood
Archadeck of Austin agrees that composites have come a long way baby
Here at Archadeck of Austin we receive calls from homeowners wondering if they can re-deck their existing deck. There are many reasons why homeowners want to re-deck. Sometimes it is because their existing decking is splitting, warping, discolored and showing signs of damage, but in some cases it is just because they want to change the look of their outdoor space and let the deck serve a new purpose. In some cases even if your decking boards are in bad shape your foundation itself can still be in good shape. Whatever the reason for wanting to re-deck may be Archadeck of Austin has limitless choices and designs to suit any taste with superb materials to boot.
When it comes to thinking about re-decking, one word comes to mind – composites. Today’s composites have come a long way. The early plastic looking composites are a thing of the past. Composites are extremely low maintenance and worry free. They will not rot or warp. Composites also have unsurpassed mildew and mold resistance as well as resistance to insects and fungi. Composites won’t ever need to be stained or stripped and are easy to wash, just a little soap and water and they are good as new. Composites also carry some of the longest warranties on their decking boards within the industry. There is something else that seems almost too good to be true when it comes to today’s composites as well and that is their beauty. Technology has taken the look of composites to a whole new level with rich wood tones and graining that looks so realistic it leaves you questioning if it is real wood.
Can you tell which one of these is the Fiberon Horizon Ipe composite and which one is real Tigerwood?
Before Archadeck of Austin completed the re-decking for these customers in Leander,TX
We recently completed a re-decking for a wonderful retired couple in Leander, TX. who had an existing wood deck that was a little worse for wear. The deck was grayed out, faded, decayed, rotting and was behind on maintenance. They decided to take a look into re-decking with composite so they would not have to worry about maintenance.
We met with the couple and did an inspection of the deck. The frame of the deck was completely structurally sound and suitable for re-decking. We re-decked the structure with TimberTech Twin Finish in the redwood color and used a combed surface composite that carried a bit of red tine through it, to simulate the look of real wood. We also built planters and benches to open up the view of the yard so the couple would not feel as if they were boxed in.
The finished deck after re-decking with TimberTech Twin Finish composite
The final results of this composite re-deck are breathtaking. The homeowners said ” it made the whole house feel cleaner and lighter”. Not only do they get the beauty of a composite deck to enjoy every day, they no longer have to worry about laborious maintenance. They now have more time to enjoy their backyard, and their retirement.
If you are considering re-decking your existing deck, consider composites. I am sure you will be impressed and elated all at the same time. Contact Archadeck of Austin to find out more about composites or any other outdoor structure you are considering. Call (512) 259-8282 or email us at austin@archadeck.net
Archadeck of Austin Focus’ on the Fierce Exotic Beauty of Tigerwood
Old man Webster defines a tiger as a large, carnivorous, tawny-colored and black-striped feline. The definition of wood is the hard, fibrous substance composing the stem and branches of a tree or shrub. Now what do you think you get when you mix the two together? The result is Tigerwood, astronium lecointel, one of the finest quality hardwoods available.
- Tigerwood deck by Archadeck of Austin
Tigerwood is an exotic and extremely durable Brazilian hardwood. One of the most striking features of this wood is the unique golden-brown to reddish-brown coloring with exotic black and brown streaks, as fiercely beautiful as it’s namesake. Over time these hues will deepen adding warmth and more depth to the coloring.
Close up of Tigerwood
Not only coveted for it’s beauty, Tigerwood is naturally resistant to rot and decay. It also will not attract mold or fungus. This wonderfully resilient wood has a lifespan of over 25 years without preservatives. Archadeck of Austin is proud to be able to offer this product to you for your decking and outdoor structure needs. We have been working with this wonderful Brazilian hardwood for sometime now, with great results. We only see close similarities in working with Tigerwood as we do when we use Ipe. We are also excited about this product because of the “green” aspect of the harvesting.
Tigerwood deck by Archadeck of Austin
Tigerwood is only harvested from responsibly managed forests so we can offer a truly renewable resource to you, the consumer.
Archadeck of Austin walks away with gold
Austin deck with stucco skirting
Each year owners from Archadeck’s around the country, now numbering 58 locations, assemble for a national conference. One of the exciting things we do is have a design contest.
