Excel Custom Decks of Madison Releases Shade Design Guidance

MADISON, WI – September 03, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

Excel Custom Decks of Madison has released guidance for homeowners on designing outdoor living spaces around changing tree canopy, following more than a decade of substantial ash loss across Dane County and a recovery period that will extend for years.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources expects emerald ash borer to kill the overwhelming majority of susceptible ash trees statewide, with Dane County among the areas most heavily affected. Local reporting in June 2026 indicated that the urban forest is now recovering and has become more diverse than before the infestation arrived, though county forestry officials have noted that replacement plantings require two to three decades to reach the size of the trees that were removed.

The consequence for outdoor structures is one that has drawn less attention. Decks and patios across established neighborhoods were designed under mature canopy that no longer exists, and those spaces now receive direct afternoon sun without the structure itself having changed in any way.

“A homeowner will tell us the deck feels different than it used to and assume the summers have gotten hotter,” said Rob McDonald, Owner and President of Excel Custom Decks. “Sometimes the tree that used to cover that corner came down four years ago and nobody connected the two.”

Shade governs how much of a deck gets used and at what hours. A space that was comfortable through an afternoon under canopy may become usable only in the morning once that canopy is gone, which affects the practical size of the structure regardless of its measured dimensions.

Orientation determines how significant the change becomes. A west facing deck takes late afternoon and evening sun during the warmest part of the day, while an east facing surface is generally shaded by dinner. The angle of the sun also shifts through the season, so a space that performs well in May can behave differently by August. Observing where light falls at the hours a household actually uses the space provides more useful information than a site plan does.

Design features address exposure that material selection alone cannot. A pergola provides partial overhead shade across a defined section of a deck, with rafter spacing and orientation determining how much light passes through at various times of day. A covered porch structure offers full protection from sun and from light rain. A screened enclosure combines shade with insect protection during the height of summer. Each addresses a portion of a space rather than its entirety, which is why placement is generally determined by observed conditions at the property rather than by a standard layout.

On elevated structures, an under deck system manages water above the space below and creates a second area that remains shaded throughout the day. On properties where the primary surface now receives extended exposure, that lower area can absorb use the upper deck no longer supports comfortably during peak afternoon hours.

Existing structures can often be adapted without replacement. Adding cover over a section of a deck does not require rebuilding the deck itself, though the framing must be evaluated to confirm it can carry the additional load, and stair and railing configurations may require adjustment where a new structure changes how people move across the surface.

“The deck stays the center of the space,” McDonald said. “What gets added is whatever the sun makes necessary, and that answer is different on a lot that lost a canopy tree than on one that never had one.”

Grade and lot conditions influence the approach as well. Sloped properties, walkout basements and multi level layouts create opportunities to separate a space into areas with differing exposure, allowing a household to move between them as conditions change through the day and across the season.

Tree condition itself falls outside the scope of deck design and warrants assessment by a certified arborist. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension publishes guidance on evaluating ash trees affected by emerald ash borer, noting that trees killed by the insect become brittle relatively quickly and can fail under moderate wind rather than the severe wind a homeowner might expect. Where a tree overhangs an existing or planned structure, that evaluation is appropriately handled before design decisions are finalized.

Maintenance considerations shift alongside shade. Overhanging branches deposit leaves and debris on a surface, and the volume changes as surrounding trees grow or are removed. Areas that stay damp under heavy canopy dry differently once that canopy thins, which affects how a surface weathers over subsequent seasons.

Canopy is one factor among several in outdoor living design. Property size, the position of the home, drainage patterns, access from interior spaces and the way a household intends to use the area all contribute, and shade considerations are weighed alongside them rather than in isolation.

Excel Custom Decks of Madison is part of Excel Custom Decks, a family owned deck builder founded in 2000 that designs and builds residential decks and outdoor living structures in Wisconsin. The company works with wood, composite and PVC decking and provides design consultation, framing, railing, lighting, under deck systems and deck inspection services.

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For more information about Excel Custom Decks of Madison, contact the company here:

Excel Custom Decks of Madison
Josiah McDonald
+16089339193
josiahrmcdonald@gmail.com
2525 Advance Rd Suite C, Madison, WI 53718, United States

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