Photograph: Courtesy Mcbride Cupolas

Welcome back to our nine part series!  Mother Nature provides cottage country with four great seasons. Part seven addresses maintenance features to weather the elements, as well as, decks, docks and screened-in areas to enhance and prolong the outdoor experience.
Mary Lee Zimmer and Brian Hoar

Trend – Maintenance Free
If ever there was a trend with gathering momentum it’s one towards more maintenance-free exterior finishes. Never were there so many excellent products from which to choose and more are being introduced every year.
Technology is playing a huge role. Dwindling natural resources are playing a part, consumer demands and higher expectations are doing the rest.
The exterior components of a house are subject to weather extremes inflicted over the 365 days of each and every year. Muskoka’s temperatures conservatively range from -35 to +35•C. Sunshine, rain and snow with freeze/thaw conditions all take their toll.
Ongoing maintenance requiring frequent painting, re-roofing and replacing rotted window frames is a cost and aggravation no one need accept as part of home ownership.
It’s 2006 and there are great choices available to substantially reduce maintenance, too many alternatives to ignore. 
Exterior finishes
Worthy of a second mention are the options in windows, siding and roofing. These areas are most affected by the elements and need special attention, especially concerning low maintenace.
“Window and door manufacturers have long recognized the value of cladding exteriors in aluminum, vinyl and fiberglass,” states Jeff Hodges, of Muskoka Window and Door.
“We’re going back to the natural wood look, which is what we call the old Muskoka look,” adds Eleda Ward, of Window Works. “The outside frame, however, is rarely left as wood.”

Multi-level decks extend living space to experience the great outdoors. Photograph: Courtesy Hickory Dickory Decks

Colour applications are far superior in factory-controlled conditions to on site-painting. Initial costs will be more. Consider this an investment for the future.
Siding
If the chosen siding is wood, factory applied finishes offer warranties of 15 years or more with unlimited colour options.
Realistically, onsite exterior painting is limited to little more than the three months of the year offering ideal conditions. Take out the rainy days and the times it’s impossible to keep the bugs out of the paint and you ask why would anyone do it? There are now better ways.
Other painted, or stained, exterior components such as soffits, trim and corner boards are also best taken care of in one of Muskoka’s growing number of off-site paint shops. Conditions are controlled – rain or shine, summer or winter. Good planning and off-site finishing can reduce exterior site work to not much more than touch ups.
“Wood siding makes a bold and elegant statement,” states Scott Clark, of Edenlane Homes. “Today’s wood products are the choice of people wanting the traditional look and feel … a subdued colour palate blends seamlessly with the natural environment...to create a conventional cottage ambiance.”
Exterior cladding is now also produced from nontraditional materials such as bonded fibers, or cement, which offer many maintenance-free benefits. Colour is built right in, the materials are impervious to rot and decay. These newer products have come such a long way since early introductions. They no longer look fake, some difficult to identify from the real thing. Quality is consistent. Waste is much reduced.
“We install siding in vinyl, wood, steel and fiber cement,” states Kevin Browne, of NorStar Exteriors. “Vinyl comes in low and high-end. High-end offers darker colours and more UV ray inhibitors.”
“Vinyl is common but, on the lakes, wood siding is more prevalent,” adds Richard Clement, of Clement Aluminum. “Cement board, which is maintenance-free, can be made to look like wood and is becoming more and more popular.”
"Hardiplank is a long lasting and durable fiber-cement siding that resists rotting, cracking and chipping," states Ross Defina, of Viceroy Homes.  "It comes in a painted finish, available in 20 colours. Our siding is installed on a rain screen, which is a positive air pressure between the siding and exterior wall. This helps to prevents mould and mildew plus it promotes the longevity of the finish."  
When contracting work, it’s important to get three quotes. “You need to make sure the pricing is fair," cautions Browne. "Have the contractor walk around the building with you to make sure everyone is anticipating the same scope of job.
“It's important to understand," he continues, "that when getting a quote on wood siding, or cement board, you pay for the siding and then you pay for the trim. When you get a quote on vinyl siding, the trim is included."

