Would you like more room for living and entertaining?  Well, simply walk out your back door to see an untapped resource for extending your living space. Your back yard easily transforms into an outdoor living oasis with the addition of a deck or patio, so let the planning begin.

Decks and patios can easily incorporate gazebos, pergolas, pools, fountains and gardens…the options are limitless!  Which is why collaborating with design professionals is the best way to get an “outdoor room” that truly enhances your lifestyle and the value of your home.

When you work with a Mosby Building Arts design planner, dreams become reality by exploring the details on paper before the first hammer swings. Areas of consideration include:

Size Matters Picture how you’d like to live with a deck or patio; will it be a private space for your family to relax, or a place for entertaining large groups? Or would you like a flexible plan that can accommodate a combination of the two? Answers to these questions will determine how much furniture and square footage is needed.

Follow the Sun South-facing backyards need shaded areas on the deck, while a northfacing backyard may not require the awnings, pergolas or overhangs that create cool respite. Observing the sun, shade and wind will inform the overall design and function of the area.

Water & Light If you long to spend evening outside, you’ll need good lighting for safety, security and ambiance. Plan ahead for fixtures and electrical outlet needs. And install the proper number of outdoor faucets for watering gardens or a sink in an outdoor kitchen.

Maintenance & Durability You deserve to enjoy your outdoor room, not maintain it.  Work with a planner to choose the materials, finishes and sealers that protect your investment and leisure time.

Design Harmony An outdoor living space is an extension of your home, so it should enhance the exterior. Select materials, finishes and colors that coordinate with roofing, siding and windows. Consider the size, color and placement of landscaping around the patio. Mosby planners can keep an eye on the big picture so your new spaces harmoniously integrate with the whole.

Build It Right There are multiple structural and safety concerns when attaching a deck or patio to your home. Mosby carpenters apply for permits and build to the regulations of your municipality so you have a safe, watertight deck that serves  your family for decades.

Imagine your family room expanding into the backyard and realize the boundless potential for outdoor living.  To begin your backyard adventure and improve your warm-weather lifestyle, collaborate with the Mosby Building Arts planning and design team by calling 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

Scenes from a deck collapse in South St. Louis City, Spring 2010.

With the recent collapse of a 2^nd story deck in South St. Louis City (injuring 7), that brings us to a total of two major deck collapses in St. Louis in less than a year. And the 2010 outdoor season has only just begun.

So, it is the season to get serious about deck safety. Did you know nearly 85% of homes in the United States have a deck, and the North American Deck and Railing Association estimates that 20 million of these decks are in need of repair or rebuilding?

In the past 10 years, there have been more than 800 reported injuries and at least 30 reported deaths as a result of deck collapses, and this number increases at an average rate of 21% per year. In many cases, the failing decks were built incorrectly, not properly maintained or were beyond their lifespan of approximately 10-15 years.

With every deck collapse that makes the news, Mosby Home Consultants are called out to evaluate deck conditions because they are experienced in evaluating both the deck and the contributing factors that may be overlooked by less experienced carpenters.

Mosby Home Consultants inspect several problem decks a month, and these are the 10 most common mistakes they see:

10. Unsealed wood
Unsealed wood decks can age and deteriorate faster than sealed decks. Proper sealing prolongs the appearance and life of a deck well beyond unsealed decks. Avoid the “worn out” look by sealing it.

9. Stairs with open risers or missing railings
Open space between steps invites accidents. Avoid injuries and create a tailored look by covering the risers. Hand railings are fundamental to the safety of a stairwell.

8. Improper railing height and baluster spacing
Building codes have very specific measurements for railings and balusters to avoid accidents and injuries.

7. Undersized structural members
An undersized structural member increases the risk of deck collapse and can create sagging and improper weight distribution. Avoid deck warping and collapsing by properly sizing all members and components of your deck.

6. Missing or improper joist hangers
Nails alone are not enough to counteract the shear forces on a structural member. Joist hangers are an essential element in creating reinforced connections and supported decking. Ensure the safety of your deck by using properly sized, engineered, and correctly installed joist hangers.

