Sonoma Deck with High Five Railing

“High Five” Railing with a View in sonoma County, California

This expansive deck commands views of the whole Sonoma Valley all the way to San Pablo Bay. Our challenge was to preserve the view without incurring the expense of stainless steel cable rail. The solution was to use “High Five” square wire panels. These come in 5’x16’ panels of galvanized #4 wire that is extremely rigid and durable. We used a metal cutting grinder blade to cut each section to fit. Each cut wire end was then painted with red oxide paint to prevent future rust. The result was the great view you see here at a much lower cost than cable rail.

Our client chose construction heart redwood for its beauty and durability. We installed it using our patented Deckmaster Hidden Brackets so there are no holes or screw heads to mar the surface of the deck. The Deckmaster Bracket also prevents water from penetrating into the joist so the new deck should last three times longer than the deck it replaced.

Tags: building decks, deckmaster hidden bracket, heart redwood, high five railing, railing design, sonoma deck builder

Windsor, California Deck and Patio Cover (Sonoma County)

This Sonoma County back yard was HOT!!! It literally cried out for a deck and patio cover. The western exposure meant that summer afternoon sun reflected off the wall of the house like a solar oven. The owner had to keep the shades drawn on the windows inside to keep the sun from overheating the house. The solution was to build this elegant patio cover which is architecturally pleasing and transforms the back yard into a comfortable and inviting living area.

The Design Challenge

One design challenge was that the house has a low eve in one area that we had to go under and a high attachment in another area. How were we to have two levels of roof with a graceful transition and a minimum of posts? We solved it by doubling the rafters and hanging a beam (using long bolts} and then hanging the rafters from the hanging beam. The whole patio cover only required three posts.

Because of the high attachment we decided to use large timbers. The beams are 6×10 and the rafters are 4×8 with nice custom corbels on the ends. We spaced the 2×4 slats close together so they let in light but not the excessive heat from the sun. The white color matched the house trim and gives the structure a light and airy feeling.

Decking Material and Construction With No Nails or Screws on Surface

The deck below was built with Evergrain Cherrywood decking. This is a very rich looking composite that wears like iron. Of course we installed the decking with Deckmaster Hidden Brackets so there are no nails or screws to mar the deck surface. The owner can use her soft hot tub without worrying about stubbing her toes on protruding nail heads. We added 12” fascia around the perimeter to hide the understructure and give the deck a finely finished appearance.

This was a very rewarding project because it completely transformed the backyard environment from being unusable on hot summer days to an inviting outdoor living area.

Miguel Flores – Foreman
Alberto Curcio – Head Carpenter

Tags: backyard deck, hidden brackets, patio cover, sonoma deck builder, windsor california deck builder

About Weston Leavens – Inventor and Award Winning Master Deck Builder

Highlights of Weston Leavens’ long career as a deck builder:

Invented and patented Deckmaster Hidden Brackets

Winner – National Redwood Deck Contest

Over 25 years of deck and patio cover experience

Appeared on “Designing Spaces” television show

Frequent guest on “On the House with the Carey Brothers” nationally syndicated radio program.

Winner – “Build a Deck, Win a Deck” contest sponsored by the California Redwood Association.

Weston Leavens and Master Deck Builder are synonymous. He brings decades of inventiveness and award winning perfection in design and construction to the deck building craft. If you’re seeking eye appeal and lasting quality, you’ve come to the right place. Just looking at a few of the illustrations of Weston’s work throughout this site cannot help but convince you.

Weston Leavens started building decks and patio covers in San Diego during the building boom of the early 1980’s. The market at that time was flooded with fast production, low quality builders and there were few craftsmen who specialized in custom work. With a background in both framing and finish carpentry, Weston used the principles of both to build solid structures of enduring beauty. He recognized that the minute an outdoor project is finished it begins to be attacked by the elements. This type of building requires knowledge of the characteristics of all materials, from wood and composites to fasteners and connectors.

National and Local Awards

Driven by a passion for excellence, Weston soon became the premier deck builder in San Diego County. His work won awards at the Del Mar Fair and was featured for years as the entrance to the Flower and Garden Show. One beautiful deck project was the top professional entry in the National Redwood Deck Contest sponsored by the California Redwood Association and Home Mechanix Magazine.

As a builder who is also an ardent environmentalist, Weston was troubled by a serious problem inherent in deck construction. In Southern California the lifespan of decks was only 10 to 12 years. The nails holding the deck boards down, quickly started popping up and became unsafe requiring costly maintenance. Water penetrating into the joists through the nail holes caused the joists to deteriorate and rot.

Invention of The Deckmaster Hidden Bracket

The search for a better way to build a deck led to the invention and patent of the Deckmaster Hidden Bracket. This innovative product solved the problems of water penetration while building a deck of unsurpassed beauty. Deckmaster Brackets not only became and remain the quality leader in deck construction but also spawned the hidden deck fastening industry. Today many products offer hidden fastening. They all claim to be easier and faster but none purport to be better quality than Deckmaster.

As the demand for the Deckmaster Hidden Bracket grew, Weston decided to close his construction business and concentrate on manufacturing and marketing. Within two years Deckmaster was distributed to lumberyards and building material stores nationally. In 1998, Weston sold the company and patent to Grabber Construction Products. After taking a year off to travel with his family, Weston became the National Sales Manager for Grabber focusing on the Deckmaster Hidden Bracket. In that capacity he travelled the country training deck builders, retailers and distributors. He also expanded his own knowledge of deck building techniques and state of the art materials.

Public Appearances

Weston has served as a consultant throughout the country, helping builders and homeowners solve their deck construction and design problems. He was a featured seminar presenter at the first ever Deck Expo in Atlanta, teaching the fine points of deck fastening to over 250 builders. He has been featured several times as the deck expert on “On the House with the Carey Brothers” national radio program and in a nationally televised interview on “Designing Spaces”.

Today Weston and his wife Jenny have their own deck and patio cover specialty company in Sonoma County serving the north San Francisco Bay and Wine Country of Northern California. Weston is available for design and construction consultation by phone and online. He can also travel to your job site anywhere in the world on a per diem basis.

Weston, Jenny and their son Garth live on two rural acres near Sebastopol, California in the heart of Russian River wine region. Weston designs, consults, and supervises deck construction while Jenny serves as marketing director. Garth is a recent graduate of Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, and currently is enrolled in the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo.

Tags: building decks, deck builder, redwood deck, sonoma deck builder