A beautiful custom home nestled in a beautiful Muskoka setting. Photograph: Courtesy Shorline Construction

Roofing
More options and better quality, are also being found in roofing materials.
If asphalt, or fiberglass, shingles are chosen, no one should consider installing anything but top of the line with a minimum 30 to 35 year warranty. Layered shingles are attractive and durable and can be an excellent choice for homes in the higher ranges.
Cedar shakes are classic and, under certain circumstances, work well.
“Red cedar roofs add aesthetic value to homes,” states Bernie Olm, of Cedar Roof Ontario. “Shakes are more rustic looking while shingles have a tidier look. “It’s important to include a breathable underlayment during construction," he adds. "Anytime you add breathability you extend the life of the wood.”
For more than a century, roofs of red cedar shingles and hand-split shakes have been used in virtually every architectural style.
Steep pitches, clean uncluttered rooflines, and proper installation offer the best insurance for longevity. The accumulation of pine needles and leaves on a cedar roof will shorten the life span significantly. Don’t even think of walking all over the roof every year to get them off, even more damage will be done.
If the immediate environment suggests these destructive conditions will occur, you may choose to look for an alternative.
Options include synthetic shakes, or “Enviroshake,” which offers the same classic look. They will grey after installation to look like weathered cedar, authentic looking enough to make most people look twice to tell the difference.
Synthetic slate tiles and coated steel roofing are also viable options, both offering extended warranties in the 50-year range.
Eavestroughs
Maintenance-free extends past windows, siding and roofing. Products such as Gutter Guardian and Gutter Helmet are protection systems to ensure nothing gets into your gutters, except rainwater. No leaves, no debris.  Rainwater is directed into your gutters; leaves and debris flow over the edge and fall to the ground.
“These protection systems, eliminating the need to clean your troughs, have become popular, especially in this area,” states Clement. “Homes on the lake often are on uneven and steep terrain. Owners can’t just get on a ladder. It could be 20-30 feet up and dangerous.”
For soffit and fascia, Browne recommends aluminum over vinyl.  “This far north of Toronto, there can be negative consequences to the vinyl expanding and contracting with the changes in temperature.”
Copper specialty items add a unique and elegant look. Replacing an unslightly down pipe can be Chinese chains. “We ask the contractor to build a trench drain underneath so the water will trickle down the Chinese chains, into the drain,” explains Browne.

Architectural details define this exquisite home. Traditional styling and natural colours blend with the natural environment. Photograph: Courtesy Edenlane Homes

Decks
Few custom or leisure homes are built without one. Summer invites outdoor living and entertaining. The deck is an extension of living space; it’s traditional, it’s part of what Muskoka is all about. Decks are gathering places for barbeques, that morning coffee, those quiet times with a good book. 
“An elevated deck provides two-fold benefits of a better view plane and much needed storage for canoes, toys, and other equipment underneath,” states Clark. “Decks can also be used as outdoor dining rooms, secure play areas for the children and pets, and places to cool off on those hot summer nights.”
Good deck design and placement will compliment the home’s architecture. Deck furniture and those famous Muskoka Chairs invite a slower pace and provide a unique setting to relax in a hectic world.
Deck materials vary. Traditional cedar boards, synthetic wood fibers bonded with resins, waterproof membranes and aggregates are now all options to consider. Each has specific advantages. Site conditions, costs, form and function need to be determined to select what is best for any given application.
Cedar has always been the decking material of choice for good reason. Left in its natural state it weathers grey, doesn’t splinter, is nice to walk on in bare feet and lasts a long time.
But it doesn’t. Not anymore. 
Canada's resources of old growth cedar have almost been depleted. New growth harvested today does not contain the same degree of natural oils that inhibit decay. Deck boards and other horizontal surfaces exposed to the weather are not lasting more than about 10 or 12 years.
Painting, or staining, is a no-no! Once begun, this cycle of slavery never ends. Maintenance-free will become a distant dream.
Natural wood fibers, recycled plastics and resins are being bonded together to form boards with textured surfaces and rounded edges that mimic real wood. Natural grey or built-in colours are options. Extended life expectancy and no maintenance become part of the package everyone is looking for.
"We build maintenance-free composite decks,” states Derek Pollock, of Hickory Dickory Decks. A composite deck is an option to the traditional cedar or pressure treated deck. It won’t rot or splinter. Along with a better non-slip surface there is no staining, peeling, slivers, cracking, warping or twisting.
“Involved in the original design, our goal is to craft your dream deck,” states Pollock. “We create an outdoor environment with options that include outdoor showers, cook areas, kitchenettes, hot tubs, pergolas, gazebos, benches, spas, cabanas, outdoor lighting and more.