Design consultants from offices across the country enter their best projects for decks and porches , which were scrutinized by the toughest judges we know – our peers. The Austin Team has been the recipient of many of these awards in years past and this year was no exception. We took first place on the deck design with a beautiful 3-level composite deck with Fiberon Ipe decking and stucco skirting to perfectly match the house exterior.
Austin Fiberon IPE deck with planters
No project is worth its salt if it does not look like an original part of the home. The Austin Team strives to make this a reality in every job we undertake. When finished, this deck provided the owners with additional living space that opened up a lovely back yard view, bringing the outdoors in as a significant addition to their living space. Who wouldn’t enjoy relaxing in some cushy outdoor furniture, drinking a cool beverage, at the end of a hectic day?
Austin deck seating area made with Fiberon Horizon Ipe Composite
Austin covered porch – Tigerwood Deck with T1-11 pine siding under the roof, exterior to match the
This is proof positive that design excellence is forefront in our mind. Our customers get a beautifully crafted, custom designed outdoor living space; professionally managed with a superior level of customer service, and backed by a strong warranty. For Archadeck of Austin, it’s all about making design a reality and making that lifestyle you want come true.
Archadeck | Outdoor Living – the way you imagined it
Like what you see? Give us a call and we will be glad to meet you for a free consultation to discuss your design ideas. Contact us at:
(512) 259 – 8282 • email: Austin@archadeck.net
More pictures of our winning designs:
Austin deck multi-level IPE deck with planters and stucco skirting
Here’s another picture of the second place winner:
Look for Archadeck of Austin in ‘Community Impact’
It’s that time of the year again. Yes, time to get out in your backyard for family barbeques, evening get-togethers with neighbors, even that quiet swing in the hammock by yourself. Whatever your backyard dream is, let us help you take your mind’s eye vision, design it and bring it to life for you.
Archadeck of Austin, with more than 1,800 projects under our belts, offers you an outstanding offer to help you get the ball rolling on your backyard project. Whether it’s a deck built with beautiful and long-lasting composite materials , an all-around family gathering place screened porch or an open porch for a hot tub, we’ve got the expertise to make it happen. Or maybe you’re thinking about a multi-season room, pergola, gazebo, flagstone patio, outdoor kitchen. Your dream is our passion.
Check out our ad in ‘Community Impact’ for a special offer. You can go ahead and get started with the backyard creation you’ve been dreaming of and get some help with your budget. You can depend on Archadeck of Austin to give you outstanding service and make your project experience a great one.
Give us a ring for a free consultation at 512.259.8282.
You don’t have to achieve your dream all in one effort
Pacing yourself is very important. It’s everything when running a race, when doing a big project for work and can also be important when you’re remodeling your backyard space.
Archadeck deck design rendering Austin
Archadeck deck design rendering Austin
What is your dream for your backyard? Close your eyes for a couple minutes and concentrate on all the things you want that space to do for your family and what it might look like. Think about the landscaping, the furniture and whether the furniture sits on a deck or hardscape patio. Does your dream backyard include a spa or a pool? Do you need more shade like a pergola or covered porch? Do you need space to cook and entertain guests?
As a practical person, I too have a tough time with this question. As soon as I start envisioning the dream, the other side of my brain starts nagging at me to tone it down and be realistic. This mental tug-a-war can actually stop you from making progress toward the dream for years. It doesn’t hurt to envision the perfect backyard oasis. Mine would definitely include an outdoor fire pit with lots of room around it for many Adirondack chairs to sit in the evening with friends or family and enjoy hot chocolate in the colder months and an iced cocktail in the warmer months. That’s the thing about fire pits. They have a romanticism and mystique about them.
After capturing the dream, and if the dream is more than you can afford, then consider pacing the development of your dream backyard. A lot of my customers don’t realize that we actually can build outdoor living spaces in phases. For example, we can build a deck and go back a year later to add a patio. Maybe the ultimate plan has a outdoor kitchen on a wider section of the patio. You now have the opportunity to lay out the electrical and gas line for the kitchen under the patio, build the patio now, but hold off on the cost of the kitchen until next year. We do this with a number of our customers. After several years they look up and realize that their dream has been realized. Phased development makes a lot of sense for a lot of people.
