Deck Dynasty was founded in July of 2015 in Denver, Colorado. Since 2017, we’ve relocated to Franklin, North Carolina, and have completed 10–15 big projects with many small ones in between each year. The majority of our projects are custom decks that stand about 8‘ high or taller. We also do screen–in porches and custom roof-overs, as well as installing staircases, docks and ramps. I offer services to western North Carolina and parts of northern Georgia. As far as the company goes, we’re small without a lot of layers of decision-makers.
I am personally at every job, involved in every aspect — from estimates to purchasing supplies and crafting the deck itself. Before I started my company, I was living in Denver where I worked in commercial development constructing stairs, railings and balconies. During that time, I learned how to install many types of stair systems, intricate grab rails and composite decking. I’ve installed over 7,000 linear feet of custom railing. The knowledge that I’ve obtained about products, installation processes and business strategies has come from experience. I’ve learned most of my skills directly on the job.
Deck Expertise
Screws vs. nails is one of the biggest debates in the deck community. There’s a lot of negativity about screws due to their lack of shear strength. Many people don’t realize that there are multiple types of screws (structural screws, standard wood screws, trim screws, furniture screws), all for different applications. When building a deck, you want standard wood screws for screwing something downwards and structural screws or lags for attaching anything that requires nails or carriage bolts.
With that being said, we choose to use Simpson Strong-Tie® SD Connector screws instead of nails because of their greater efficiency and ease of installation. The key factor when choosing the style of fasteners that I use for my projects is durability because my customers want and deserve decks that will stand the test of time. Another key factor when selecting my fasteners is identifying which screws and thread patterns are the most adaptable to the material we’re installing. When installing wood decking/railing, I prefer to use Simpson 3″ decking screws, simply because I’ve never had any issues with their products, unlike some others. We use the 6″ structural lags with a hex head on most of our applications because they have a washer built into the head that helps grip the wood and locks it into place. Deck Dynasty’s experience with Simpson fasteners has been great — the durability and consistency of their products help ensure that our customers’ decks are going to outlast the materials.
Advice
My advice when it comes to crafting a durable deck is to always begin your project with a solid foundation. To keep the post from rotting we use a Simpson Strong-Tie adjustable post base that keeps the post out of standing water and secured to the footing.
When working with hangers, keep in mind that joist hanger nails (cub nails) work their way out of the hanger over time. Make sure to always use the proper fastener for the application as well as the correct hardware. From my experience, nails installed with framing nailer won’t hold well over time, which can cause premature failure of the deck structure. Instead, try hand-driving some 16d corrosion-resistant Ring-Shank nails for a longer-lasting product.
Parting Thoughts for Deck Builders and Owners
Put your heart into it, from every hole you dig to cleaning up at the end to satisfy your customers. When constructing a deck that is intended to last for years, always strive for quality over quantity. Learn, grow, and pass your knowledge on so others can do the same. For homeowners, it’s important to keep a finished deck debris-free. You want to keep pollen, dirt, dust and leaves from causing stains and erosion by pressure-washing it yearly and applying additional sealers over time as necessary (typically every other year or so).
We continue to grow every year, and I plan to take Deck Dynasty to the next level with superior quality and durability to last for generations.
