#mainedecks

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about our backyard and how underused it feels.

We’ve lived here in Hampden for just over six years, and the backyard has always had “potential,” but that’s as far as it went. A grassy patch, a tired old firepit ring, and two mismatched plastic chairs was about all we had going on. Don’t get me wrong—it’s peaceful. Trees line the back, and the sun filters in beautifully in the evening. But we never use it. It’s not inviting. And every spring I get this little itch to finally do something about it.

This year, I think I’m finally ready to scratch that itch.

It started as a vague idea—“what if we built a deck?”—but quickly snowballed into Pinterest boards, scribbled sketches, and me standing outside with a tape measure like I knew what I was doing. I imagined something with enough space for a dining table, maybe a lounger or two, and some built-in seating or planters. A place for coffee in the morning. Dinner with friends in the summer. Maybe even a hot tub someday (a girl can dream).

Of course, dreaming is easy. Actually knowing how to make it real? That’s the hard part.

I started doing some research, mostly to figure out whether a deck is something we could tackle ourselves or if it was out of our league (spoiler: it is). That’s how I ended up on this page from a local company, Vantage Decks and Siding—deck installation in Brewer. It’s not right in Hampden, but close enough, and their approach really struck a chord.

What I appreciated right away is that they don’t just slap some boards together and call it a day. They talk about things like code compliance, climate concerns (Maine winters, anyone?), and how decks need to be part of your home, not an afterthought. It got me thinking not just about size and layout, but about materials—like composite vs. wood. And what kind of maintenance I actually want to deal with in five years (hint: not much).

They also mentioned built-in seating and lighting, which kind of blew my mind. I hadn’t even thought about lighting. But imagining a softly lit deck on a summer evening with string lights and a bottle of wine? Yeah. That’s what I want.

And honestly, it was helpful to see that they walk you through everything—from permits to cleanup. That’s the kind of no-drama approach I need in my life. We’ve worked with contractors before who left us guessing, and I swore never again.

It’s funny how once you start imagining these things, your brain won’t let go. Now every time I step out the back door, I picture where the stairs would go. Whether the grill should be on the left or right. If we could get away with a pergola for shade, or if an umbrella will have to do for now. Even my partner, who was all “eh, we’re fine as is” at first, has started saying things like, “if we did build a deck, maybe we could add a bench here.”

So yeah. I’m not pulling the trigger just yet. But I’m feeling a lot closer than I was even a week ago. And it’s nice to know there are local pros like Vantage who seem to get it. No pressure. No cookie-cutter solutions. Just solid craftsmanship and smart guidance.

It’s got me thinking about what’s possible this summer. And that’s a pretty good place to start.