The picture of the project you see above represents an addition to a multi-level deck. We build the top level and the mid level already. Now the customer is ready to add a spa deck so we are going back to add the 3rd tier of the deck which will include the spa. It’s been a couple years and the family loves their deck and spends so much time out there that they want to add more “rooms” if you will to their deck.
Austin elevated deck with pergola
You can see based on the furniture that the family really lives on their deck. The advancements in outdoor furniture and fabrics even allow comfy couches and plush pillows that can survive year-round outdoors.
Here is another picture of the unique gable pergola we built for above their main deck.
Austin gable pergola
Adding a gable to your pergola is a great way to enjoy the benefits of a pergola by add a little more design flair to it to complete an outdoor room area.
So, if you have the vision of your backyard dream in mind but want to talk to us about building it in phases, give us a ring.
Where is my contractor when I need them?
Have you ever hired a contractor and noticed various times during the project that there were little things you wanted fixed only to let your concerns ride because you don’t want to bother the contractor? Or perhaps you don’t call because you think your call will be unwanted. Or, maybe you don’t call because you think you’ll give your list to the contractor when you’re finished.
Austin flagstone patio
Wouldn’t it be nice if the contractor stopped by every couple of days while your project was in progress to make sure to take care of these questions or issues or concerns?
Tory Odom - Customer Service for Archadeck of Austin
We’ve always been proud of our service but we always strive to do anything we can to make our service even better. That’s why we hired a full-time customer service manager. Tory Odom joined our team to manage our customer projects and be the regular field customer service representative.
Tory is passionate about customer service. He has an excellent eye for detail and looks forward to working with you on your next outdoor project. Give us a call or send us an email for a free consultation for your next outdoor project. (512) 259 – 8282. Austin@archadeck.net
Oklahoma flagstone patios in Austin TX
Oklahoma Chocolate Gold Flagstone
If you live in the Austin area, you’ll see flagstone patios everywhere. They’re tremendously popular in this area for several reasons. First, they’re very attractive and have a very natural look which compliments that Austin landscape. The stone has a nice rustic feel and also adds subtle depth and texture to your patio.
Cement patios are also very popular right now with stain & stamp and stain & score. All of these concrete styles are very nice but just have a different feel. The feel of the stained concrete will depend largely on the stain color. Darker colors may often look more formal. There are hundreds of patterns and textures you can achieve with stain and stamp. In this scenario, the concrete is stamped to add a pattern that’s either just attractive to look at or a pattern designed to mimic a more natural look – perhaps the look of natural stone.
When looking at flagstone, it’s a great way to finish an existing cement patio or a great finish for a new patio you’re building. With our Archadeck customers, it’s always a popular request. We mainly work with flagstone from Oklahoma, Arizona and Mexico. The Oklahoma Buff Peach is one of our favorite flagstones to work with. The flagstone surface tends to be a smoother and flatter finish than some of the other Oklahomas – not as much undulation. The colors tend to blend with pretty much anything. The top surface tends to also be more consistent. This is important when looking at flagstone. Some of the other colors or varieties can have a more undulating surface which looks beautiful and natural but can be tougher to put your furniture on. Of, if you use it for the top of your bar, it may be tougher to place table settings on.
Some of the other Oklahoma flagstone colors we work with are Arizona Taupe which is similar to Oklahoma Buff Peach but is a little more subtle with all the shades leaning more toward the taupe hues. We also work with Oklahoma Silver Mist flagstone. It also is more subtle because the hues of the various stones all lean more toward gray. But in both the Oklahoma Silver Mist and Oklahoma taupe, you still have that nice unique variety of colors that complement each other and make your patio interesting and one-of-a-kind.
Your one-of-a-kind patio
We like to think that all of our project are one-of-a-kind from a design perspective. And, in reality they are. We never use the same project design twice. Every single customer gets their own rendering, their own architectural plans, and more. Every back yard is different and every family is different in terms of how they want to live in their back yard. What’s nice about flagstone is that every patio is one-of-a-kind. Flagstone is 100% natural and cut from the earth. It is not manufactured so no two stones are completely alike. So not only will the design of your project be one-of-a-kind, but your patio colors and stones are also.
