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By Radu Oprea, owner and lead builder at Wolf Spirit Deck, Naperville, IL. I have been resurfacing and rebuilding decks across the western suburbs for more than a decade. Every February my phone starts ringing with the same question. The deck looks rough after winter, is it cheaper to resurface it or tear it out? Here is how the money actually works in 2026, based on the quotes I write and the jobs my crew runs, not a national average pulled off some calculator. First, what resurfacing actually means Resurfacing fixes the surface of a deck without rebuilding the structure underneath. We pull or refinish the old boards, swap out anything that is splintered or […]

Are you thinking about building a new deck in your backyard and need a little design inspiration? We’ve put together 5 smart hacks to improve the look of your deck. These tips are based on our 10+ years of experience at Wolf Spirit Deck. Our deck builders have seen it all: elevated decks, pool decks, composite decks, and wood decks. We work closely with our clients to design their ideal outdoor spaces, and with all this knowledge, we decided to write this post. Let’s get into it! 1. Upgrade Your Deck Lighting for Instant Ambience Lighting is one of the fastest ways to transform a deck from basic to high‑end. Thoughtful illumination improves both aesthetics […]

Outdoor areas are more than just decks in today’s world. If in the early 20th century in America it was a simple wooden platform where you could smoke a cigar and chill, today it’s almost all about aesthetics, beauty, colors, size and fanciness. New deck projects involve a lot more decisions like what type of materials to use, the type of frame and size, but one of the most challenging decisions is what color to use for a composite deck. The right color will change not only how your outdoor looks like, but the entire home’s look. Start With Your Home’s Exterior Colors A well-chosen deck color should work in harmony with your home’s existing […]

By Radu Oprea, Founder & CEO — Wolf Spirit Deck As the best deck builders in Naperville, IL, our mission has always been to build beautiful, durable outdoor spaces that last for many years ahead. One of the biggest issues homeowners have in this area is the termite damage. These insects can damage the entire structure if a deck if they are not stopped on time. We have a few strategies that we use to build our new decks to be termite-resistant and as we always get asked about them by potential clients, I decided to write this post to share them with everybody. 1. Smart Material Selection The first line of defense against termites […]

By Radu Oprea, Founder of Wolf Spirit Deck With over a century of collective experience building decks throughout Naperville and the Chicago suburbs, we’ve heard one question more than any other. Homeowners look out at their yard and wonder: ‘Do we screen it in, or keep it open?’ The truth is, both options are excellent—but for entirely different reasons. This decision isn’t about following the latest design trends; it’s about how you specifically use your outdoor space in the Chicagoland climate. Let’s look at the practical realities of both, based on what we see every day in the field. Open Decks: The Classic Favorite Why Open Decks Are Popular Open decks remain the most commonly […]