5. Improper Deck Materials
Weather resistant materials are necessary on exterior structures to prevent rot or deterioration. There are specific fasteners for exterior conditions and it is critical that the proper fasteners are used. Select materials that are expressly made to withstand all weather conditions.

4. Undersized footings
Footings create a solid base for the posts of your deck. Undersized footings can lead to sagging, warping or collapse.

3. Improper attachment to structure of house (incorrect fasteners)
How your deck attaches to your home determines its safety and durability. This is an area that you may want to overbuild beyond the minimum standards or requirements. Again material, size, and quality are critical.

2. Improper or missing flashing
Every deck must address water management. Water can soak into your home at the point where the deck connects to the house. Properly installed flashing will prevent erosion to the structural integrity of your deck and home.

1. Not obtaining a permit to build a deck
Obtaining a permit is the most overlooked step in deck building. Safety is the main focus of following the permitting process of your town.

The majority of deck building mistakes can be avoided by applying for a building permit through your City Hall. The permit process requires drawings and specifications of the proposed deck. Building Inspectors will verify that the deck plans meet the local building and safety codes. This crucial step will save you from making costly mistakes before the first hammer swings. The permit process requires on-site inspections during construction phases to insure the deck is being built according to code.

It is crucial for the safety of your family and your guests that a deck is built properly. Mosby Building Arts’ staff of planners will handle the design, drawings and permit applications. Furthermore our carpenters will build a deck of beauty, enduring quality and utmost safety for your family and friends outdoor enjoyment for years to come.

If your deck is showing even one of the 10 signs of an unsafe deck, call Mosby for deck inspection and repair at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

A St. Louis family has a beautiful deck that connects to a glass atrium indoor pool house one-story below it.

Though the construction was only a few years old, it was showing visible damage in two places.  On the deck, the stone columns had vertical cracks on the surface (shown above), and the rubber tile flooring was warping at the outside edge.

Inside the pool house, the finish on the drywall ceiling was peeling off (shown above).  Suspecting that it was a water leak, the family called in some specialists to find the source and correct the problems.  The cause of the water problem was never correctly identified and any patch work done to the visible damage was only a temporary fix.

Because the visible effects appeared rather minor, it was considered a minor irritation, until the day they were listening to an episode of The KMOX Home Improvement Show with Scott Mosby.  A caller had a question about a pesky, reoccurring water leak, and Scott took them through the process of how the visible problem is only the end of the line of what is most likely a much larger problem hidden behind the walls.

Understanding that Scott and his company, Mosby Building Arts, had valuable experience in detecting and correcting water leak problems, they were motivated to set up an appointment with a Mosby Home Consultant, and get to the bottom of this issue once and for all.

After a thorough inspection of the deck, the pool room and how they connected to one another, it was apparent to the Mosby Consultant that there was a complete lack of proper water management applied during the original construction, and he suspected that there was severe damage hidden under the deck and inside the space connecting the deck to the atrium.

For instance, what was viewed as dirt and stains on the pool room ceiling was actually mold and warping caused by water damage behind the drywall.  The Mosby Consultant was certain that run-off water from the deck was seeping into this ceiling, and that it would require applying proper flashing and water drainage to the deck and repairing all the damage that would be found inside.

The family was relieved to finally have an answer to the mystery, and because Mosby had taken the time to deeply investigate the problem, the homeowners felt they were also the logical choice to correct it.

When the Mosby carpenters began dismantling the exterior framing of the pool room, they found the wood completely soaked and rotted.

Even more horrifying was the framing of the deck walls that were exposed during demolition.  The wood was thoroughly soaked and spongy, and a text book example of how quickly and seriously water can damage structures when left unmanaged.

As the carpenters worked their way into the crawl space between the deck and the ceiling of the atrium, they found the metal supports were severely rusted from constant water exposure.

Flashing was practically non-existent , and the PVC drainage system that was supposed to collect and run-off water from the deck was actually dispersing it into the wooden structure.