The many colors of Oklahoma Buff Peach
Oklahoma Buff Peach is tremendously popular as I said above. We probably use this more than the other colors. The colors in this group are very subtle and pleasing but they also have enough variety to be interesting and unique. The hues include subtle peach tones, subtle taupe tones and even some subtle gray tones. Here are some pictures from our actual patios to show you the interesting color variations of the natural stone.
Oklahoma Buff Peach flagstone patio adjoining tigerwood deck
Perhaps it’s because this patio above adjoins a richly colored Tigerwood deck, the variation from this stone lot looks more subtle than the next two pictures.
Oklahoma Buff Peach flagstone patio in Austin TX
This patio above uses the same flagstone color and you can see a more chocolate shade and darker taupes in addition to a lighter, whiter shade.
Oklahoma Buff Peach flagstone patio in Austin, TX
In this picture above, there are a bunch of more shades toward the taupe end of the spectrum as well as some darker peach hues.
Here’s another Oklahoma Chocolate Gold patio that’s screened in with some detail about flagstone finishes.
Wes Vann, Archadeck of Austin
You can tell I am passionate about building with flagstone. Let me know if you have any questions about flagstone. Either use the comments section here, give me a call (512) 259 – 8282 or drop me an email wvann@archadeck.net.
Tigerwood
Tigerwood deck Austin TX
Tigerwood is one of the finest quality hardwoods available. Here in the Austin area, Tigerwood is a top choice for our customers for their decks, pergolas, covered patios and various other outdoor structures. Lots of our customers are now asking for hard woods for their exterior projects. Hardwoods are extremely durable and have very long lifespans. Tigerwood has a 25+ year lifespan. That means that in many cases, your deck will still be standing after you may have moved to a new home.
Tigerwood is a very dense hardwood. As a matter of fact, if you drop tigerwood into a pool, it will sink. It’s very dense and very strong.
Tigerwood hardwood exotic color
What accounts for Tigerwood being in such high demand?
Tigerwood is an exotic extremely durable Brazilian hardwood. It features a unique light golden-brown to reddish-brown coloring with exotic black and brown streaks. This is where it gets its name Tigerwood because of the coloring and unique but subtle stripe pattern. Tigerwood is responsibly harvested from managed forests to provide a truly renewable resource. It’s naturally resistant to rot & decay and will not attract mold and fungus.
Exotic hardwoods
You may have heard of IPE. IPE is also a Brazilian hardwood but it has no additional benefits and is significantly more expensive.
I want to show you one of the Tigerwood hardwood decks we recently built in Barton Creek. Here’s Mark Mommsen showing you the deck and talking a little about the project.
The deck includes multiple “living areas”. In the video, Mark is talking about standing in the lower octagon. That area was made as a quiet sitting area overlooking the canopy of the trees. This deck is actually built on a very steep slope that quickly drops off to a creek running down below. The second living area of this deck is the outdoor fireplace area. The third living area on this deck is the pergola section which includes a bar, electricity, ceiling fans and a great deal of seating area. Over in the middle area between the outdoor fireplace and the pergola section can be used for another sitting area or just to give some breathing room between the multiple living areas on the deck.
Tigerwood deck and pergola in Austin's Barton Creek
What you’re looking at above is the seating and covered pergola section of the deck. You can see the extremely steep drop-off to the left side. From the entire deck area, you can hear the stream trickling below.
Tigerwood deck and pergola in Austin, TX
Above, you see the deck furnished and it’s easier to see the extended bar area around the perimeter of this section of the deck. You can see how large of an area this is since they are able to fit both bar stools and a table.
Tigerwood lower deck in Austin multi-level deck
The photo above shows the reading area portion of the deck. The area is separated by stairs to put the seating/reading area on a different elevation. This helps create privacy and a feeling of being in a separate living space.
Tigerwood deck in Austin, TX
Finally, above you’ll see the deck area between the pergola/eating area and the quiet lower reading and sitting area.
Jim Odom, Archadeck of Austin
Give us a call for a free quote on your next project. (512) 259 – 8282.
Jimmy
Austin Decks, Pergolas, Covered Patios, Porches, more 