Cumaru Deck Build Coming Together in Chatham

This Chatham deck build is well underway, and it's shaping up to be exactly the kind of project we love working on. We're using Cumaru - a dense, naturally durable South American hardwood - for the decking surface and stair treads. It's a premium material choice that holds up hard against moisture, foot traffic, and the kind of coastal weather Cape Cod dishes out year-round.

One thing that separates a quality build from an average one is what you don't see. We're installing the Cumaru with hidden fasteners throughout, which means no exposed screw heads breaking up the surface. The result is a clean, uninterrupted run of boards from end to end. It looks sharp and it keeps the surface free of the fastener corrosion issues that show up over time on traditionally face-screwed decks.

The railing system ties the whole thing together. White composite posts and trim paired with black metal balusters and a Cumaru top cap - it's a combination that looks custom without being overdesigned. The contrast between the warm wood tones and the crisp white trim is something that photographs well, but honestly looks even better in person.

The staircase details are worth noting too. The Cumaru treads carry through from the deck surface right down to grade, keeping the material consistent throughout the entire build. The white fascia wrapping the stair stringers gives it a finished, almost furniture-like quality that you don't always see on deck projects at this scale. These are the kinds of decisions that separate a build that looks good on day one from one that still looks great ten years down the road.

We're in the thick of it on this one, with the decking laid and the railing system taking shape. There's still finish work to get done, but the bones of this project are exactly where they need to be. Exterior renovation projects like this one require that every layer of the build is done right - from the framing up - and that's exactly how we're approaching it.