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Avatar for Stowebury Home & Grounds
Stowebury Home & Grounds
5.0(
1
)
Deck, Fence, Patio or Porch - Clean and Seal

Serving Shoreham, VT and surrounding areas

Approved

Free estimates

Emergency services offered

Small jobs welcome

I am the owner of Stowebury Home & Grounds, a Waterbury, VT-based property care and construction company proudly serving clients within 50 miles of Waterbury. I bring hands-on craftsmanship — trained through Yestermorrow Design/Build School — to everything from handyman repairs and seasonal grounds care to custom carpentry and outbuildings. Our carpentry work spans interior and exterior projects, with a focus on sustainable materials wherever we can.\n\nWe do both structural builds and interior finish work — from custom workshops and barns built from the ground up, to interior carpentry including siding, decking, and flooring installation and repair. We also handle drywall installation and repair, from full rooms to patch-and-match jobs on existing walls, along with custom cabinetry and furniture built to fit each client's specific space and needs.

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Deck Maintenance questions, answered by experts

Before installing a deck, you must build a base for the deck to rest upon, often made of compacted soil or gravel. While gravel is an optional material, it helps with drainage. Some contractors also recommend installing a weed control membrane, which helps provide a solid foundation for the frame. In the case of an elevated deck, a pro will often lay down a concrete slab as a foundation. 

No, termites do not eat Trex or any other composite decking brand. Termites eat cellulose, of which composite decking like Trex contains very little compared to natural wood. This feature can help justify the higher Trex decking costs if you live in an area with abundant termites.

Most building codes require that spindles or balusters on deck and stair railings be spaced no more than four inches apart. This safety standard, often called the '4-inch sphere rule,' is designed to prevent small children or pets from slipping through the railing. A good way to visualize this is that a 4-inch sphere should not be able to pass between two spindles. For the same safety reason, the space between the bottom rail and the deck floor should also be no more than four inches. As a general guideline, professionals often install three balusters per foot of railing. However, since specific requirements can vary by location, it is crucial to check your local building codes to ensure compliance before starting your project.

The best base materials for a ground-level or floating deck are typically gravel and crushed stone (also known as landscaping rocks). These options are inexpensive, provide excellent drainage, prevent weeds, and help minimize moisture buildup, which reduces shifting and rotting. For added stability and to evenly distribute the weight, you can use concrete deck blocks or pavers. While more expensive, concrete blocks and pavers offer a sturdier base than gravel or crushed stone alone.

There are several methods for attaching stair stringers to a deck. The best way is to bolt the stringers to the deck joists using three carriage bolts in a triangular pattern. This method offers the sturdiest fit for stairs that won’t budge. Alternatively, attach the stringers to the deck rims using lag bolts or to the posts using adjustable slope hangers.

The Shoreham, VT homeowners’ guide to deck maintenance services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.