According to an old saying, "An architect's dream is an engineer's nightmare," meaning the two professions have been known to clash over the latter's inability to bring the former's grand vision to fruition. Fortunately for the team at Archadeck of Northwest Philadelphia, that is never a problem for the company's co-owners. After all, Karim and Jessica Mrad also happen to be husband and wife, so their chemistry leads to a successful partnership both inside and outside of work.

"That proverb doesn't apply here," Karim says with a laugh. "We work well together and we do a nice job of actually delivering the designs we dream of, and that's what makes us different."

Jessica has an extensive background in architecture and previously oversaw projects at five-star hotels around the world, while Karim is a mechanical engineer with experience in irrigation systems and landscaping. The couple decided to blend their talents and follow their shared passion for outdoor living, which led them to Archadeck.

Billed as North America's largest deck and porch builder, Archadeck has more than 50 locations across the United States. The Mrads are happy to have the resources and support from the corporate brand, combined with the local knowledge they have in serving Montgomery County and the Main Line. They also have a sincere love for everything "outdoors," and their customers reap the benefits of that interest.

"Both of us are outdoor enthusiasts," Karim says. "Jessica and I are both professional mountaineers so we spend a lot of time hiking, climbing and skiing, and that's why we went into this line of work. We figured, why not create wonderful outdoor memories for people? We love working with homeowners and creating the space they envision. Sometimes they need guidance on what will work, what won't work, how big, how small, the choice of materials, and we are able to help them thanks to our technical background."

Archadeck specializes in decks, patios, porches, sunrooms and more, and homeowners looking to add an outdoor space in time to enjoy this summer need to get on the schedule as soon as possible. What they will find is a company that pays meticulous attention to detail at every step of the process.

"At the initial visit we sit down and do a functional needs analysis and that's how we extract information on how they want to use the space," Karim says. "Do they entertain a lot? How many people are they going to accommodate on the deck? Is it just a deck or a deck and a patio? Do they want a shade structure? We take all of that into consideration and always keep the budget in mind."

From there, the team comes up with a design that is going to meet all of their needs, providing detailed drawings and samples so they can picture what the space will look like.

"Before we get to construction, we have to get logistically ready for the project," Karim says. "What I mean by that is getting HOA approvals, completing the design and getting permits from the township. That process usually takes anywhere from six to eight weeks, and then when we start the project, the length depends on how big of a project it is. We have some that take four or five days, and some that take up to a month and a half."

During the construction phase, the crews have the utmost respect for the customer's property, and each phase is explained ahead of time. Either Karim or Jessica is onsite every day to oversee the process, and they hold regular meetings with the homeowners to address any concerns and ensure they are living up to their expectations.

As for trends in the industry, Karim explains that almost every project nowadays is made with low-maintenance materials, such as composite decking and aluminum, vinyl or composite railing.
"Some people still like the feel and look of exotic woods like ipe or cedar" he says. "The advancements that have been made with composite decking are outstanding. We have a technical partnership with TimberTech, one of the top manufacturers—the warranties they have are the best in the industry and the product speaks for itself."

Added amenities include a roof structure or pergola for shade, outdoor kitchens and fire features. The Mrads will provide photos from their previous jobs to give customers an idea of what they want to incorporate, but in the end the outdoor space is going to be something that fits their style.

"Every project is unique," Karim says. "We're a custom builder at the end of the day, and we design a unique space for each customer because everybody's backyard is different and everyone's thoughts about how they want to use the space are different. That's what we do best.

"That's the best time to pop open a bottle and say cheers to a nice project. Seeing the homeowners' gratitude never gets old and it actually gets better every time."

Archadeck of Northwest Philadelphia
Plymouth Meeting, Pa.
(484) 665-8010
Archadeck.com/northwest-philadelphia/

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 23, Issue 7 (May 2023).
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