The Deckheads Podcast

Last week we talked about good budget decking materials to build a good deck on a budget. This week, we close the loop with the building tips to ensure an efficiently built deck with little waste to again - save money.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop - Backyard Building Centre: https://tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.face...

Being on a budget doesn't mean you have to build a bad deck. While there are many terrible products out there that will burn your wallet - there are also many good quality, budget friendly products to build a deck with. So... if we were going to build a deck "on the cheap" and still make sure it was a good deck - this is what we would do.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop - Backyard Building Cent...

Some might look at this and wonder how we got here - how did we let the patio guys compromise the borders of our deck world?  But we couldn't be more excited and believe that these worlds were meant to merge. And nobody is merging them better than Old Castle who has built a portfolio of backyard brands such as Moistureshield, Barrette Outdoor Living, and of course Belgard. We sit down with George...

There is a lot of $#!++y composite decking in the market. And if you're not careful, your savings might get burnt by a BAD product. Nobody wants to experience this. But if you don't live and breath the industry, you may not know what constitutes a bad product versus a good product. Lucky for you - we are deck nerds. And here is what to look for to avoid becoming a statistic.   Find more The Ultima...

Cable rail continues to be desired by homeowners everywhere. The clean, modern, industrial look provides many of the same benefits of glass rail, without the maintenance. So here's a bunch of reason why cable rail is a great choice. BUT... is it safe? Wade and Shane discuss this hot topic.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop - Backyard Building Centre: https://tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theult...

Decks versus patios... the lifelong debate about what makes more sense in your back yard. Well the short answer is: either. In this episode, Wade and Shane discuss five scenarios where it makes more sense to build a deck, and five other scenarios where a patio makes more sense.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop - Backyard Building Centre: https://tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedecksho...

Getting to the top if a feat in of itself... but staying on top is even harder. In this episode, Wade and Shane discuss Trex's dominance, the competitive challenges it contends with, and its unprecedented successes. They explore the concept of brand recognition, discussing how brands like Kleenex, Coca-Cola, and Skidoo have come to define their respective product categories, just as Trex has done...

In this episode, Wade and Shane discuss why deck building businesses may want to adopt a comprehensive backyard approach. They discuss how broadening spectrum can enhance customer experience, enlarge customer base, and increase profitability. Tackling everything in the backyard, from decking, outdoor kitchens, pergolas, hardscaping, lighting, to decorative fences into a unified vision results in v...

Wade and Shane recently made the trip to the International Builders Show in Las Vegas. In this episode we discuss what we saw, and didn't see, in the world of outdoor living at IBS 2024   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.facebook.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.tiktok.com/@theulti...

Spring weather means the spring frenzy construction season gets underway. That's right - shoulder to shoulder at the store, long permit wait times, waiting longer for quotes, not getting scheduled when you want, etc. It's not much fun to get caught up in it. So... here's 10 reasons why you should start planning your deck NOW!   Check out our blog on this topic: https://tuds.ca/blogs/news/10-reason...

It's 2024 and spring looks to be knocking at the door. So what can we expect for trends in outdoor living this year? Wade and Shane discuss 12 of the top trends we expect to see, or continue to see, in 2024.   Check out our blog on this topic: https://tuds.ca/blogs/news/the-top-10-myths-about-the-decking-industry   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultima...

There are a lot of misconceptions and myths in the decking industry, and unfortunately that leads to homeowners making important decisions based on poor information. Here are 10 common myths that we debunk on the fly.   Check out our blog on this topic: https://tuds.ca/blogs/news/the-top-10-myths-about-the-decking-industry   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com...

Dry space under your deck can be very desirable to convert that space into a weather-safe patio or even just a dry storage space. We discuss four great systems that will accomplish this for you: Trex Rain Escape, Dexerdry, Duradek, and ZipUp Ceilings.   Check out our blog on this topic: https://tuds.ca/blogs/news/deck-waterproofing-solutions-for-canadian-climates   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop...

Dealer reps - it's a position that seems to have morphed a little over the last few years. It's an incredibly important job as the person in it has a direct impact on the brand of the entire company. Relationships are one of the most important factors of success at the retail level. So what makes a great rep? Let's discuss.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://tuds.ca https://www.youtube.co...

Fresh off their visit to Deck Expo 2023 in Las Vegas, Wade and Shane discuss the top products that made an impact at the show.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.facebook.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.tiktok.com/@theultimatedeckshop https://twitter.com/theultdeckshop

Many deck builders build a great deck. But they may not be great at all the fine details of running their business. And if you don't pay attention to these details - they can sink you - FAST.   Here are 15 ways a deck builder can find themselves looking for a 9-5 again, if they're not careful.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://www.tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https...

Homeowners often have some sticker shock when it comes to hourly rates that tradespeople charge. Mechanics, HVAC, carpenters, electricians, deck builders... it doesn't matter. $75, $90, $150... it always comes with the reaction that it's "too much".   But who decides what is a fair rate? In this episode, we try to break down all those included expenses that small business have that go into that ra...

We get a full perspective of industry roles with a couple guests in the studio: Korey Welterlich from Fortress Building Products and Meghan Grant from Mclean Lumber. Lots of laughs, some Q&A, and just an all around swell time.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://www.tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.facebook.com/th...

Deck Expo is an annual event that we have attended for the past 8 years (minus some Covid years). But some people have never been and wonder if it's worth the time/money investment. We think so... and here's our list of "Why's".   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://www.tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.facebook.com/theu...

Is it Fall or Autumn? Either way, it marks a time when you should do some maintenance on your deck as summer winters and winter looms. What kind of maintenance depends on what kind of deck you have. Wade and Shane discuss your top tips for end of sumer deck maintenance.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://www.tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theulti...

Live from Deck Expo 2022, Shane and Wade sit down at the Regal Ideas booth with Dr. Decks, Wes Kain and other exciting guests to talk about the show and Regal Ideas products, installations, programs and more! Very exciting episode!   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://www.tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.facebook.com/t...

Shane talks about the risks of hiring a contractor for your deck project and what you can do to minimize your chance of getting burned.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://www.tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.facebook.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.tiktok.com/@theultimatedeckshop https://twitter.com/theultdecksho...

Wade and Shane review a list of the most important considerations homeowners should made when planning a new deck project.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://www.tuds.ca https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.facebook.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.tiktok.com/@theultimatedeckshop https://twitter.com/theultdeckshop

Our old friend Scott Kelly from Precision Construction joins us for an unscripted and honest chat about how the decking industry circle has changed over the years.   Find more The Ultimate Deck Shop: https://www.tuds.ca https://www.tuds.ca/podshop https://www.youtube.com/theultimatedeckshop https://instagram.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.facebook.com/theultimatedeckshop https://www.tiktok.co...

Owens Corning® Lumber is a rotproof, rustproof composite alternative to traditional wood and steel. Designed to install like the lumber you use every day. Made to last.   At DeckExpo 2022, Owens Corning introduced this new deck framing to the public.   Wade and Shane shot a LIVE episode from the Owens Corning booth and interviewed Gord South (Wood Bully), Nick Stevens (Legacy Decks), Tony McKlem (...