The key to this project was repairing all the water damage on the deck and inside the pool room, installing a proper water management system and building a new deck without disturbing the pool room addition below.

After we repaired and replaced the internal workings of the drainage system, we restored the drywall ceiling of the pool room to its original appearance.  The family’s days of patching and re-painting are over.

For the deck itself, we used a water management system that floats ipe wood panels over the rubber membrane of the new deck subfloor.  This allows water to run off into the internal gutter system installed within the newly-built stone wall.  This keeps water from ever touching the wood and stone of the deck while keeping the water away from the pool room.

While the deck and water migration systems were brand new and built to last, the solution is not apparent to the naked eye.  We made sure that the overall look of their home is unaltered, as if there had never been a problem.  Above is a photo during construction, and below is the finished result.  We left the home more water tight and secure than we found it.

In the case of the deck itself, we left it better than we found it, with many material upgrades that improve both the look and function of their outdoor living area.

We rise to the challenge of detecting water problems, enacting the solution and creating quality and peace of mind for the homeowner.  Partnering with Mosby Building Arts to enhance your quality of life is a smart decision.  If you have a reoccurring or mysterious water leak problem that has defied previous repairs, let Mosby be the final call you make to take care of the situation once and for all.  Call our office at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

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Your home is much larger than you think.  We typically measure the square footage within the exterior walls of our house and consider only the interior as our livable space.  But when you look beyond the walls and consider the usable land your home sits on, the size of your home practically doubles in size.

A home is a place for your family, and the function of each room is determined by how the family uses the room.  For instance, the kitchen is for everyone of every age that lives in or visits your home, while your bedroom has specific functions for a limited number of people.  The family room is for varied levels of constant interaction, while a bathroom is for solitary retreat.  It is the number of people and how they use a space that creates the identity of a room.

Rethinking Your Backyard

Think of a typical backyard deck and how it is used.  Decks tend to be accessed by public spaces from inside the home and serve as an informal entertainment area for family and guests.  The deck has flexibility of use; yesterday it was a dining room for an intimate dinner for two, today it hosts a child’s birthday party and tomorrow it will let you relax and read a book on a lazy afternoon.  In essence, your deck is an outdoor extension of your family room, and a room addition without walls.

A patio may just be a slab of concrete in your backyard, but when you add a table and chairs, lighting and a grill it becomes the second kitchen of your home.  And just like your indoor kitchen, the patio is where everyone will gather, so furnish it the way you would a kitchen and you’ve just added another room to your house.

Endless Summer?

Outdoor living in, say, Southern California makes sense because of its year-round temperate weather, but why would you invest in creating outdoor rooms that can’t be used during Midwest winters?

Let’s observe that we in Metro St. Louis have a solid 4 months of cold weather that can preclude using a deck or sunporch, which leaves 8 months when our outdoor living spaces can be a part of daily life.

But even when the temperature is chillier than you’d like, patio designs can include fireplace accessories like a fire pit or fire ring to create warmth and cozy light for cold-weather get-togethers.  Another deck design option is various sizes of heaters powered by the same type of natural gas or propane tanks used for outdoor grills.

A 4-season room is essentially a screened porch with storm windows, insulation and a heat source for colder months, and when the weather changes, it converts back to an open-air room for enjoying nature in your outdoor room.  So, for those who thrive in the great outdoors, there are endless options for an endless summer all year long.

The designers and architects at Mosby Building Arts excel at creating unique outdoor living spaces perfectly tailored to your personality and lifestyle.  We work with you to craft a master plan of desires, needs and practical solutions that will transform your yard into an extension of your home, all year long.  To explore the possibilities of outdoor living, call our office at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

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Bunny Buck and his new covered deck.

Mosby Building Arts thinks differently about remodeling; we enhance lifestyles for everyone in the family… including pet wild rabbits!

