About Us

Central Indiana's Best Deck Builder!

We consider Artisan Outdoor Craftsman a unique company. We work with not only homeowners and business owners, but our fellow contractors, too.

Our mission at Artisan Outdoor Craftsman is to transform your outdoor living space from merely a functional one to a place that is truly a retreat from the everyday world. We can do this because of our experience in construction and landscaping.

While we have built a reputation for our high-quality craftsmanship, did you know we started as a landscaping company? Our experience in landscaping has helped us deliver high-quality designs for decks, patios, and outdoor living spaces because we understand what it takes to build quality outdoor structures and how to best utilize the land.

We specialize in decks, outdoor structures (including pergolas, arbors, and pool houses), pavilions, outdoor kitchens, and cabinetry.

We promise our team will work hard to build the finest outdoor living space that will exceed your expectations, enhance your home and improve your quality of life as you spend more time outside.

Quality Outdoor Kits!

We take pride in producing the highest quality wood products for contractors. We help improve their profit margin with our pergolas and arbors kits. Our products and designs grew out of years of experience in the landscape industry.

Our professionally designed systems are extra durable, and they are made to install quickly and efficiently. We use high-quality lumber and hardware that will last for years, even in the harshest exterior environments.

Browse our site, and if there is anything we can do for your home or business, let us know.

Western Red Cedar lumber
Artisan Outdoor Craftsman
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Frequently Asked Question

Western red cedar is naturally rot and insect resistant. Unlike inland cedars, western red cedar has developed a toughness due to the ocean salt from the west coast. This makes this cedar durable lasting up to 50+ years.
No, you do not have to treat the wood. Western red cedar is naturally rot and insect resistant. If the product is not treated, the wood will silver or gray over the course of a year and could begin to check on you. Checking is where the wood begins to dry out in the elements and the pores of the wood begin to open up. Therefore natural splits may occur in the wood. Although you don’t have to treat the wood, it is recommended that a linseed oil based product be used as soon as the kit is installed to condition the wood and help lessen the checking process. An oil-based product will penetrate the wood deeper and will help protect the wood as opposed to a water-based stain. There are many different colors and varieties available. Recommended: Timber Ox at www.timberox.com
The pergolas weigh anywhere between 200-600 pounds on a skid. Installed, they apply approximately 150 pounds per post. This would mean if your deck can hold 4 people or more, then it can hold the pergola.
Yes. Many people put 2×2 cedar on top approximately 12” on center and that would provide shade. Also, canvas or a mesh material can be attached to the top of the pergola for solid of filtered shade.
It can be installed using 2-3 people with one of those people having a bit of construction knowledge.
There are only custom sizes available in the Indianapolis market due to the lack of instructions provided and installation would have to be provided with a custom kit. If the project is large enough, meaning several kits to install or a custom kit larger than a 30’x30’, Vive Exterior Design could send a crew down to the Nashville market to do the actual installation of the kit. There is installation available for any of the kits in the Indianapolis market.
Yes you can if you support it in the correct way. A 2×8 piece would need to be installed on top of one set of joists and screwed down from the top. Then an “I” bolt can be secured to the center of this piece to hold the swing. What this does is create a down force on the wood and not the bolt. If a lag was screwed into the cedar, it would immediately strip out.
This is actually a very common and legitimate question. The answer can be very vague, however. In a normal high wind situation, no, the structure will not blow over. If the structure has been properly installed per the manufacturers’ instructions and with all of the correct materials provided, there should be no problem. There are, however, natural occurring weather situations, i.e. a tornado, that could damage or blow over the intalled structure.

Download Warranty Documents from our Manufacturers

Please click on any of the following manufacturers’ links to download and/or print a PDF version of the warranty document for your product. If you have any questions about specific warranty information, please contact us via phone or email and we would be glad to assist you.
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Trex Outdoor Kitchens

Reviews from Our Clients