One of the top reasons that homeowners choose to work with professional contractors is because they believe the person who does this for a living must know which products will perform best over time. They rationalize that builders must be constantly educating themselves about the latest and greatest new products – and weeding out the ones that...

As the snow continues to recede and a season’s worth of ice and sleet fade away to reveal a menagerie of leaves, twigs and other debris that Mother Nature has been silently depositing on your composite deck all winter, there are a few important steps that can help you save time and keep your outdoor living area in prime condition. Here are some simple...

If there’s one thing that both decking contractors and homeowners share it’s their desire to get the project finished – fast!  For homeowners, the sooner that their new composite deck is installed, the sooner they’ll be able to get out and enjoy it. For deck builders, they understand that the sooner they finish one job, the...

Finding a qualified, reliable decking contractor can be a job in and of itself. Securing the time and talent of a skilled contractor can be frustrating for many homeowners. In many cases, it could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months to locate, research, interview and book a reliable deck builder. In cold climates here in New England,...

BIDDEFORD, Maine - February 7, 2018 - DuraLife™, a leading manufacturer of durable composite decking and railing products, announced today it is introducing its exact match DuraLife Cortex® Plug System. An excellent solution for installing deck boards, as well as seamless perimeter and stair treads, the DuraLife Cortex Plug System...

BIDDEFORD, Maine - October 12, 2017 - DuraLife™, a leading manufacturer of durable composite decking and railing products, will introduce Step-Clip™, the company’s new, groundbreaking and patent pending hidden fastening system for deck installation to builders, contractors and distributors at the R|D|J 2017 show in Nashville at...

So, your client wants to put a hot tub on the new composite deck that you are designing for them? Don’t panic! (Never panic.) Simply ask the homeowner to give you as many details as they can – as soon as they can. With basic information such as the planned size, shape and potential location(s) of the hot tub, the next step is to determine...

You may not think so, but in most municipalities, a new deck is considered an addition and requires a building permit. While taking a chance and building it “off the record” without the paperwork may seem like the easier option, it can cause serious issues for you down the road. Here are just a few reasons why you should never build – or...

Here’s a quick look at what’s trending in the composite decking category for 2018. Clean, Sleek and Simple Finishes The ‘knotty pine’ look may still be popular inside a rustic camp, cabin or lakeside retreat, but the trend for outdoor living spaces continues to incorporate a much more simple, clean and elegant look. This has been one...

Homeowners with decks made with composite decking materials instead of traditional lumber enjoy much more time using their decks and much less time maintaining them. Advanced composite decking materials, such as the type produced by DuraLife, are now made with a combination of polypropylene plastic and hardwood. This means that the boards are not only...