Welcome to our Guide to Decks and Patios, where you can get expert level info on everything from building a new home deck or patio, improving an existing structure, or following up after a project is completed. 

The Homeowner's Guide to Decks and Patios

SEBASTOPOL — Many people love authentic wood decks, but not everyone wants to deal with the maintenance they require. That’s why, over the last two decades, we’ve seen a profusion of non-wood or “composite” decking materials hit the market, each of which has achieved varying degrees of quality and performance. From the beginning, composite decking manufacturers have faced two main challenges. The first is achieving the appearance of authentic wood; after all, homeowners may not want the maintenance that comes with real wood, but they do want the aesthetics. The second challenge is preventing excessive heat buildup in warm weather, a common problem due to the sheer density of composite materials. One of the most recent products to hit the market comes closer than ever to meeting these challenges: Zuri® Premium Decking by Royal®. Read more

<h1>Weston Leavens: Deck Master</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
SEBASTOPOL – Weston Leavens always knew he wanted to work with wood for a living, but he also wanted to find an industry niche that offered the best of two scenarios. “I discovered that as a carpenter, you basically have two choices,” he explains. “You can be a framer, which enables you to work outside but all your work gets covered up, or you can be a finish carpenter, in which case your work remains seen but you’re stuck inside all the time.” Eventually, Weston found that building decks offered the happy medium he was looking for. “With deck building, I was able to work outdoors and create products that didn’t get covered up at the end of the job.” Twenty-five years later, as owner of Deckmaster Fine Decks, Weston continues to enjoy the balanced benefits that come with being a deck builder.
Weston’s major contribution to his industry is a groundbreaking technique that literally takes an inverse approach to traditional deck building. “As I spent more time in the industry, I found I was replacing a lot of decks that weren’t really that old,” he says. “In many cases, I found this was the result of water penetrating the nail and screw holes in the deck, which then caused its understructure to rot prematurely.” Weston surmised that if he could devise a way to attach the deck boards from below, he could avoid this issue and improve the deck’s aesthetic quality at the same time. “We ultimately came up with the hidden bracket system, which revolutionized the deck industry and is still the best way to build a deck.”
Originally from Southern California, Weston moved to Sonoma County in 1996 with his wife, Jenny, after deciding it was time for a change of scenery. “We were sick of city life and wanted to relocate to a more rural area,” he says. The Leavenses found just the atmosphere they were looking for in the small town of Sebastopol, where they continue to appreciate its characteristic tranquility and natural beauty.
Outside of work, Weston participates in everything from daily yoga to outdoor activities like kayaking and walking his dog, Bo. One of his lesser-known hobbies, however, is competing in chess tournaments. “I’m no Bobby Fischer, but I’m not bad,” he laughs. Weston also likes to hook up his camper and hit the road on occasion, which he says is the first thing he’d do if he could retire tomorrow. “Jenny and I enjoy taking road trips to remote locations, so I think if I retired we’d plan a longer, more elaborate trip and check out some new places we’ve never been to.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite tree? 
A: Redwood.
Q: Ever had a conversation with a famous person? 
A: I once did a project for Lance Alworth, an NFL Hall of Famer who played for the San Diego Chargers. I actually didn’t know who he was at the time. I noticed he had some silver football trophies on his mantle, so I said, “It looks like you’re into football,” to which he casually replied, “Yeah, I played for the Chargers.”
Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future? 
A: I have no idea—I’m still trying to figure out how to stay in the present!
Q: What’s your favorite animal? 
A: My dog, Bo. Everybody wants to know what his breed is, so we call him a Sonoma Shepherd because he’s just a mix.
Q: How do you like your eggs? 
A: Scrambled.
Q: Who makes you laugh? 
A: Bill Cosby and Eddie Izzard.

Owner

Weston Leavens: Deck Master By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter SEBASTOPOL – Weston Leavens always knew he wanted to work with wood for a living, but he also wanted to find an industry niche that offered the best of two scenarios. “I discovered that as a carpenter, you basically have two choices,” he explains. “You can be a framer, which enables you to work outside but all your work gets covered up, or you can be a finish carpenter, in which case your work remains seen but you’re stuck inside all the time.” Eventually, Weston found that building decks offered the happy medium he was looking for. “With deck building, Read more

Weston Leavens is a 29-year veteran of the decking industry and owner of <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/report/deckmaster-fine-decks">Deckmaster Fine Decks</a>, a Diamond Certified company since 2009. He can be reached at (707) 902-3955 or by <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/contact/deckmaster-fine-decks">email</a>.

