Decking describes a raised platform constructed using timber situated in a garden. Decking is a good solution to a relatively flat surface in a garden. Decking is practical and very adaptable during different situations. Grassy patches in a garden are great but impractical if furniture are to be placed on them. Decks bridge this gap and can serve as an extension to the house allowing users to engage in various activities on them instead of just viewing from the house.
Decking is the best solution for difficult ground situations. The design of some gardens can make them very difficult to engage and expensive for them to be leveled. Gardens that are sloped away from the house can be very difficult to engage. Decking can be used in these situations to achieve a level surface even with the slope. Decking can also be used to cover boggy sections of a garden as an alternative to addressing the problems.
Having a deck installed can make the transition from inside to outside easier. A well constructed deck that is level or even close to the timber flooring inside the house makes Patio doors an easy passage to step through. This is the case for most homeowners when they wish to engage with the deck during the warmer months.
Timber or composite
Timber decking is the most common option. Softwoods and treated timber cost less and generally look better, but hardwoods and treated timber cost more. The upkeep is more maintenance as well as cleaning and oiling to prevent discoloration. The decay isn’t pretty (and can get slippery), and algae likes the shade.
Composite decking goes another route. These boards combine wood fibers and plastic. The cost is elevated, but the maintenance is basically washed once in a while. It is much more rot resistant and color fast than timber. Composite decking is a tradeoff for the upkeep of timber decking, and for most households that are busy and less likely to perform yearly upkeep on timber, it’s a better choice.
Building it and Where to Put it
What’s underneath a deck is vital to its success. Joists and posts comprise the deck frame, working the most, and are the most undervalued parts. A deck frame, like the ground contact timber, needs to be set on solid footing and level as well. The underside of a deck, like a frame, needs to have air circulation to avoid damp and rotting wood. This circulation is most commonly neglected and fails the deck first.
Considering where to put the deck is as important as checking the frame. The most obvious position is directly off the house. However, the sun is what you really need to think about. The decks that receive the sun in the late afternoon and evening are the most used. This is why some people place the seating area towards the end of the garden where the sunlight is as opposed to where the back door is.
There are good reasons to suggest that a deck needs some form of cover, most likely in the form of an awning or a pergola. They are a good investment because they make a deck that is usable only in fine weather good in all weathers. A cover is also a perfect place for built-in planters that make the deck integrate with the rest of the garden.
A well-done garden room extension is an improvement that creates usable outdoor space without the expense and permanence of an extension. A bad garden room built from a poor frame will begin looking shabby in a few years. While the focus is often on the external boards, it’s the frame that determines the longevity of the product.