Deck Standards

Our Association decks were built in the late 90's when cedar or redwood were the common materials available and the design of the railings was standard, now as the owners are wanting to update their decks the deck industry has made a lot of changes in design and available materials. Our Covenants state that we are to keep the exterior of the units "uniform" in appearance. This is becoming very difficult to accomplish as the past Board has allowed composite materials for deck boards and railings. The deck boards are not the issue, it is the design and the materials available for the railings. Suggestions to this conflict between "uniform design vs materials available.

I agree with TimB4.

The chances are decent that a court would say the covenant on uniform appearance has been abandoned through years of non-enforcement.

Please clarify for me, Michael: have some owners changed the actual design of the structure decks? Or just the materials?

Are the decks Owners' separate interest, i.e., Owners own them? Or are they exclusive use (or limited use) common area?

Are the dwellings joined (Townhomes or condos?) or are they detached from one another?

John, a couple of homeowners are seeking to have black aluminum balusters as part of their railing system. Presently all of the deck railings are very close to the cedar color.

Kerry answer to question 1 is a no. Question 2, owners own their decks, Question 3 the townhomes are either in twos or a small number are three together. Yes the materials have changed but the design has remained the same.