Tennessee Deckworks LLC

09/29/2026

Wood vs Composite

09/29/2026

Don't Waste A Backyard Like This w Basic Deck

09/29/2026

Three Things To Look For

09/29/2026

BDE

09/29/2026

Basic Deck Should Be Illegal

09/17/2026

09/15/2026

You built the deck. Now you want to actually relax on it without the whole street watching. 🌲

Here's every way to get privacy on a Knoxville deck, cheapest to nicest:

1️⃣ Railing-mounted screens — the cheap, reversible option. A bamboo roll-up runs about $90–$180 for a 10×6-ft section. No commitment, no construction, good for renters.

2️⃣ Built privacy walls & lattice — permanent and the best looking. Cedar slat and composite panels run roughly $300–$700 installed per section.

3️⃣ Pergolas & louvered screens — privacy without boxing you in. A pergola also gives you somewhere to add lighting, a fan, or climbing plants.

4️⃣ Planting — tall planters, ornamental grasses and evergreen shrubs screen a deck naturally. Go evergreen so you're still covered in January.

5️⃣ Do both at once — a louvered wall on the sunny, exposed side blocks sightlines AND that brutal afternoon glare. Two problems, one build.

📊 Cost per section, installed: bamboo $90–$180 · wood lattice $180–$350 · cedar slat $300–$600 · composite $350–$700 · metal screen $450–$850

Why it's worth it: in a 2025 Fixr survey, 98% of homeowners agreed an updated outdoor space has a big impact on home value. 56% are investing more in outdoor living than the year before, and 31% are turning their backyards into multipurpose spaces.

⚠️ Two things to check before you build: local height limits and HOA approval — and wind load. A solid screen acts like a sail, so posts and footings have to be sized for it.

Fall is the right time to do this. Let us walk your deck and show you what fits.

📞 Call or text 865-300-4884 for a free consultation.

📍 Serving Knoxville & East Tennessee.

09/08/2026

"Should we build a deck or pour a patio?" 🤔 It's the #1 question we hear — so here's the honest breakdown for East Tennessee.

The biggest factor isn't taste. It's your yard.

🌲 Most lots around Knoxville, Powell, Corryton & Maryville are sloped. On a slope:

- A deck uses the terrain to its advantage — built up on posts and footings, with room for a view.

- A patio needs expensive grading, fill, and retaining walls just to sit level.

💰 The numbers (2025):

- Wood deck: $15–$25/sq ft · Composite: $30–$60/sq ft

- Patio: $8–$25/sq ft installed

- At resale, a wood deck recovers 94.9% of its cost — one of the best returns in home improvement.

👉 Flat yard and want the lowest upfront cost? A patio may win. Sloped lot, a walkout door, or chasing resale value and views? A deck is usually the smarter build.

Still on the fence? We'll walk your yard and help you choose with confidence — no pressure.

📞 Call or text 865-300-4884 for a free consultation.

09/04/2026

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 🔥 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗸, 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀.

The short answer is yes, you can put a fire pit on a deck — but a gas or propane pit is far safer than a wood-burning one. Wood-burners throw sparks and embers, and most manufacturers don't approve them for wood decks at all. Embers that drop between your boards are exactly how a deck fire starts.

Here's how to do it safely:

🔸 Never put it directly on the boards. Use a fire-rated mat (good ones resist 1,100°F+), concrete pavers, or an elevated stand with a heat shield.

🔸 Clearances: about 10 ft from the house, 3 ft of open space on every side, and 6–10 ft overhead. Away from railings, steps, low branches and walking paths.

🔸 Composite and PVC aren't off the hook. They resist rot, but they scorch, warp and melt. Same protection required.

🔸 Check the boring stuff first — local building rules, HOA restrictions, your insurance policy, and burn ordinances. A plumbed natural-gas line needs a permit and a licensed installer.

💰 What it runs: portable pits $75–$500 · above-ground installed $200–$1,500 · in-ground permanent $1,000–$3,000. Installed average lands around $850.

Planning a fire feature? The smartest move is designing the deck around it from the start — clearances, layout and lighting all at once, instead of retrofitting later.

📞 Call or text 865-300-4884 for a free estimate.

📍 Knoxville, Maryville, Farragut, Oak Ridge & East Tennessee.