Meet 2025 Backyard Boss, Frank Pologruto

Categories: Decks, Outdoor Fireplaces, Outdoor Kitchens, Outdoor Living, Patios, Pools/Spas, Sponsored, Sunrooms, Top 3 Sponsored, Water Features

Frank Pologruto, founder of Decks & More, Inc.

SPECIALTY: Designing and Building Custom Decks

“Every project we take on is different from the industry standard because we care,” said Decks & More owner Frank Pologruto. “We offer an unmatched set of skills, experience and genuine compassion that drives us to listen, learn and lead; together with our clients we design something incredible that best suits their needs.”

For this project in Marietta, he worked with partners to rebuild a tired back deck into something luxurious and serene. On the top level, recessed low-voltage lighting provides ambiance amidst TWP Dark Oak stained beams, a gorgeous tongue-and-groove ceiling and No.1-grade pressure treated wood decking laid in a unique herringbone pattern.

Below, Pologruto worked with Southeast Underdeck to create a second entertaining space, also with low lighting and the same wrapped beams, but finished in hand-chiseled, stacked stone columns.

“We wanted to give these homeowners the best possible panorama of their backyard, so we built wider openings for both the lower porch and upper porch and swapped traditional wooden balusters for metal ones that leave more room for the view.”

A project similar to this size and scope will take 7 to 10 weeks, and depending on materials and design choices, starts at $100,000.

“The secret to executing a project like this is hiring the right person,” Pologruto said. “We love when we can listen to a homeowner’s creative ideas and then visualize them into real-time and execute it well, so that they’ll love it for many years to come.”

Frank Pologruto and his team have earned more than 135 design awards in over 20 years, continuously topping industry standards for innovation, customer satisfaction and building codes. He is a professional member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) and he’s donated more than $250,000 to area churches and charities.