Kaile's Korner "Building a Great Deck"

Nothing complements a home like a well-planned and designed deck. Choosing the right deck is a lot like deciding on a new pet - both require well-reasoned planning.
 
Here are some considerations to help ensure that you build the ideal deck.
First, consider the location: front, back, sides or a wrap-around. The north side of a home is typically on the bad side of mother nature, so avoid the north side if possible. Front decks on most homes typically sacrifice privacy and are more subject to increased noise levels. However, front decks can often accentuate the front of a home, and can give an otherwise non-descript home front a deeper look. Back decks are the most common, because they offer more privacy and are often located closer to other amenities, such as outdoor fireplaces, etc. There is no right answer as to where a deck should be located, but it is important to consider all factors.
 
Second, what will be the primary function of your deck? How often do you plan to use your deck? If your deck is primarily for parties, you will want to consider access issues. Do you have a brick walkway to the deck? Do people have to trample your lawn or venture through your home to access it? Does your deck maximize its space by incorporating bench-rail seating? Is there a designated hot tub or cooking area on your deck?
 
Third, do you want a basic one-level deck? Or is the landscape such that a multi-level deck blends well into a sloping landscape? A deck is like a great hat — it completes. I often wonder why more people do not have a spiral stairway as a second deck entry where the landscape allows. If you are going to hold a lot of parties, plan a deck for performance and enhancement.
 
Fourth, plan some great amenities for your deck. Railing systems, rail seating, picture-framed decking, outdoor stone kitchen area, privacy walls and skirting are all things to consider. Work out size, location and style with your contractor before building- it is time well spent.
 
Kaile Warren has been an industry resource for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Redbook etc. Kaile is also an accomplished public speaker related to business matters. If you have a small business or business branding issue for Kaile write us at columnist@TheWindhamEagle.com

Entrepreneur Nest Week 1

Maybe you are an established entrepreneur or perhaps a struggling one; and then again, maybe you are an entrepreneur in waiting. Regardless of your current status, you are to be congratulated for landing here in the Eagle’s entrepreneur nest.

Entrepreneurship can be lonely, ever changing, rewarding, ego driven and/ or driven by social responsibility. My monthly business column is designed  to share my thoughts, past successes, challenges and best practices. I hope you will take away what you consider is best for you and your particular situation. With this business column, the Eagle has created a place where you can learn, respond and relate.

In this first column, I would like to introduce myself and give you a snapshot of my entrepreneurial background. My background is very diversified and includes national recognition of my accomplishments, and it has also been punctuated by extreme setbacks.

Through it all, I have loved, lost and learned. In this column, I want to share all, with the hope that my experiences can help guide you to more success, and help you to avoid heart- breaking failure.

I am the architect of the unique and nationally recognized Rent-A-Husband business model. I started Rent-A-Husband with the 500 dollars I carried on my person. Forty eight months later, I had built its investment value up to 7,000,000 million dollars, a several thousand percent increase in just 48 months. Additionally, through a partnership with global giant ACE Hardware, Rent-A-Husband posted unmatched levels of success within four key metrics designed by ACE Hardware. ACE Hardware also considered the Rent-A-Husband brand to be the most recognized brand in the handyman industry. So whether it is building company value, best practices or great branding, I have been there and done it. I am also a nationally accomplished author, TV personality and writer.

With this in mind, I hope you will follow this column, as I plan to put my heart and experiences- both good and bad- into helping YOU best develop your business and your career. Entrepreneurship is a tough road, let’s learn and laugh as we travel it together.

Kaile's Korner Week1

Congratulations! You have just landed in the Eagle’s home improvement nest. Wait - do not flutter away out of fear of the “Honey Do” list. If you will make a commitment to follow this column on a regular basis, I will make the following commitment to you: I will teach you how to overcome the 3-T rule, which is that most people fail at maintaining and/or remodeling their homes because of either the lack of time, tools or talent. And for some of you, it may be a combination of all three. Well, fail no more.

Whether you want to learn how to do home improvement tasks, or how to put yourself on equal footing with the contractors you hire, this column will get you where you want to be.

You might be thinking, I’m going to tell you that when hiring a contractor, get three references, check with the Better Business Bureau and don’t pay more than one-third upfront. Blah, blah, blah. Well, it is hard to make an intelligent argument against this conventional wisdom. However, this wisdom has become an unsophisticated way to best put yourself on equal footing with your contractor. I am going to teach you a much more sophisticated way of dealing with contractors. 

If you lack the confidence or conviction to do more repairs around your home, this column is going to give you what you need to change all of that. My focus will be on safety, skill sets and savvy. You will learn that safety is number one with any effort. You will learn basic skill sets that are transferable to a multitude of tasks, and you will acquire the savvy to make home repairs and improvements in a very proud and self-fulfilling way.

I am Kaile Warren, a Windham resident and nationally known home improvement guru. I would be honored to guide you on your home improvement journeys. No Fear. Tools are like pets - the more you learn about them, the more you get out of them. 

To ask Kaile about your home improvement dilemma, email columnist@TheWindhamEagle.com.