I'm often called in to make an existing landscape function better. The client doesn't to rip it all out and start from scratch, but they …
Decks
Virginia Deck Design Explained, Part 3: Decking and Railings
Ok, your framing is up and you have the solid foundation for a deck. Now you have choices - what decking to use, and what type of …
Virginia Deck Design Explained, Part 2: Posts, Beams and Joists
Last week I talked about the ledger board and the footers, the first steps in building your deck. Today I'll cover the next …
Virginia Deck Design Explained, Part 1: Footers and Ledger Attachment
My name is Dave Marciniak, landscape designer and owner of Revolutionary Gardens, and I use jargon. I'm deeply sorry. However, the …
How to Build a Round Deck
Step 1: Build a square deck. Step 2: Cut off all the corners. In all seriousness, building a round deck isn't all that different from …
Making Multi-Level Decks Work
I'll be honest, I don't really care for multi-level decks. They can look stunning, but if they're not well designed they can be a waste of …
Pros and Cons of a Fiberglass or Wood Pergola
"I want zero maintenance." If you wanted to know how many times I've heard these words in my career as a designer, I'd say to take the …
What Landscape Work Can Be Done in Fall and Winter?
I get this question a lot this time of year. I get my fall rush once the kids are back in school, it takes a few weeks to get through the …
Designing a Deck
From time to time, I'll get a request to design a deck for one of my clients. Decks fall under the whole "anything for the outside of a …