It's pretty safe to say at this point that Covid 19 was the metaphorical zombie apocolypse of 2020 that no one saw coming! Schools were promptly shut down and hospitals braced themselves for a high level of patients. Unfortunately, when it comes to business, i think we can all agree that RESTAURANTS took a very big hit! Moving forward with the new laws of outdoor seating recommendations and a smaller customer capacity in general, restaurant owners and managers are left to their own creativity when it comes to navigating the new normal and how to actually turn a profit !

Creating a larger outdoor seating oasis with wood pavers is the most simple and effective method of getting more customers in the restaurant at the same time. In this day in age, there is an effective and stylish way of this mandatory remodel instead of simply throwing some wine glasses at customers in an old tattered parking lot off the back side of the building.

The very first and biggest upgrade you should make to the outdoor area is some modular flooring . Especially the wooden pavers. These products have a vast amount of applications and purposes and what keeps them popular in the outdoor remodel scene is the simple, even DIY in some cases, installation.

How can an outdoor flooring installation be DIY, you are probably wondering. The answer is, the modular wood paver flooring simply rests on pedestals right on top of your old concrete surface. No demolition costs or services, sticky messy materials or stress at all. Customers and employees will not believe the effort you have put in to make them comfortable amydst the current pandemic.

Here at Eco Arbor Designs, we work with you through a thorough and complete design and consultation process. We help you pick a color, figure out your dimensions and put together a map of what to purchase. We charge nothing for these additional services, we simply want you to choose the correct products from our portfolio and be back in business, recovering from the pandemic as soon as possible.

Interlocking wood deck tiles are seen all over the world in many different places because they are smooth to walk on with bare feet, easy to install, a breeze to clean, fashionable, affordable and a beautiful upgrade to your old tattered surface. You will see these interlocking wood tiles in many different weather climates and atmospheres because they are versatile and have many different applications.

Pool decks are in use practically year round in the warmest of climates and typically the focal point of any 4th of July bash. The L'Auberge Del Mar, a sought after luxury hotel in San Diego, is a great example of how installing interlocking wood deck tiles can make a hotel pool deck feel perfect.

Roof decks are always a perfect place to use an interlocking wood deck tile system. The interlocking wood deck tiles are used by designers on a majority of rooftop remodel projects. The tiles are smooth to touch and walk on barefoot without causing splinters.

Patios and terraces are great places in your home to utilize as a tranquil meditation oasis. Upgrading your current surface to interlocking wood deck tiles will give the terrace a brand a new decor motif.

Outdoor showers are a great addition to your backyard pool. The last thing you want is guests and family members dripping chlorine and other chemicals when walking through the home after a swim. A simple and quick installation of an interlocking wood deck tile based outdoor shower will give the option of a shower before or after the pool.

Condo balconies are a great extension of your urban loft. The balcony is also the place you step out to enjoy the view or even a nice glass of wine. If you find yourself buying and investing in a condominium and are looking to make some upgrades to your outdoor living area, installing an interlocking wood deck tile system is an affordable and quick weekend remodel project.

These are all great applications of our interlocking deck tile product that you can see in cities across the nation. The product is versatile, durable, smooth and easy to install. If you think its time to upgrade your outdoor surface, give us a call at Eco Arbor Designs to discuss your unique situation and square footage and we will send over a quote with no pressure to buy!

Upgrading your old outdoor deck to a new IPE deck tile system is something for the whole family to enjoy and the neighbors to admire. This is the ultimate DIY project to have completed before the Spring season. The IPE wood is durable, reliable, easy to clean and one of the hottest trends in outdoor flooring. Most consumers will choose to stain the deck to match their decor and design motif. The process is simple and to be completed in a short weekend. Here are a few tips, steps, and clues to get you going on your stained and completed outdoor deck project.

Clean the tiles using a regular mop and broom routine and afterwards allow enough time for the floors to properly dry before continuing on to the next step. 24-72 hours depending where you live and amount of moisture and sunshine contributing to the drying speed.

Lightly sand away any scuff marks or major stains. For a small area, sanding the IPE with just a typical pole sander from a local hardware store will be abrasive enough to buff the IPE deck tiles. For decks that have been weather aged for many years and have deep abrasions and scratches, you should rent or buy a high powered floor sander to revamp the old flooring and prepare for the stain.

Very thoroughly brush the deck clean of all dusts. Using a large handle broom, thoroughly brush all the dust and debris away from all the IPE deck tiles.

Check between the cracks to make sure there's no debri in between the planks. Leaves, fuzz and dust can easily become adhered to the IPE deck tiles during the staining process if you aren't vigilant during removal.

Roll, spray or cloth rub your stain onto the IPE deck tiles. All methods are preferred and successful, it’s just a matter of figuring out which technique works for you and your square footage of deck tiles. When plausible, spraying the stain is “easiest” but is not possible in certain situations where stucco or other matter could be stained and ruined during the process.

There is a small surface area of IPE wood noticeable through the cracks so being proactive and inspecting your stain job from all angles and taking a brush to the in between cracks, will ensure an even high quality staining application.

Do not over saturate the IPE deck tiles during your stain application and after 24 hours, check to see if there are any little “puddles” of excess stain and remove them with an old rag or towel. Allow 24-48 hours and double check that the deck is completely 100% dry before placing furniture and other items back onto the deck. 

*You can also spray the backside of the pavers prior to installation, or even do the entire staining process before installation tile by tile and simply install your finished tiles.