Bending The Rules – Building Curved Decks With Mahogany
What is the purpose of a curved deck?
There are few things that spell out luxury or uniqueness than curves do. Think about it.
Curves in our homes are a rarity. Most homes have square or rectangular frames. Stairs go down and up in straight lines or turn on a perpendicular angle. Your deck or your dock are built with the same rectangular recipe in mind.
Now think about a place you have been to, or a movie you may have seen, where curves are incorporated. There is no doubt that when you see a home with a softer, rounder frame that it stands out in a neighbourhood. The grand winding staircases exude elegance to something as simple as going up and down floors. Curves in the right places add value to your home. Just look at these decks and see just how elegant the curves make the entire deck atmosphere.
Now think about curves in the context of your deck.
Getting Started on a Curved Deck
There are multiple ways to get this done with different kinds of styles depending on the look you are going for and your overall budget. Of course, we are assuming you are using genuine mahogany that you bought from Green World Lumber or a hardwood decking supplier near you.
Genuine mahogany is a good choice for this project for two main reasons. The wood’s natural properties make it a fantastic choice for decks as it is rot resistant. The second reason being that mahogany’s colour is rich and the wood stains very well. This helps really bring out the elegance and luxury factor when you are building a curved deck.
A Few Different Methods to Create Your Own Curved Deck
We won’t lie; building a curved deck is not an easy task. However, successfully building a curved deck will make you proud of your efforts and your entire backyard. It is more aesthetically pleasing to look at and relax on.
Here are a couple of methods you can try to accomplish this. There are plenty more so make sure you really do your research when you are in your planning stage!
Steam Bending
The first method, and potentially the most effective for the overall look, is to steam the wood. Steaming the mahogany makes it softer and more pliable to work with and form around things before it hardens again.
Think of it like a spaghetti string; it is hard and erect, with little bend, until you drop it in the boiling water. Then it softens up and you can shape it around your fork. It is a similar concept with wood.
To do this, you are going to need to get a steambox along with some peripheral equipment. If this is the route you want to go, it is probably best to rent it or hire a professional to do it. Finding a professional deck builder near you will really maximize how great your curved deck will look.
Bending by Force
You want to be careful if you are going to try and just bend it by force. This is inadvisable if you are trying to get a tight curve. If you have a lot of square footage to work with and are only looking for a slight bend, then this may be an option for you. But be aware, you could damage the wood if you bend too much!
Synthetic Accents
This method is a simpler way to achieve your curved deck look but with less elegance than using only genuine mahogany.
In this method, you build your mahogany deck as you would normally. This includes cutting/shaping the top portions of the deck on the curved angles you want. Then you would get a plastic or aluminium material to wrap around the deck.
In the end, there are plenty of methods to get a curved deck installed in your backyard. Building a curved deck with mahogany, or any wood, is not an easy task, but the rewards can be spectacular! Get ready for a lot of compliments from people wishing they had a curved deck like you!
