TL Decks

08/31/2026

Summer may be winding down… but we are NOT packing up the backyard yet. 😎

There are still burgers to grill.
Drinks to enjoy outside.
Football games to watch.
Cool evenings around the fire.
And plenty of “we should probably go inside” nights that somehow turn into another hour on the deck.

Around here, deck season doesn’t end when August does. 🍂

In fact, some of the BEST backyard nights are still ahead of us.

So tell us…

👇 Are you TEAM SUMMER ☀️ or already TEAM FALL 🍂?

We have a feeling this one might divide the room. 😂

08/28/2026

🏆 IT’S TIME FOR THE BACKYARD DRAFT.

You get the #1 pick for your backyard.

But once you choose, the others are GONE. No trades. No second-round picks. 😂

What are you drafting first?

🔥 Built-in fire feature
📺 Outdoor TV
🍔 Outdoor kitchen/grill station
🛋️ Covered lounge area
💡 Killer deck lighting
🥂 Built-in bar

We have a feeling this could get competitive…

👇 What’s your #1 pick?

08/27/2026

The classroom looks a little different around here today! 🛠️

Today, TL Decks is proud to be hosting a Fortress Evolution Steel Deck Framing Master Class, with contractors and builders from several companies joining us to learn directly from the Fortress team.

There’s something pretty cool about having a room or yard full of people who may work for different companies, but are all here for the same reason — to learn, improve their craft, ask questions, and build better.

The best people in this industry never stop learning, and today is a great example of that.

A huge thank you to Fortress Building Products for bringing the knowledge and to everyone who joined us today. We’re proud to have TL Decks be the place where everyone could come together and learn! 💪

08/26/2026

There are some people who leave behind more than a career. They leave behind a reminder of how to live.
Dolly Parton was certainly a legend, but what made her so loved went far beyond her music.
She never forgot where she came from. She loved her family fiercely. She gave generously, cared deeply about children, stayed humble despite extraordinary success, and somehow had a way of making the whole world feel a little more like neighbors.
At TL Decks, family means everything to us. So does community. So does treating people well and leaving things a little better than you found them.
Maybe that's why the loss of Dolly feels a little different.
The rhinestones, the hair and that unmistakable voice made her an icon. But her kindness made her unforgettable.
Rest easy, Dolly. Thank you for reminding all of us that you can accomplish incredible things in this world and still lead with heart. 🤍

08/24/2026

🏡 We want to hear from YOU!

When you walk into a showroom because you’re considering a new deck, what do you actually want to see?

Are you hoping to compare decking colors side-by-side? Touch and feel different materials? See railing options in person? Check out different framing systems? Explore lighting, privacy screens, or other features you didn’t even know existed?

Maybe you want to see full-size displays instead of trying to imagine everything from a tiny sample. Or maybe there’s something completely different that would help you make decisions.

We spend every day thinking about decks…but we want to know what YOU would want from the showroom experience.

👇 So tell us in the comments: When you go into a showroom for a deck to be built at your home, what do you want to see?

Your answers might just inspire what we add next. 😉

08/21/2026

🔎 FRIDAY: DECK DETECTIVE

Alright, internet detectives… we have a case for you.

Somewhere in this photo is something that makes deck builders twitch. 😂

Can you spot what’s wrong?

Drop your best guess below. 👇

And yes, “the whole thing” is occasionally an acceptable answer. 😬

08/20/2026

Throwback Thursday 🕰️🔨

Some projects are just worth another look. 👀

We spend a lot of time showing you what we're building right now, but today we're digging into the TL Decks archives.

Because a great deck isn't about what's trendy this year. It's about creating a space that still makes you want to grab a drink, kick your feet up, fire up the grill, and stay outside a little longer—year after year.

And this one? We'd happily hang out here any day. 😎

Here's your reminder that while summer may be winding down, deck-planning season definitely isn't. Fall is a great time to start planning the backyard you've been thinking about.

Design. Craft. Build.

08/19/2026

🔨 You know that feeling when you step back, look at what you just built, and think… “Yeah. I did that.”

We’re looking for another Carpenter to join the TL Decks team—but we’re not just looking for someone who knows how to swing a hammer.

We want someone who takes pride in the details.
Someone who notices when something is almost right and fixes it until it is right.
Someone who wants to work alongside people who care about craftsmanship, work hard, solve problems, and can still have a little fun on the jobsite.

We build some pretty incredible outdoor spaces throughout our community, and we’re looking for the right person to help us build the next ones.

Think that might be you? 👇

🔗 Apply here: https://forms.gle/q9ftMrUFNypj5giy9

Know a carpenter who sounds exactly like this? Send this their way.

Come build something you’re proud to put your name on. 🔨

08/18/2026

Our Fox River Grove project is really coming together! 🔨

With the decking in place and the railings now going in, you can really start to see this beautiful outdoor space take shape. We love getting to this stage of a build, when all the pieces start coming together and the finished vision is right around the corner.

Stay tuned for more updates as we bring this beautiful space to life! 🏡

08/17/2026

🔨 WE’RE HOSTING A FORTRESS MASTER CLASS!

We spend a lot of time talking about building better decks — but this time, we’re helping other contractors learn how to build them, too.

TL Decks is proud to be hosting a Fortress® Evolution Steel Deck Framing Master Class August 26–27!

Alex Larson of TL Decks and Scot Sheffield of Evolution Steel Products will be leading a hands-on workshop where contractors can get out on a real TL Decks jobsite in Hawthorn Woods and learn the ins and outs of building with Evolution Steel Framing.

This isn’t a sit-in-a-chair-and-watch-a-PowerPoint kind of class. 👀

🛠️ Real jobsite
🛠️ Real installation
🛠️ Hands-on training
🛠️ Steel framing from people who actually build with it

We’re big believers that better education creates better builders — and better builders raise the bar for our entire industry.

We’re incredibly proud to have TL Decks be part of that.

Contractors interested in attending can check out all the details and register here:

👉 https://masterclass.fortressbp.com/tl-decks-evolution-steel-deck-framing-hawthorn-woods-illinois/

Build better. Learn more. Raise the standard. 💪

Evolution Steel Products is excited to teach you about the next evolution in decking. This Fortress® Master Class Workshop is co-hosted by Scot Sheffield, Evolution Steel Products and Alex Larson, TL Decks. They will show you the ins and outs of working with steel—it’s just as easy as wood.