In the mood to create a beautiful garden space? Decking your garden can be an excellent way to transform any outdoor area into a tranquil sanctuary. Decks are becoming an increasingly popular feature of garden design, as they provide endless opportunities to make your space your own, while also providing a unique space to entertain guests or simply to relax outside.
From selecting materials to building the deck, this guide will teach you how to deck your garden so that it’s perfect for any and every occasion.
(PLEASE NOTE: This is a rough guide to decking your garden. It is important you follow manufacturer’s guidelines on installation.)
Choosing the Right Materials:
When deciding on the right materials for garden decking, it is important to look at both cost and quality. Common options include composite, wood, plastic, and aluminium decking. Each type has its own unique benefits and drawbacks that need to be considered before making a decision.
Composite:
Composite decking is one of the most popular decking material choices. Made from a blend of recycled wood fibres and plastic, this long-lasting and low maintenance material won’t rot or splinter like some wooden decks do. However, composite decking is one of the more expensive options.
Wood:
Available in a variety of options including redwood, cedar, pine, and ipe, wooden decking offers a unique and charming character for a relatively inexpensive price. Wooden decking requires regular maintenance every few years in order to keep it looking pristine.
Plastic:
Plastic decking offers an affordable option with little maintenance required. With a variety of colours and styles available, plastic is also resistant to mould and mildew, making it the perfect choice for those who want easy cleaning solutions for their outdoor space. However, plastic can also be prone to warping in extreme temperatures.
Aluminium:
Aluminium decking is becoming increasingly popular due to its modern aesthetic appeal and ability to resist rust or corrosion over time without needing regular maintenance. This material is reasonably priced and lightweight, meaning installation is much easier compared to heavier materials. Despite its advantages, aluminium may dent when exposed to heavy impacts of sharp objects which could require repair.
For more guidance, check out our handy Garden Decking Buying Guide to help you choose the perfect material for you.
Preparing the Ground:
Preparing the ground for garden decking is an important part of the process. Making sure you have a strong foundation is essential to ensuring secure and stable decking.
1. Assess the area:
Firstly, assess the existing condition of your garden. Is the area flat and level? Or are there some bumps? If so, use a shovel to even out the surface. You may also need to add soil or fill in any dips with sand. If you’re placing wooden decking over grass, you’ll need to remove the grass first, as the moisture can cause rot in the wood over time.
2. Secure a weed barrier:
Securing a weed barrier onto the ground where you plan on installing your decking will prevent weeds from growing up through it. Make sure that all seams are overlapped and sealed with tape for the best results.
3. Lay down a base layer of gravel:
Laying down a base layer of gravel on top of your weed barrier will help provide stability as well as adequate drainage.
Building the Deck:
1. Gather Your Tools and Materials
Before you begin to deck your garden, you need to make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials. This includes decking boards, joists, screws, drill bits, saws such as a jigsaw or circular saw, a spirit level, nails, and adhesive sealants. Make sure you have measured your garden space accurately so that you can purchase enough materials for the project.
2. Building the Frame:
The first step is to build a frame for your decking by using joists. Joist spacing should typically be no more than 16 inches apart for maximum stability. Once the joists have been cut to size and placed in position (using either nails or screws), use the spirit level to check that they are straight.
3. Installing the Decking Boards:
Start adding in the decking boards at each end of the frame – making sure that each board is properly aligned with its neighbours on either side - before fixing them into place with screws. It is important to leave a gap of around 5-10mm between each board to avoid water pooling between the gaps.
4. Sealing the Boards:
To protect your deck from moisture damage and other environmental effects, it’s important to seal it correctly with an appropriate sealant before painting or staining it if desired. When choosing a sealant, make sure that it is designed specifically for outdoor use and carefully follow instructions on application rates and drying times.
5. Finishing Touches:
The final step is simply adding any finishing touches such as painting or staining your now sealed decking boards. After this, you can add your desired furniture pieces to create an inviting garden space you can enjoy for many years to come.
You’re all set!
Ultimately, decking your garden can be a fun and rewarding task. Selecting the right materials, assessing the area, and building the decks are all incredibly important aspects to this project, ones that can make or break your garden decking. However, with our handy guide, you can make sure that the process of decking your garden goes as smoothly as possible - making the most of your time and money!
Looking for some guidance? Contact us today for expert assistance and discover what we can do for you.