We recently completed a covered deck project in St. Ann, MO, for a client wanting a shady and relaxing spot to gaze upon her gorgeous backyard. While on a visit to take pictures of the completed project, we kept bumping into a rather brave rabbit that not only seemed comfortable in our presence, but also seemed to be keeping an eye on the proceedings.

Turns out this rabbit had long ago adopted the homeowner, and she named him Buck. Turns out Mosby project manager Tom Miller had a furry friend overseeing this covered deck project, as Buck was constantly around to review progress. Our carpenters quickly befriended Buck, and were careful to keep an eye out for his safety during construction.

As the homeowner told this story, Buck hopped right up to us, and posed for some pictures with “his” new deck. We take this as a sign that he’s pleased with “his” new deck!

See more photos of Buck’s new deck.

50+ living in your own home is all about independent, barrier-free comfort and function.  It’s a form of accessibility that benefits all the generations of your family and friends who come into your home, which is why it is also known as Universal Design.

Remaining in your home requires thinking about how your life is currently, and what your needs might be for the future.  This is where a Certified Aging In-Place Specialist (CAPS) can assist you with the questions, designs and remodeling you will need to turn your house into a home for a lifetime.

Interior Accessible Design

A St. Louis couple had been in the same home for decades.  They had raised a family there, and their children and grandchildren all lived nearby.  Nearing retirement, they realized that they wanted to stay in their own home within the their community, but wanted to explore how to prepare the house for the years ahead.

Working with a Mosby Building Arts CAPS designer, they reviewed current needs and future concerns and decided to make the master bathroom their first mobility project because this where we tend to first notice changing capabilities.  Standing in the shower, the low height of a toilet bowl or operating the hot and cold taps on the sink becomes a bit more difficult.  There are many functional solutions to all of these issues, but it should also be attractive so that we are inspired by our surroundings.  Or as we say about all our CAPS remodeling projects: “Mobility Is Beautiful!”

To look at this bathroom, you would not immediately know that it’s accessible, but it certainly is.  The His and Hers bathroom vanities have single-lever faucet handles for ease of use, and are separated by a chair-height counter top with open space below.  This can accommodate a chair now or a wheelchair in the future.

The toilet is of taller height than average with a grab bar to the right which makes it easier to access, and comes with a push-button control pad mounted to the bathroom cabinet.

The walk-in shower has a low-clearance threshold, multiple brushed, stainless grab bars, a handheld shower wand and a retractable teak wood bench mounted to the wall.

See more photos of this accessible bathroom project.

All of these accessible master bathroom items can be used now for ease of use and security, and should there be a time when they need these features, having them already in place helps with these changes.  And at all times, it is a beautiful space that is already enhancing their lifestyle.

Exterior Accessible Design

We have a remodeling client that we’ve worked with on previous mobility projects.  She is currently vibrant and active, but is thinking ahead and prefers to be prepared.  We have moved her laundry room from the basement to a new ground floor addition off the garage, and even built new, shallow steps for easier access from the garage to the house (above).

She is also a veteran gardener with a gorgeous backyard, so we came up with designs to make her outdoor living just as accessible as indoors.  We designed and built a new patio with a lightly textured concrete surface for better traction, and a screen porch with a zero-clearance entry from the patio so that a walker or wheelchair.

Her favorite feature is the concrete ramp that takes one from the patio down into the garden.  She already enjoys how convenient the lack of steps is, which highlights how so many of the universal designs just make good sense for everyone who uses them.

See more photos of this project.

Other features that add mobility and beauty to outdoor living include increased lighting, raised flower planters and beds, raised height water spigots and wide sliding or French doors leading out to the area. When done properly, nothing looks out of the ordinary because it looks extraordinary.

Mosby Building Arts has three CAPS team members – including Scott Mosby who was the first national CAPS ambassador – who are certified and experienced at helping you live more comfortably in your home for all your days.  To explore your options for beautiful mobility, call us at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

It’s the time of year when parties and celebrations are happening all over the United States because July 4^th is upon us. Can your deck stand up to the weight, vibrations and movements of your guests? Has it deteriorated over the years from being exposed to the weather? Was it built with the correct engineering and in compliance with the code?