Weston Leavens: Deck Master

MILL VALLEY — In the past, many wood decks were built with Douglas fir wood, but time has shown it’s not a good material to use due to its susceptibility to rot. During my 30 years as a deck builder in Marin County, I’ve had to replace countless Douglas fir decks that were rotted out, which in many cases created very dangerous conditions. In particular, if a deck’s support beams are compromised, they could potentially break and cause the whole thing to fall apart. For this reason, if you have an old Douglas fir deck, I recommend having it professionally assessed for safety. If you need to replace a Douglas fir deck, don’t repeat the same mistake that was made in the past: Use a high-quality, Read more

<h1>Thomas Daly: Building a Livelihood</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Senior Writer</h6>
MILL VALLEY &mdash; Daunted by the prospect of a career spent behind a desk, Thomas Daly left his home country to build a new livelihood in the United States. “I was working an office job back in Ireland and I hated it,” he remembers. “Prior to that, I’d spent some time in the U.S. playing for a Gaelic football team, so I decided to return to New York, where I got a job building high-rises. After a few years, I went to Alaska to work on the oil pipeline, and from there I went to Australia to work on another. Eventually, I returned to the U.S., where I settled in Marin County, got my contractor’s license and have been working for myself ever since.” 
Today, as owner of Thomas A Daly Construction, Thomas says he enjoys his job’s combination of physical work and mental challenges. “I love that I get to be outside working with my hands every day. Plus, I like that fact that I’m always learning new things. As a contractor, you never stop learning because every job requires a different set of solutions.” 
A resident of Mill Valley, Thomas likes to spend his free time staying active. “I’m a member of Bay Club Marin in Corte Madera, where I spend a lot of my time swimming and working out,” he says. “I also play a bit of tennis and squash on the weekends, and occasionally indoor soccer, though I’m getting a bit old for that.” Thomas also likes to travel on a regular basis. “I have family and a small farm in Ireland, so I like to go back there a few times a year. My wife usually books us a trip to somewhere like Spain or Portugal while we’re there. I enjoy going to different places and meeting different people.” 
In regard to a professional philosophy, Thomas believes in providing the same level of quality and service he’d expect for himself. “I try to perform every job as if I was working on my own house,” he explains. “When doing estimates, I always recommend what I think is best for the customer’s particular circumstances. Overall, I believe in giving my customers quality work for a fair price.” 
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Thomas says he wouldn’t. “I would close the lid on my own coffin,” he laughs. “Retirement isn’t on my horizon—I’ll keep working until I drop. I enjoy my time off, of course, but I like having work to come back to, and that will be the case as long as I’m in the world.” 
<h8>Ask Me Anything!</h8> 
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl? 
A: Both. I go to bed around midnight and I’m usually up by 6am.
Q: Coffee or tea? 
A: When I’m the U.S., I drink coffee, but when I’m in Ireland, I drink tea, which is what I was raised on.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant? 
A: I have two: The Cantina in Mill Valley and The Mayflower Pub in San Rafael. 
Q: What kinds of books do you like to read? 
A: Mostly biographies and history books, especially anything about the American Revolution and the Civil War. 
Q: If you could talk to anyone living or dead, who would you choose? 
A: Abraham Lincoln. I’d like to hear what he has to say about what’s going on in this country today.

Thomas Daly: Building a Livelihood By James Florence, Senior Writer MILL VALLEY &mdash; Daunted by the prospect of a career spent behind a desk, Thomas Daly left his home country to build a new livelihood in the United States. “I was working an office job back in Ireland and I hated it,” he remembers. “Prior to that, I’d spent some time in the U.S. playing for a Gaelic football team, so I decided to return to New York, where I got a job building high-rises. After a few years, I went to Alaska to work on the oil pipeline, and from there I went to Australia to work on another. Eventually, Read more

Thomas Daly is a lifetime veteran of the construction industry and owner of <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/report/thomas-a-daly-construction">Thomas A Daly Construction</a>, a Diamond Certified company since 2013. He can be reached at (415) 493-8993 or by <a href="http://www.diamondcertified.org/contact/thomas-a-daly-construction">email</a>.

