Deck Trends
shapes, Gostick suggests anyone who is considering such a design to be cautious. “When you get into those curves and funky shapes, your material usage isn’t as efficient and your labour costs are going to go up because it’s more time for the contractor to actually put those things together,” he warns. A deck is no longer just a daytime hangout; it’s also an increasingly popular spot for evening entertaining. That’s why many new decks feature integrated lighting such under-rail or step lights that provide added ambiance and increase a deck’s evening usability. “Our summers are very short here in Manitoba, so being able to incorporate outdoor lighting with your deck or your landscaping is going to help make that outdoor space more comfortable to be in for an extended period of time and espe- cially into the evening,” Gostick says. Something that can help make that deck feel a little more comfortable regardless of the time of day are privacy screens. Not only do they shield you from inquisitive neighbours or pass- ersby, they can protect you from strong winds and provide some added cozi- ness. Gostick says the number of cus- tomers he has seen incorporating pri- vacy screens into their decks has grown from just a handful a few years ago to nearly 30 per cent in the past year.
“That composite deck is still going to look almost brand new 25 years from now and all it takes is a rinse with a gar- den host and a soft bristle brush versus that pressure-treated deck needing a sanding and a staining every couple of years to maintain that similar esthetic,” Gostick says. Another reason people are choosing composite decking is that if offers a wide range of colours that can be paired with other exterior additions or renovations to create a more cohesive and attractive overall look. Gostick says one of the first things anyone considering composite decking should do is determine a budget. As part of that exercise, they should assess how long they plan on living in their current home and how long a period of time they are prepared to amortize such an investment. Another decking trend that is increas- ing in popularity is the use of mixed materials. That can include anything from a mixture of a composite deck with wood skirting and an aluminum railing system or a pressure-treated deck with a PVC railing. “Some builders are doing that to help a client get to a certain price point. Mixing materials that way is a cost-effective and reasonable way of giving the customer the opportunity to still have a low-mainte- nance deck surface,” Gostick says. A few years ago, the trend in decking was light or grey tones. Now, a growing number of homeowners are choos- ing dark or bold colours. Gostick says many of the customers he deals with at Olympic’s Dugald Road showroom are choosing darker colours such as brown for their deck to match with the colour of their home’s interior floor. “If you can align your decking choice with your flooring choice, it helps blend the inside and the outside together and makes them feel more connected to one another,” he says. While a growing number of home- owners are choosing deck designs that incorporate softer and more inviting
A few years ago, the trend in decking was light or grey tones. Now, a growing number of homeowners are choosing dark or bold colours.
126 SPRING 2026 PARADE of HOMES | homebuilders.mb.ca
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