Elite Vinyl Railings Blog

If you’re the type of homeowner who enjoys completing DIY projects around your home and backyard, you’re probably well aware that building your own deck and railing system from wood can be a fulfilling venture. However, while you can certainly DIY your deck or porch railings, it’s not the safest thing to do—or even the most cost-effective over the long haul. Especially if you do not have top-level construction skills.

The best way to build a strong deck railing system that will last for decades is to trust the pros at Elite Vinyl Railings.

Why?

It comes down to experience. Since the formation of our company in 1995, we have built hundreds of decks and railing systems for happy customers throughout Central Pennsylvania and beyond. We also have access to a variety of materials that are just plain better than wood in terms of longevity, maintenance needs, and safety for your family and visitors to your home. Read on to discover how our deck railing options are different. Continue reading “How Do I Build a Strong Deck Railing System That Lasts?”

A screened-in porch is a wonderful addition to any home. It is a space where you can relax outdoors without interference from biting insects or rain and just enjoy time with loved ones.

When planning to add a screened porch to your home, the first thing you need to do is create a realistic budget for the project to ensure that your screened-in porch’s cost is not overwhelming. Today’s blog post gives you a few of the biggest things you need to consider as you budget and plan for your new screened porch. Continue reading “How to Budget Out for a Screened-In Porch”

Are you looking for more information on how a pergola can enhance your outdoor living space? Or, perhaps you currently have a pergola you want to update? In this blog post, we offer a look at how a pergola works in comparison to other types of backyard structures. We’ll also highlight several of the unique pergola designs we have available to help you create the perfect space for outdoor entertaining.

Whether you are simply looking for a beautiful way to add shade, want to enhance your garden, or would like to add more privacy, a pergola from Elite Vinyl Railings in Lancaster, PA, might be your answer. Continue reading “6 Beautiful Pergola Designs to Upgrade Your Backyard”

Summer means being outdoors and relaxing on outdoor patio furniture. Whether it is sitting by the pool, having a meal on the deck, or napping on the porch or in the sunroom, having the right kind of outdoor furniture can make all the difference.

Historically, outdoor furniture has been made of either wood, metal, or plastic. However, as a result of plastic recycling, poly or “polywood” furniture has become a popular option. All these materials make great outdoor furniture, of course, but poly materials may be more durable over the long haul.

Deciding which furniture material is best for your particular deck, patio, or other outdoor space depends on local weather conditions, architectural style, required maintenance, and budget. Today’s blog post offers a closer look at how poly outdoor furniture compares to options made from other materials. Continue reading “How Poly Stacks Up to Other Outdoor Furniture Materials”

When planning to add a new deck or renovate an existing one, the most important style choice homeowners will make is the railing. A deck’s overall look comes almost entirely from its railing, after all! To help you choose, today’s blog post offers eight of our favorite deck railing ideas that can truly transform a bland deck into an eye-catching outdoor living space. Continue reading “Eight Top Deck Railing Ideas For Your Home”

As winter starts to melt away and signs of spring pop up, it can only mean one thing—yardwork season. It’s time once again for weed-pulling, mulching, power washing your deck, and other miscellaneous maintenance. As dreadful as all of that sounds, what if we told you cleaning your deck could be made much easier with two simple words? Vinyl decking.

Whether you’re replacing an old wood deck or are looking to install a new one this spring, you have a lot of decking options to consider. We’ve gone over some of this before in our Ultimate Guide to Deck Design, but we want to specifically review the benefits of vinyl decking. Continue reading “The Benefits of Vinyl Decking vs. Composite and Wood Decking”

No matter what time of year it is, there’s always something wholesome about utilizing your home’s outdoor space. Whether you’re having a cookout with friends in the summer, playing with the kids in your small backyard in the spring, or getting cozy by a fire in the winter or fall with family, expanding your outdoor entertainment area is always an excellent idea for get-togethers.

Elite Vinyl Railings offers many options for improving your backyard designs—from decks to outdoor furniture, pergolas, and more, the possibilities are virtually endless with ideas to upgrade your outdoor space. Here are a few of our favorites for sprucing up your outdoor living room before your next get-together! Continue reading “7 Small Backyard Ideas to Consider Before Your Next Party”

Looking for more ways to enjoy time on your deck or other outdoor living areas before this summer is over? Today’s post features some of our favorite yard or lawn games you can play with your family and friends.

And just because they’re called “lawn games,” it doesn’t mean that you have to play them in the grass. You can modify rules or setup to play on your new dream deck—or even in your comfortably screened-in porch or patio from Elite Vinyl Railings! Continue reading “Outdoor Living Fun: 5 Games to Play on Your Deck or in Your Backyard”

From Ideas and Plans to Ready-to-Build

As summer lurks around the corner, a lot of homeowners stare longingly at their backyard thinking of DIY projects that could be done. Whether it’s looking to redo landscaping or install a pool, most will put off the project “until next year,” too afraid to tackle the work and expenses. But what if we told you that replacing an unsightly deck or installing a brand new one didn’t have to be one of those projects that has to wait?

At Elite Vinyl Railings, we always want to improve homeowner convenience by installing maintenance-free products, but we also understand when someone wants to tackle a project themselves. If this sounds like you, keep reading for some of the best steps to take and questions to ask when you’re working on your deck design. Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Deck Design”

Having a pool in your backyard is a wonderful luxury that most people only dream of during those long, hot summer days. Tempers are higher, the kids are crankier from being cooped up, and sometimes it’s just too much work to load everyone into the car and head to a crowded community pool. Unfortunately, having a nice in-ground pool is not the most budget-friendly solution and an above ground pool can be a huge eyesore in your yard.

Luckily, Elite Vinyl Railings has the perfect solution—building an above ground pool deck! There are a ton of benefits to building a deck around your above ground pool: it’s cost efficient, easier to set up, has size flexibility, and requires less maintenance. We also know that there are so many options when it comes to designing a deck around your pool, and we will happily consult with you to figure out what works best for you. To help out with the process, we’ve put together a few things to consider when you’re starting your project that you may not have thought of right away. Continue reading “7 Things to Consider When Designing Your Own Above Ground Pool Deck”