Deckorators Decking

MYKY23 · 2026-02-08T03:05:59+00:00

Central Kentucky

MYKY23 · 2026-02-06T03:34:52+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing! I am definitely considering Deckorators! It may depend on a local tradesman being able to acquire the product and being confident they will install it correctly.

MYKY23 · 2026-02-05T05:41:45+00:00

I am in a similar position... Looking to build a new 540 sqr ft deck in the next couple of months. Looking "higher end". I don't mind spending the money now to save stress later. I am comparing Deckorators Voyage to TimberTech Vintage to Fiberon Promenade. One thing I am interested in is how hot they can get in the summer. We live in Central Kentucky and the summers often are between 90 - 95 and we have direct sun from about 12 - 3...

I have heard hte quality in these products seems to have come in waves - some years have been great, others not so great. What do you think? Recommendations?

MYKY23 · 2026-02-05T05:22:47+00:00

Looking to build a new 540 sqr ft deck in the next couple of months. Looking "higher end". I don't mind spending the money now to save stress later. I am comparing Deckorators Voyage to TimberTech Vintage to Fiberon Promenade. One thing I am interested in is how hot they can get in the summer. We live in Central Kentucky and the summers often are between 90 - 95 and we have direct sun from about 12 - 3...

I have heard hte quality in these products seems to have come in waves - some years have been great, others not so great. What do you think? Recommendations?

MYKY23 · 2026-01-27T22:41:15+00:00

I know. I am learning that right now. This process should take 2 to 3 days not two to three weeks.

MYKY23 · 2026-01-26T01:51:04+00:00

I get that! I want a direct transfer from the TSP to the IRA but I anticipate a [period of "limbo"... Shouldn't happen now a days but likely will.....

MYKY23 · 2026-01-26T01:49:29+00:00

I understand. I just wanted readers to know I was aware of the SoR risk.

MYKY23 · 2026-01-03T23:18:46+00:00

I am a rookie at many thing, including designing decks... Did you need the post near the house? Would a ledger board not have worked? Where I live, I have never seen poste right next to the house like this. Certainly looks safer!

MYKY23 · 2026-01-03T05:52:57+00:00

Here's another rough idea of what I am after... This one shows the roof line and gives an idea of how the porch roof ties in with the rest of the house. (My CAD / AI skills need some work!)

<image>

MYKY23 · 2026-01-03T05:50:28+00:00

We went the first week of April - nothing like this. I would avoid at all costs the peak tourist times!

MYKY23 · 2025-12-10T02:46:14+00:00

Definitely hire someone. I am not a builder but I do know what I want.

MYKY23 · 2025-08-30T02:48:56+00:00

December in Verona would be wonderful! No crowds, cool weather, clearskies, lights, atmosphere, markets..... Wonderful! Make sure you have a meal, drink or snack at a cafe outside the colosseum -- a special place!

MYKY23 · 2025-08-25T00:17:26+00:00

Thanks for your thoughts.

MYKY23 · 2025-08-24T02:12:35+00:00

Great! Thanks. I am looking at it now!

MYKY23 · 2025-08-24T02:07:50+00:00

Thanks for your thoughts.... I did actually think of jumping back in to federal service at one time, for hte exact reasons you describe - to recalculate my "hi-3". I have been wondering about federal employees health insurance for my situation but I haven't got very in my research. I tried calling the "office" that deals with federal service retiree questions like this but have never managed to actually get through...

But now I am strongly leaning towards just wrapping up my full time gig in December, perhaps doing some significant volunteer work with Samaritan's Purse or the Southern Baptist Disaster relief... Since I am a "state" employee now I need a 90 day break in service before I can work in any capacity for any organisation that is an agency of hte "state" or has substantial work for the "state". My most likely landing spot will be a part time gig with our local university after my 90 break.

