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Project Name: The Cassidy Home

Installer: Carolina Platinum Decking

Products Installed: RailFX Oasis™ Railing System, FlexFX Fittings

The Cassidy home is nestled on the shoreline of Lake Norman, North Carolina. Situated around 20 miles north of Charlotte, this man-made lake is often referred to as the “inland sea” of the Tarheel state. With over 500 miles of shoreline, this region is a favorite for vacationers and commuters, creating an eclectic mix of architectural styles.

One of the biggest draws to the region, Lake Norman provides ample opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and bird watching draw people from around the country. 

The Cassidy Home

Built in 2000, the Cassidy home is designed to take advantage of its proximity to the shoreline. 

A large deck area overlooks flagstone walkways and mature trees, creating a relaxing outdoor extension of the home. Just across the yard, Lake Norman beckons. Boat slips and docks give the neighborhood a nautical feel. 

The homeowners say they spend time on their deck daily enjoying the view. They love their outdoor space, whether for breakfast or a glass of wine, while dinner cooks on the grill. Before this project, they had metal railings obstructing their view of the lake.

Before

As you can see from the before pictures, the brown metal picket infill didn’t let them take full advantage of their view. With cable railing, they’ve expanded their view to encompass more of their lakefront property.

After

The water side is typically considered the front for lakeside homes, so lake appeal matters! Improving their railing system with RailFX Oasis upgraded their lakefront curb appeal. When guests stop by, they comment on how the home’s profile is cleaner and more modern. 

Planning a project with RailFX Oasis is as simple as choosing your infill, selecting your railing height, and purchasing the components from your local dealer. A more straightforward approach than a fully custom kit, the components are easy to choose from and assemble.

This lakefront project also uses the PTIA 2024 Winner RailFX FlexFX fittings that are ideal for projects with structural columns. With the new FlexFX fittings, it’s easy to work around the design of your deck to take full advantage of what cable railing has to offer.

Using RailFX Oasis™ and FlexFX fittings expanded the view of the Cassidy home. By blending their outdoor and indoor living spaces, they’ve created an exterior living room they can enjoy year-round.

Ready to take the plunge on your new railing system? Get in touch with our team today!

Case Study: Jeremy Bower of Big Foot Decking & Services

Wasilla, Alaska

Project Summary: Wrap-around Deck, Aluminum Cable Railing

After years working on the north slope of Alaska, on flow control equipment on oil rigs, Jeremy Bower called it quits to start his own custom decking company. His schedule was demanding, two weeks on the job and away from home, two weeks at home. During his time at home, he worked side jobs, building decks, to make some extra cash. It paid off.

“Shortly after I quit the north slope job, I went all in and obtained my contractor’s license. From sheer word of mouth, I’ve been busy ever since,” said Jeremy, owner of Big Foot Decking & Services in Wasilla, Alaska, serving the Mat-Su Valley, Anchorage, and Fairbanks territory. He confirms that they do build decks in Alaska all winter long.

He took trade classes in high school and even built a house as part of the class project. Fourteen years later, he went back to where it all started. He redesigned and built a new 550-square-foot deck on the same house as one of his first projects with his new business.

Jeremy loves to design custom decks for his customers, like this project in Big Lake, Alaska. The customer gave Jeremy free reign on the design for a new deck on the house. After presenting three different options with creative ways to work around a large retaining wall, he installed a wraparound 1,050-square-foot deck with high-end composite material using two tones to complement the home’s architectural style.

“We threw in some detail work on the fascia and stairs, using a herringbone picture frame all around,” added Jeremy. He doesn’t cut corners. To finish the ends of the deck boards, he cuts the ends at 45-degrees and glues a piece of board to the end, so it looks like the board is coming up and over the edge without having to use a fascia board, and you never see the scalloped bottom. It takes additional time, but the beauty is in the details.

To finish the custom decking project, Jeremy found RailFX through his supplier, Spenard Builders Supply. “My supplier called me up to see a demo of the railing,” said Jeremy. “I liked the simple design, pre-drilled holes, and it was easy to install.”

Jeremy used the RailFX Aluminum Cable Railing System in black for the full wrap around deck, including the stairs. He added a “cocktail top rail” using the composite decking complementing the black RailFX railing system on the level runs. The stair runs use RailFX 250 square top rail.

“I plan to use RailFX again and make it my primary cable railing brand for 2021,” he said.

Wrap-around Deck, Aluminum Cable Railing