This blog explores some ways to determine the vintage of a Deck House, considering how new Deck Houses differ drastically in design, size, functionality, and environmental codes from those early years.
Acorn Deck House Company has been prefabricating houses since the late 1950s in Acton, MA. Many people have a preconceived notion of what a Deck House looks like, that is based on the earliest 1960s ranch style models with covered carports.
However, the company has remained committed to offering customers the finest luxury homes through decades of industry fads, and it continues to make improvements using only the finest materials: Western Red Cedar, Mahogany and Douglas Fir.
Deck House started in 1959 and throughout the years has gone through many changes.
In 1959 the casements and awnings were steel inserts and in 1974 Deck House started manufacturing their own mahogany sash.
Deck Houses are known for their exposed Douglas Fir beams at 8’ on centers (O.C.). From 1959 to the mid 1980s they were solid beams; but as the laminated beams became more popular, Deck House started using the laminated beams and stopped using the solid beams altogether.
Whether solid or laminated beams, Deck House started using beams 8’ O.C. for floor joists and rafters, as a post and beam style structure from 1959-1997.
Around 1997 Deck House changed the structural design of the floor system from beams as joists 8’ on center to web truss joists 16” – 19.2” O.C.
Deck House supplied aluminum sliders from 1959-the late 1980s. In 1981, Deck House started manufacturing the mahogany slider to match the self-trimming window style. Then Deck House redesigned the mahogany slider frame in 1991.
One thing that forced change the most, in not only Deck Houses but the construction industry, is the constant change in building codes. Building codes force architects and builders to build structures to specific standards for safety and energy efficiency. These changes have affected stairs, railings, roof insulation thickness, utilities, glass, etc.
Since 1959 Deck House used local fabricators to weld custom beam hangers. We used about 400,000 until about 2008 when more and more areas were calling for specific engineered hangers. Deck House then changed to a Simpson universal CJT rated hanger.
Deck House started manufacturing mahogany casement windows with Truth single arm operators from 1973 to about 1983. In the early 1980s (maybe 1983) Deck House changed to a 2-armed operator.
If you need a window operator for a mahogany casement window you can directly replace the 2-armed operator or convert the single arm to a 2-arm version.
At Acorn Deck House, each home is custom designed through collaboration with our clients. The custom components, detailed in this building system, are shipped as prefabricated components for precise and rapid on-site building.
Download The Acorn Deck House Building System pdf
A completely customized home designed to your specifications and fabricated off-site keeps the building noise to a minimum without compromising on design details, scale, and layout. Our goal is to allow you to take advantage of all the best benefits of prefabrication, while not limiting your dream home design.
Download our Process Overview PDF to see each phase of our streamlined building process.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced professionals to take the next step and bring your dream design to life.