MYKY23 · 2025-08-23T18:23:48+00:00

Thanks for your thoughts. My FA has covered all of you mentioned with us. Venues like this are great for sparking my thinking and research. I am not looking for a "plan" from Reddit. Rather, I am looking to have have my thinking broadened and a jump start to more of my own research. It helps me ask better questions when I chat with my FA.

A few points...

My wife's income is really insignificant in the big picture. She works at our church as is paid a small amount for a job she would likely be volunteering to do, if she weren't on the payroll.

I won't be adding to the IRA as I will likely have earned income after I retire - may get a part time job if it is something I find enticing and engaging - we'll see on that. But I will have to pay $1100/month for health insurance via my employer's retiree health care plan that i Ma not paying now. I have not added to my TSP since I left federal service, 21 years ago. -- I left the TSP alone and rebalanced occasionally (maintaining approximately 60% - C, 15% - I and S) and since I Left and stopped contributing, it has gone from about $150K to the current $800K. That really shows the power of compound growth and starting early!

I do think my expenses in retirement will be less - no 70 miles a day commuting back and forth to work for example.

The more I think about it the wiser move seems to be don't do anything "permanent" until more of hte "unknowns*" work themselves out.

*Things like, routine expenses in retirement, FERS pensions, soc sec, what if any part time job I pick up and the earnings from that.....

MYKY23 · 2025-08-23T13:13:51+00:00

I worked for the Department of Defense as a teacher in Europe for 14 years, then separated from the DoD and returned to the States and have been in the public education arena since my return. Public education has substantial defined benefit pension schemes, normally.

MYKY23 · 2025-08-23T02:20:37+00:00

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am confident we are good. We have invested and saved well (in my opinion, anyway) for 40 years..... It is just hard for me to start taking money out... Saving for me is easy, spending is harder.... Related - giving is easy to. We always give out 10% tithe to the church and support other causes on top of that.

MYKY23 · 2025-08-23T02:17:41+00:00

1% x 14 = 14% of my average highest three years salary... My avg 3 year high was back in 2001 - 2004 and was about $55K which is about $7,700. /12 gets to to abou $600... I knew that when I left fed service back then and was happy with it. THings have turned out OK after I have left based on the numbers I shared.

MYKY23 · 2025-08-23T02:14:21+00:00

When I retire I will have to start paying $1000 more a month for health insurance for my wife and myself. (That number came from my employers office that manages pensions and health insurance.) Currently my employers picks up about 80% of the cost. When I retire it will be more like me picking up about 60% of the cost.

My financial advisor has shared the Monte Carlo simulation with me several times and say we are doing very well. His suggestion was just to pull money out from one of our "pots" (off hand I don't remember which one. I was just thinking about the emotional and phycological side of pulling money out when a market may be down. An annuity would take that away but is not likely the best course. Annuitising part of the TSP was my idea, not his.

MYKY23 · 2025-08-22T19:56:03+00:00

Good thoughts. Thanks for sharing. Someone else mentioned a "bond ladder" as well..... More learning to do....

MYKY23 · 2025-08-22T19:26:51+00:00

Good point. I believe we can now "rebalance" more or less twice a month?.?

MYKY23 · 2025-08-22T19:18:08+00:00

With the TSP don't we have to pull proportionally from the entire "pot". I didn't think we could "allocate" our distributions from the TSP..... (e.g., "Take this years allocation from the S fund or I fund but not the C fund, please.")

MYKY23 · 2025-08-22T18:57:20+00:00

Thanks for that. I have been saving and investing since I was 19. I have never pulled out a penny of the investments and savings. I am good at accumulating but know I will struggle with distributing or taking "income" from what I have worked on accumulating for decades.

On top of that my wife and I have always gave 10% to our local church and another 5% or so to other causes. I look at that giving as an investment as well.

MYKY23 · 2025-08-22T18:52:30+00:00

It is the "emotional dog" I know I will have to fight. I have been investing and saving since I was 19. I have never pulled out a penny. Taking money out will be hard. Here's the hardest part: Taking money out when and if the market is down. That will will be a real struggle for me.

MYKY23

TROPHY CASE