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Hen-House Decks earned first place in NADRA’s 2025 Inlay category. The team delivered a continuous deck pattern that required exact alignment across multiple elevations. The project resolved layout challenges that directly influenced how the space functions for homeowners.
Inlay Design Developed Through Precise Pattern Planning

Hen-House Decks received first place in the Inlay category of NADRA’s 2025 competition, announced at the 16th Annual Deck Awards Celebration in Clearwater Beach. The project featured a multi-directional inlay pattern that spanned the full deck surface and continued into the stair system. The placement reflects how the team aligned design intent with installation conditions that required advanced layout control.
The pattern required more than visual alignment because each intersection influenced how the next segment could be installed. The team demonstrated consistent spacing and line continuity, supporting the structure beneath the finished surface.
The project succeeded because the team chose to establish a full-scale inlay layout grid and cut every board to that reference instead of relying on incremental measurements from the deck perimeter. The deck’s varied geometry created a non-negotiable constraint because even minor drift would have broken the pattern when carried across the field. The elevation change at the steps introduced additional alignment requirements that demanded a unified reference point. The grid-based system ensured that each board landed precisely where the pattern required.
The completed deck shows consistent line intersections that maintain continuity from the main surface through the treads and risers. The unified layout allows movement through the space without visual interruption, supporting clear pathways and predictable footing. The alignment also reinforces the structural rhythm of the framing beneath the decking. These physical outcomes explain why the project earned recognition for precise layout planning and coordinated execution.
Materials Used
- Composite decking
- Composite fascia
- CAMO Fastener products
- FastenMaster products
- TimberTech decking components
Partners
- CAMO Fastener
- TimberTech
- FastenMaster
- Under the Sun
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Hen-House Decks is a custom deck builder serving Northeast Ohio since 2017. The company specializes in the design and construction of outdoor living spaces, including decks, porches, and related structures.
The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) is a trade association serving the outdoor living and decking industry. Award recognition is based on independent judging criteria established by the organization.






