Undertaking a deck build can be a major project! And when you're done, of course you want to love your deck's functionality and design. At Key-Link, we see A LOT of deck pictures and we've noticed some trends and products that can make a deck really stand out. 

Here are our top 4 ways to take your deck to the next level. Consider these options and add-ons when planning your big outdoor living space. Your deck will be the talk of the neighborhood!

Fall makes a wonderful time to clean your cable railing, a process that you should undertake at least twice per year (and more often if you’re within a mile of a body of water).

As you put away your deck furniture and batten down the hatches for winter, taking some time to clean ensures that your cable has protection for the months ahead. Even if you live in a warm climate where you can still use the deck in winter, the change of season is a good time for a cleaning.

What’s the best way to clean your cable railing? Here is our advice!

Gray or brown decking. Black railing with square balusters. White post wrap. There is a reason these colors and styles are classic. They look great and work well together!

But what if you want to mix it up with a different kind of look. Maybe you’re not a black-and-white-and-gray kind of person. Or maybe you just want to add some flair to your deck. Here are three things you can do to make your deck stand out.

If you’ve seen fascia mounting brackets for deck railing, you may have wondered why. After all, in most applications, posts are mounted to the deck’s surface. But there are extremely good reasons to use a fascia mounting method!

Here are three reasons to consider using a fascia mounted railing:

When you think of green, red, silver, or brown, you probably don’t think of your deck railing! Many people have trouble envisioning how a colorful railing would look on their porch or deck, or how it would coordinate with their home colors.

It’s an exciting thing to build or remodel a deck! Together with your contractor, you are creating a beautiful outdoor living space for friends and family to connect or simply a relaxing place to take a breath, unwind, and enjoy the fresh air after a busy day.

With all the customization available, adding outdoor living to your home can be a fun (and occasionally exhausting) process. From the initial planning phases to the product selection to the building and finally to the finished product, there are many choices to make.

One choice most people don’t often think about at length is their deck railing. Sure they might have an opinion on color or material, but do they take the time to compare different styles of railing? Or ask their contractors for additional options?

Posts are the anchors of a railing system. Poorly mounted posts jeopardize the safety of the entire railing, making it insecure and even prone to failure. Posts that aren’t securely mounted can fail at the attachment point, and on a second story deck or balcony (or higher) that could mean disaster. Code officials who are looking at post mounting will investigate where the post is mounted (for example, if it is surface-mounted, it should not be too close to the edge of the deck) and how (it should be secured into the substrate, not just the deckboard).   

If you’ve installed cable railing near the coast or next to a pool, you might have noticed some unsightly white deposits staining the posts or rail and wondered what it was.

Traditional black aluminum railing and balusters is a classic look