Ultimate class with decks and railings in unison with the unique architecture. Photograph: Courtesy Excel Enclosures

“The sky is the limit when it comes to size, multilevels and stairways down steep embankments,” states Harry Wood, of Waterwood Carpentry. “We use red cedar and Ontario white cedar, ensuring all substructures are pressure treated.” 
Protective products 
Dec-K-ing offers a walk-on waterproof membrane – a vinyl covering for roof decks, walk-out decks, sundecks, boathouses and more. “The waterproofing ensures the sun room, or items in storage, underneath the deck will remain dry,” explains Arnold Fairbarn, of A.F. Construction.
Smooth to the touch, DEC-K-ING provides a cool underfoot finish that is slip resistant and maintenance-free. 
Also providing waterproof protection is a product called Quartz Coat. “It’s a spray-on quartz aggregate which provides a seamless, rock hard decorative protection for decks, patios, balconies and walkways,” says Norm Woods, of Woodmount Enterprises. Quartz Coat will not tear or peel and adds years of protection to surfaces that normally would need to be frequently resurfaced.
Touchstone Overlay Systems uses the Flex-C-Ment System which repairs and resurfaces concrete and wood decks, patios, floors, walls, countertops, foundations, driveways etc. with a custom decorative design.
“A thin layer is made over an existing structure, an existing patio, porch, retaining wall or pool deck,” explains Steve New. “We go over it and carve, or stamp, patterns to create beautiful flagstone, cobblestone and many more patterns with incredible realism, at a fraction of the cost.
We can make a cement driveway look like granite flag stone or cobblestone; a wood deck like a stone patio.”

Railings
Don’t paint wooden exterior railings, the paint won’t stay on, does more harm than good. And ditto the slavery cycle. Ask anyone who has done so.
Take a good look at the new aluminum railings with lifetime finishes. Designed for that Muskoka look; double top railing, square pickets or glass inserts. Traditional railing. No painting. It’s the best of both worlds.
Dec-K-ing maintenance-free aluminum railings require no repainting. “We have a single top rail and a more decorative double top rail,” explains Fairbarn. 
Aluminum railings can be designed to match the architecture of the home. Lisa Cormack, of Excel Enclosures, explains, “Custom built, our structural, maintenance-free, aluminum railings for decks and boathouses, aesthetically compliment the custom built home.
“Contractors will say “This is the grille work on the windows,” or “We’re using large posts,” and we’ll design the railings accordingly. We can match any home design.” 
Attention to detail is key. "The appearance of our railings is smooth and clean," states Cormack. Screw covers protect the fasteners and provide a tidy appearance.  Spacers eliminate unsightly gaps between pickets, providing a solid look and feel.
“When buying do-it-yourself railing, or vinyl," Fairbarn cautions, "make sure it meets building code requirements and, in the case of railing, check that it has the necessary engineering regarding the span between posts and anchor systems." 
Railings not meeting code can present a safety hazard, especially for young children. Ask the questions. Labels don't always tell the entire story.

Steel docks are attached to bed rock and can be installed in rocky, sandy, shallow or deep water. Environmentally friendly, they can be engineered for a 1.5 storey boathouse. Photograph: Courtesy of Les Foley Construction