We strongly recommend you look into the condition of your deck. Not only the integrity of the wood, but its attachment to your house, the flashing, the size of the structural parts and the anchors. Many decks were built without checking into the proper engineering for the load and materials used. Building codes have been updated in some municipalities to consider the risks, but who built your deck and did they go through the correct process to obtain a building permit?

Did you know nearly 85% of homes in the United States have a deck, and it is estimated by the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) that 20 million of these decks are in need of repair or rebuilding?

In the past 10 years, there have been more than 800 reported injuries and 20 deaths as a result of deck collapses, and this number increases at an average rate of 21% per year. In many cases, the failing decks were built incorrectly, not properly maintained or were beyond their lifespan of approximately 10-15 years.

St. Louis is one of the top ten cities in the nation that have reported one or more deck collapses in the last 10 years.  Our region’s latest deck collapse happened on June 11, 2009 in Wildwood, MO, and recently Scott Mosby was asked to contribute his views on proper deck maintenance to a West County Suburban Journal article on deck safety. Read the article here.

Previously, we identified the Top 10 Mistakes of Deck Building, and to that we add the 7 warning signs that a deck is unsafe:

1. Loose connections – are your railings, deck boards, or structure loose at the connections?

2. Missing connections – are all the fasteners still working and in place? Do you have the proper joist hangers? Are they the right size?

3. Corrosion – do you see any metal parts that show rust?

4. Rot – are any wood or metal parts showing decay?

5. Cracks – can you detect any horizontal or vertical pieces of wood breaking apart?

6. Fastener size & number – has your deck been attached to your house correctly?

7. Posts – are your posts right on the ground or do they have the proper footings, piers, and anchors?

According to a Morse Technologies, Inc. report, 90% of deck failures are due to how the deck is connected to the house. We recommend that you review your deck today to see if it is attached similar to the diagram shown above.

Caution for the upcoming weekend is the proactive decision because virtually all reported deck collapses occur while the deck is occupied, and most collapses take place between June and August. As we are in the heart of summer entertaining season, we strongly urge you to have your deck inspected now so you can avoid serious injury to people and damage to your home.

Mosby Building Arts has recently been called out to several homes for our paid consultation visit to evaluate deck conditions after deck owners heard of the collapse in the St. Louis area. We not only evaluate your deck, but also find other contributing factors that may be overlooked by a less experienced carpenter.

Shown above is a photo of a deck we inspected last week whose vertical supports had uniformly shifted off-center of their concrete footings. With further investigation through our consultation visit, we found the flashing was missing and there was water damage on the inside of the house. The bolts used to hold the deck on the house were insufficient and the safety of this deck has been compromised.

We also visited another deck that the owner thought he was taking care of his concerns by replacing some rotted deck boards. The carpenter replaced the boards but neglected to see the water damage, the insufficient connection to the house and the lack of stability in the structure for proper support. The entire deck was built incorrectly and needs to be replaced.

Know that we think differently and want you to have peace of mind during your celebrations. Let our deep bench of professionals discuss your concerns. Call for a deck evaluation at 314.909.1800 or contact us here.

Jake models the dog ramp he shares with Molly.

We design spaces for everyone in the family, including the pets.  When it comes to getting from the deck to the backyard, dogs have different needs than humans, so we originally designed the deck stairs (to the left in the picture above) to be a little shorter in height for the shorter legs of basset hounds.

How a space functions for the users is of utmost importance, and after observing the dogs’ using the stairs, it was decided that a ramp would be an even better solution!  Another feature we added was a separate gate for both the human stairs and the dog ramp.

The king and queen of this household love the ramp, and so do their humans!

While taking pictures of the finished project, Jake was kind enough to demonstrate how it works for the camera.  You can see the rest of this outdoor living project here.

Between 2000 and 2008, there were at least 30 reported deaths from deck collapse.  More than 75 percent of people on a collapsing deck were injured. Most collapses occur on decks that are more than 20 years of age or older.  With over 40 million decks in the United States it is important that you check the safety of your deck.  Here is a link to a deck safety checklist.