Thomas Daly: Building a Livelihood

LIVERMORE — No matter what kind of home improvement project you’re planning, chances are you’ll need to invest some time and money into preparation. Doing so will allow you to get the best possible result with your project. Here are two examples of why preparation is important: Tile flooring Before laying down floor tiles, the subfloor needs to be assessed and prepared. Due to tile’s rigidity, if the subfloor isn’t level, some tiles will sit higher than others, resulting in “lipping” that can cause both an eyesore and a safety hazard. Waterproofing measures are also needed to prevent water intrusion issues after installation. By taking the time to ensure a level, Read more

<h1>Angel Garcia: Expanded Expertise</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
LIVERMORE — Starting out in a subset of the remodeling industry, Angel Garcia gradually expanded his expertise to encompass all aspects of construction. “Several of my family members were in construction, so I basically followed in their footsteps,” he recounts. “My first job was installing garage doors when I was 18 years old. Later, I started doing handyman services, which I enjoyed so much that I decided to get my general contractor’s license. In 2011, I started Gar-Cal Corporation, and today we handle every aspect of construction, from foundations to framing to whole home remodeling.”
Angel says his favorite part of his job is the opportunity for creative ingenuity. “I enjoy customizing our designs according to our clients’ needs. Even when we’re doing smaller jobs, we’re able to come up with something unique from what most other contractors are doing.”
A resident of Livermore (where he lives with his wife, Paula, and their two children, Juliet and Ezekiel), Angel spends his time outside of work on a variety of pastimes. “I like exercising, watching sports on TV and hanging out with friends on the weekends,” he details. “Also, my daughter plays volleyball, so we’re pretty involved with taking her to out-of-town tournaments and things like that.”
In his life and career, Angel espouses the importance of customer satisfaction. “I always make sure we provide what the customer is expecting and confirm that they’re pleased with the final result,” he affirms. “We have customers whom we’ve been working with for five or more years, and they always recommend us to others. I always do my best to keep them happy because those referrals are crucial to the growth of the business.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Angel says he’d quickly get back to work. “I don’t think I would retire. Somehow, I would continue doing what I’m doing, even if it was on a less labor-intensive scale, like management.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What’s your favorite sports team?
A: The San Francisco 49ers.
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant?
A: IHOP.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Brazil.
Q: Do you collect anything?
A: Wrestling memorabilia—I’m a big WWE fan.
 Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: Mixed fruit.

Angel Garcia: Expanded Expertise By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter LIVERMORE — Starting out in a subset of the remodeling industry, Angel Garcia gradually expanded his expertise to encompass all aspects of construction. “Several of my family members were in construction, so I basically followed in their footsteps,” he recounts. “My first job was installing garage doors when I was 18 years old. Later, I started doing handyman services, which I enjoyed so much that I decided to get my general contractor’s license. In 2011, I started Gar-Cal Corporation, and today we handle every aspect of construction, from foundations to framing to whole home remodeling.” Angel says his favorite part of his job is the opportunity for creative ingenuity. Read more

Angel Garcia is owner of Gar-Cal Corporation, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (510) 346-5017 or by email.

Angel Garcia: Expanded Expertise

OAKLAND — If you’re remodeling your home, one of the most important things you can do is check to see what’s behind your walls. Why? Because if there’s any hidden mold or mildew, it could jeopardize your entire project. In most cases, it’s impossible to know whether mold or mildew is present behind the walls in a home, but it’s better to find out for sure than to make a wrong assumption. This is especially important if you live in an older home, where the combination of time and inferior building methods and materials increases the opportunity for mold or mildew issues to take root. Consider a real-life example from a home addition project I recently did in Berkeley. Read more

<h1>Michael Ghanivand: From Medicine to Construction</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
OAKLAND — A native of Iran, Michael Ghanivand originally intended to become a medical professional, but when things didn’t go as planned, he ended up building an entirely different career. “I actually have a medical background—I went to medical school at the University of Szeged in Hungary,” he explains. “The Iranian economy wasn’t doing great at the time, so my parents couldn’t send me enough money to continue my education. I came to the United States to get a job, with the intention to save up some money and return to medical school. However, after getting into construction work, I grew to love it and decided to stick with it.”
Today, as owner of Advance Construction, Michael says his favorite part of his job is the simple satisfaction of doing good work. “I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and having something to show for it at the end. These days, while I no longer participate in the hands-on work, I continue to derive satisfaction from seeing what my team and I are able to accomplish for our clients.”
A resident of Walnut Creek, Michael devotes the bulk of his time outside of work to his family. “My wife, Ahdieh, and I have two daughters: a 27-year-old and a 10-year-old,” he says. “The reason for the gap is that after I came to the U.S., I wanted to get my business well-established before having another child. Now, we have one daughter in college and one in elementary school, which is pretty unusual.”
When asked what he would do if he were to retire tomorrow, Michael says he’d devote himself to consumer education. “I’d like to get involved in some sort of program that teaches homeowners to be wiser consumers. During my 30 years in construction, I’ve heard from countless people who’ve been taken advantage of by unscrupulous contractors because they didn’t know what to look for or what to ask. I think it would be very rewarding to help homeowners become more aware and make better decisions when it comes to their construction projects.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Coffee or tea? 
A: Tea.
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant? 
A: Tomatina in Walnut Creek.
Q: What’s your favorite holiday? 
A: Christmas, because I get to be at home with my family.
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl? 
A: An early bird. I need to be up and make sure everything’s ready for the day.
Q: What’s your favorite snack? 
A: Any kind of fruit.