Docks
Wherever waterfront homes are constructed, docks become the focus for the lake or riverfront activities. They may be simple structures to which boats are tied and access to deeper water is gained, or, they may be used as sundecks and foundations for boathouses.
There are a number of dock construction techniques.  The traditional crib dock built from logs to form a box and filled with stone have been built in Muskoka for well over a hundred years and are still being built today.
Floating docks play an important role when water levels fluctuate and deep water is encountered. Cantilevered steel and pre-manufactured adjustable units assembled on site are further options. Steel piles driven into bedrock and welded, form docks on which many of today’s boathouses are constructed. It should be said cribs are still being used for boathouses also. 
In almost all instances professional engineering is required for any dock bearing a structure. End use, site conditions, budgets, environmental and municipal restrictions will determine selection. 
“A site visit determines the best dock for your needs,” begins Harry Wood of Waterwood Carpentry. “We construct our docks using quality cedar or pressure treated stock. Working through the ice in winter to install crib docks, floaters are installed in the summer.”
Found at Big Daddy Docks is a choice of 2’x 5’ Western Red Cedar, Trex composite or snap together lightweight aluminum decking. 
Aluminum pipe docks have revolutionized the dock industry with its light-weight design, limitless configurations and long life. They are scratch resistant and cool under foot.
“We discuss with our customers what they want from the dock and the boats expected to use it,” explains Steve New, of Big Daddy Docks.
“The type of dock will ultimately depend on the depth of the lake,” he continues. “Pipe docks are great for up to eight feet of water depth. More than eight feet suggests a floating dock which works from four to eighty feet – there is no limit to depth.
“Many think they can leave the dock in for the winter but to do so will void the manufacturer’s warranty.”
A new approach to dock systems is assemble-yourself-kits. Dock-in-a-Box sells pipe and floating docks in kits to be installed by the consumer.
These docks have aluminum frames with stainless hardware, easily handled by two people and low maintenance.
"We feature a very special composite decking, not made of any form of recycled material but of pure polyethylene plastic," explains New. "Decorative, these docks look like an extension of your patio furniture."
Distinctive Design
Flexibility and creativity in design lead to a distinctive home – one that feels like home with your own special touch; yours to enjoy; makes you proud; your dream. Architects and builders develop an understanding for the unique 'feel' for your particular project and incorporate it into the design. 
Companies with preplanned designs are also open to individualization and customization. "Because Viceroy operates in 35 countries and deals with all types of regional requirements we must have exceptionally high standards and flexibility," states Defina. This required adaptation and diversity is creatively reflected in their designs and special features. 
A wide range of accessories can contribute to the uniqueness of the home. Exterior elements can include shutters, window grills, louvers and cupolas.

Stonework adds charm and character to this country veranda. Photograph: Courtesy Touchstone Overlay Systems

Cupolas
In the recent past, cupolas have been used mainly for decorative purposes. Now, the majority of are being incorporated into the construction of the house and used for what they were originally intended – to vent the interior and to let light in the room below.
Working with the owner, or the contractor, Cameron McBride, of McBride Cupolas, determines the size, shape and design. “We pick up on the detail of the house and work that detail into the cupola,” states McBride. “A cupola is the final touch that ties the entire building together from top to bottom.”
Over the years, cupolas have become bigger from an average of three feet to four, five and six feet wide. Built in various shapes they sport louvered and glass windows.
 More detail on accessories will be discussed in part 9 of this series.
Enjoying the ambiance
Cottage Country is so beautiful. Traditional window and door screens, while functional, can partially obstruct those special views. The retractable design of Phantom screens means the screen simply rolls out of sight and disappears when not in use – the screen is only there when needed. No permanent posts. No permanent screens.
“Available in all colours, wood grains, sizes and shapes to fit various windows and doors, Phantom offers a complete line of solutions,” explains Tom Croden, of Muskoka Screens. “These screens are versatile, fit most standard and oversized applications, supply full ventilation, shade from the sun and protection from pests.”
"The traditional two-season screened porch is practical allowing summer enjoyment keeping the bugs out," states Defina. "Ideas are expanding and requests are becoming more sophisticated. Fireplaces are showing up and three season structures are becoming a matter of personal taste,"
“What do you do on rainy days in July? Cool nights in August?” asks Brian Skinner, of Weatherwall Enclosure Systems. 
He suggests, “Enjoy that outdoor feeling without worrying about rain, wind or bugs. Take your screened porch to the next level. Weather proof your porch making it functional for six to nine months of the year. Custom-made, a four-track window and door system, Weatherwall provides the benefits of a three-season room, and extended enjoyment of Muskoka's nature.”
"A Muskoka room is a year round sunroom with ample windows and seating," says Clark. "Muskoka rooms bring the outdoors in and are usually positioned to take advantage of the best views the property has to offer.  
 "With windows along three sides of the Muskoka room, summer entertaining is a breeze. However, many Muskoka rooms have fireplaces, insulation, and in-floor radiant heating to allow for year-round use.  Imagine the holiday season celebrated in a room with a panoramic view of undisturbed snow and winter wildlife.”

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