Mosby Home Consultants inspect several problem decks a month, and these are the 10 most common mistakes they see:

10. Unsealed wood
Unsealed wood decks can age and deteriorate faster than sealed decks.  Proper sealing prolongs the appearance and life of a deck well beyond unsealed decks.  Avoid the “worn out” look by sealing it.

9. Stairs with open risers or missing railings
Open space between steps invites accidents.  Avoid injuries and create a tailored look by covering the risers.  Hand railings are fundamental to the safety of a stairwell.

8. Improper railing height and baluster spacing
Building codes have very specific measurements for railings and balusters to avoid accidents and injuries.

7. Undersized structural members
An undersized structural member increases the risk of deck collapse and can create sagging and improper weight distribution.  Avoid deck warping and collapsing by properly sizing all members and components of your deck.

6. Missing or improper joist hangers
Nails alone are not enough to counteract the shear forces on a structural member.  Joist hangers are an essential element in creating reinforced connections and supported decking. Ensure the safety of your deck by using properly sized, engineered, and correctly installed joist hangers.

5. Improper Deck Materials
Weather resistant materials are necessary on exterior structures to prevent rot or deterioration.  There are specific fasteners for exterior conditions and it is critical that the proper fasteners are used.   Select materials that are expressly made to withstand all weather conditions.

4. Undersized footings
Footings create a solid base for the posts of your deck.  Undersized footings can lead to sagging, warping or collapse.

3. Improper attachment to structure of house (incorrect fasteners)
How your deck attaches to your home determines its safety and durability. This is an area that you may want to overbuild beyond the minimum standards or requirements.   Again material, size, and quality are critical.

2. Improper or missing flashing
Every deck must address water management.  Water can soak into your home at the point where the deck connects to the house.  Properly installed flashing will prevent erosion to the structural integrity of your deck and home.

1. Not obtaining a permit to build a deck
Obtaining a permit is the most overlooked step in deck building.  Safety is the main focus of following the permitting process of your town.

The majority of deck building mistakes can be avoided by applying for a building permit through your City Hall. The permit process requires drawings and specifications of the proposed deck.  Building Inspectors will verify that the deck plans meet the local building and safety codes. This crucial step will save you from making costly mistakes before the first hammer swings.  The permit process requires on-site inspections during construction phases to insure the deck is being built according to code.

It is crucial for the safety of your family and your guests that a deck is built properly.  Learn more about Mosby Building Art’s deck services here. For deck inspection, design, construction, or repairs call the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.

Creating an in-ground pool

Our homeowners’ wanted to “vacation at home,” so we’re making them a backyard oasis.

We are in the middle of an in-ground pool project that is moving along at a fast and efficient pace. We have designed and are now constructing a new deck, in-ground pool and patio. A project of this scope can typically take up to 3 months to complete, which is why we are pleased with the substantial progress achieved in less than a month.

The homeowners backyard before the project began.

Our homeowners’ wanted to “vacation at home,” so we designed a new deck, in-ground pool and patio to give them a backyard oasis. A project of this size requires many important decisions and plans before the first hammer swings. Our client and staff teamed up to enable an efficient design process. With the aid of designers, clients, advanced planning programs and large 3D screens, the team came to an agreement and pre-built the project right before their eyes.

Together, we could see every crucial detail and literally be on the same page. Our homeowners asked important questions as they virtually built their project, which gave them confidence to make quick decisions.

We're working on the deck and pool concurrently, and making excellent progress.

This smooth efficiency carries over to the backyard. With a precise plan in place, we have coordinated tree cutters, pool installers and Mosby carpenters working at the same time. Each day brings tangible progress, and all of us are thrilled at how quickly this project is coming to life.

We look forward to sharing with you photos of the finished project, and our client looks forward to their first spring BBQ and pool party. We’re all on track to make that happen sooner than expected.

UPDATE

See photos of the completed project. It’s gorgeous!