A glimpse into the life and career of Michael Ghanivand, owner of Advance Construction in Oakland.

Michael Ghanivand is owner of Advance Construction, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (510) 621-3943 or by email.

Michael Ghanivand: From Medicine to Construction

ANTIOCH — Living space is a precious commodity these days, especially in the Bay Area, where housing prices are higher than most other parts of the country. Whether your house is occupied with people or possessions (or both), you may find you don’t have quite the amount of space you used to. However, this may be a result not of insufficient space but of space being poorly utilized. That’s why, before you think about upgrading to a bigger house, it’s worthwhile to look at your current one and consider ways to improve your use of the space. There are many ways to improve the use of living space in a home. Anything from a bedroom to a hallway or closet can potentially be altered, Read more

<h1>Juan Sandoval: Fueled by Freedom</h1>
<h6>By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter</h6>
ANTIOCH — As Juan Sandoval recounts his journey to becoming a building contractor, it’s clear his professional progression was largely shaped by a desire for freedom. “Before getting into construction, I worked in a restaurant, and I’d get tired of being in the same place every day,” he remembers. “When I started doing construction, I really liked the fact that we were constantly moving from one jobsite to another. It just felt a lot freer.”
After starting out as a laborer, Juan worked his way up through the ranks, accumulating a wealth of experience as he went. A decade later, he again felt the tug of freedom and decided to make the jump from employee to owner. Today, as owner of East Bay PC Construction, Inc., he reflects on the motivation for his decision. “I didn’t do this to become super wealthy—I just like the liberty that comes with being my own boss. I like making my own schedule and being in control of my professional destiny.”
Juan says his favorite part of his job is collaborating with clients to bring their dreams to fruition. “I enjoy meeting with a customer, learning about their dreams for their remodeled home and helping them turn those dreams into reality. Often, people have lots of ideas but need help with the practical aspects, which is where I come in.”
A resident of Antioch, Juan spends most of his time outside of work with his family. “My wife, Maricela, and I have four beautiful kids, aged 20, 17, five and one,” he says. “Basically, after raising our first two kids into their teens, we decided to start all over again. I enjoy taking time off with my family and going to the beach or on short vacations. We don’t stay at home very much—we prefer to be out and active.”
In regard to his professional career, Juan espouses the value of customer confidence. “I make sure my clients know I’m with them every step of the way,” he explains. “If they have questions, they know they can come to me, even if it’s after hours. Since I keep them updated and informed, they’re not constantly worrying about their projects, which reduces stress for both of us. Overall, I find that making myself available to my clients results in healthier working relationships.”
When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Juan says he’d head south. “I would probably move to Rosarito Beach, Mexico and spend the rest of my life there with my wife. I would likely keep my business running, though—I’d just come by every so often to make sure everything was still running smoothly.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl? 
A: An early bird. Where I live, if you’re not on the freeway by 5am, you’re going to spend two hours fighting with the traffic.
Q: What’s your favorite TV show? 
A: “The Walking Dead.”
Q: Do you collect anything? 
A: Tools.
Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant? 
A: It’s a tie between India 4 U in Brentwood and La Piñata in Concord.
Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future? 
A: I would go to the past and get into architecture. I’ve always been fascinated by building design, so I’d love the chance to go back and follow the path to becoming an architect.

A glimpse into the life and career of Juan Sandoval, owner of East Bay PC Construction in Antioch.

Juan Sandoval is owner of East Bay PC Construction, Inc., a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (510) 962-5972 or by email.

Juan Sandoval: Fueled by Freedom

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