"We spent a lot of time and effort making every room in our house a statement of who we are with paint and furnishings and all the customizations. And then one day we were sitting out on the deck where we actually spend a lot of time, and I started noticing that our deck was a cookie cutter of every other deck I could see. It bothered me, and so we started looking for options that would make that change."

At just three years old, the Wards' deck was in great shape structurally, so after a fresh power wash, they removed the wooden pickets along all three sides of the deck and stairway, and replaced them with new balusters.

"The reaction from our neighbors has been fun to see," said Patricia. "Our deck looks so much better than the rest of them. Our neighbors have asked, and I've told them about the deck accessories that are out there, and we're seeing more and more changes. The variety is really great. Different neighbors have different tastes, and we're seeing some of everything. It makes all our homes more special.".

For lakefront properties or other landscapes where sweeping views beg to be maximized, Deckorators recently introduced the industry's first beveled glass baluster.

The four inch wide glass balusters are made of an ultra-strong safety glass and are available in Clear View, Autumn View and Dusk View tints. Installation on the glass balusters is as simple as all the other baluster products, and Jones said it's definitely a fun project for the weekend do-it-yourselfer.

"The glass balusters are proving to be incredibly popular both with homeowners and deck builders, who recognize the opportunity to construct something really special," said Jones.

To make it easy to envision your renovated deck, Deckorators has added a version of DeckTools software to their website (www.deckorators.com). The software allows homeowners to experiment with different deck baluster designs -- from simple classic styles to intricate, architectural styles, like the outward curves of Baroque.

No matter what your style, new options for renovating your existing deck are out there. So consider your next outdoor project a chance to express yourself and deck-orate your deck.

- ARA Content

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