Composite decking has always been very popular with our clients. We have found it particularly so this year as many people have decided to update their gardens during lockdown and have chosen composite decking for their projects. Why is it so popular? There are a number of reasons why and we look at some of them here. Maintenance Composite decking requires little to no maintenance. With many of us having busy lives this suits perfectly. No need for painting or sealing each year giving you more time to relax in your garden. A quick brush to remove any leaves that may have fallen on the deck and the occasional spray with a hose is all that is really required to keep it looking at its best. Life-Span It has a long life-span so when you have it installed you can take comfort in the fact that it will work perfectly well in your garden for many years. The combination of wood and plastic makes it very hardwearing against the elements. Composite decking boards are water-proof and resistant against moisture and mildew. Eco-Friendly The decking boards are made from recycled materials so is very eco-friendly. Caring for the environment is at the forefront of our minds making it a good choice. Family Friendly It is very family friendly due to its great non-slip properties. The boards are very smooth underfoot so you don’t have to worry about splinters and they don’t warp or crack. Colour Composite decking comes in a wide variety of colours and designs, allowing you to introduce your chosen colour into your garden design. Costs It is more expensive than wooden decking but these upfront costs are offloaded over time due to the minimal maintenance costs and its long life span. It is also said to add value to your property if you are looking to sell your home in the future. If you would like to discuss a composite decking project please send an email to office@eastlondonlandscapes.com to arrange a consultation with one of the team.
Balau Decking
Balau decking is a hardwood decking. It is the most requested hardwood decking that we install for our clients. It has a fine and even texture and comes in a mixture of warm colours with golden browns, light browns and pale reddish-browns that suit a natural environment. Before it is used Balau wood goes through a specific drying process involving kiln-drying for 30 to 60 days to ensure that it doesn’t crack or warp. After kiln-drying the wood is dried in the sun for several days to produce its yellowy-orange hue. Balau is a Malaysian hardwood that is hardwearing and durable and is stronger than most other wood. It has excellent overall strength and weather resistance. Over time it will naturally weather to a silver-grey colour if not treated annually with a decking oil. Use a UV-resistant wood finishing product to protect the wood against the elements. Hardwood decking is easy to maintain. As with all decking it should be brushed over regularly to keep it free from debris and should be oiled once a year to keep it looking it best. To give it a thorough clean wash over with soda crystals and warm water or you can give it a light jetwash. Other hardwoods that we work with for our clients are Ipe, Garapa and West Red Cedar. We also install composite decking on our projects.
Composite Decking
Composite decking is becoming a popular choice for decking in a garden project. Its popularity has grown in the past few years and now there are lots of choices of materials, colours and designs. It is fairly low maintenance and comes in a variety of colours meaning that you won’t have to paint or stain it to get the right colour you want for your garden design. Composite decking can get warm in the sun so choosing a lighter colour board will help. It won’t need be sealed either which is another job that can be crossed off the list. To keep it looking its best it will require cleaning by sweeping regularly with a soft brush and washing down with a garden hose. Composite decking is hard wearing and can have a lifespan of 25-30 years. It is a combination of wood and plastic and is sometimes made from recyclable materials. It is stain resistant and won’t splinter or rot. There are non-slip products with textured finishes available which prove popular for a family garden. Taking a look at the costs composite decking is more expensive than wooden decking. The decking is more expensive to buy and the installation is more labour intensive. The joists underneath need to be closer together than for traditional wooden decks. There are additions you can add to your composite deck to complete your look. Railings, post caps and trims create a beautiful finish. If you would like to discuss a decking project please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413 to arrange a consultation with one of the team. You can also use our contact form on our website to make an enquiry https://cj-landscapes.co.uk/contact-us/ Our decking services cover East London .
What To Consider When Planning A Decking Project
Here we look at what to consider when planning a new deck in your garden. When planning a new decking project in your garden there are many things to think about, your budget for the project, the type of decking product you would like to install, the layout of the deck. Also what you are hoping to achieve with your new deck, what you are looking to use the new area for and the best location in your garden to install this. Deck Position Before installation take a good look at your garden space and work out the best place for the new deck. Where would you get most use out of it. Do you have a really sunny corner that would work well or would you prefer to have the decking straight outside of your property making it easy for entertaining. Think about the best position to ensure privacy. Size Think about the size you would like for your decking space. Think about the size of the space that will fit well in your garden. Also the amount of people it needs to accommodate, maybe a cosy seating space or a large entertaining area for friends and family. Think of the furniture you have in mind for the area and ensuring that there is enough space around the furniture to walk around comfortably. Budget Plan your budget for the project and try to stick to it. Speak to professionals to discuss your project and get a quote for the work. Find a contractor you feel comfortable working with. Style There are many options available with decking so carry out online research to find out which type of material and style works well with your property and with your project. You can choose between wooden or composite decking and there are many options available for both. For the wooden decking you can choose between softwood or hardwood and for the composite decking there are a variety of colours available. Think about the layout as the decking boards can be laid either vertically or horizontally and you can choose different shapes for the overall decking area, square, rectangular or you can finish it with a curve. Also what works well within your budget as prices can differ between different types of materials: Hardwood – Hardwood decking is made from a number of different broadleaved trees like oak, ash or beech. The wood of these trees is slower in its growth and this ten to offer a “harder” and more durable timber. More expensive than softwood. Softwood – Softwood decking is made from coniferous, evergreen trees such as pine or spruce. About 80% of the world’s timber is softwood. Softwood decking boards are pressure treated with preservatives, to protect it from fungal and insect decay in addition to deterioration from the environment. Composite – Composite decking is manufactured from a mixture of recycled plastics and wood fibres. They are bonded together under high pressure. It doesn’t require much maintenance and provides protection from rain and UV rays. You can add further style to your decking by incorporating steps, handrails, lighting and flower beds. There are lots of different options available for these too to consider. If you have any questions or would like to discuss a decking project please get in touch. We provide landscaping services in East London and specialise in decking, paving, fencing, driveways and turfing. Please email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413.
Getting Your Decking Ready For Summer
Garden decking is very popular and look gorgeous in any garden. It provides a flexible addition to your home and now that the Summer has arrived it will get lots of use. As with most things it requires a little maintenance. You want your decking looking as good as new so follow these maintenance tips below for a long-standing beautiful deck: · Give the whole area a good sweeping with a hard broom and give it a hose down. · Remove any debris that may have accumulated between the boards using a putty knife. · Use a decking cleaner to remove any moss, algae or dirt from the decking. You should aim to do this twice a year. Ideally once in the spring and once in the autumn. · Do not use any chlorine based bleach for cleaning as although it will clean the deck it will break down the lignin in the deck timber which holds the wood together. · A jet washer can be used to clean the deck but do not use a heavy duty one. It needs to be smaller than 1500psi. Allow the deck to dry for several days before applying any type of finish. · Soda crystals can be used to remove some stains. Water the deck, sprinkle the crystals, and allow to dry before washing away. · After thoroughly cleaning add a decking oil. Even though your deck has been pressure treated in the manufacturing stage it will need to be maintained. Apply the oil with a brush and add two coats. · If you find that your wood is starting to look tired and grey give it an oiling. · Remember never to drag heavy objects over the surface of a deck to avoid damaging the wood. · Move planters, chairs and tables around to avoid the sun discolouring the decking. Maybe treat yourself to some new cushions or tableware to freshen up your look. · Trim nearby bushes and trees that may be overhanging. · On an ongoing basis don’t let leaves and debris pile up in corners and keep nearby gutters and downspouts in good repair. Now you are ready to put your feet up enjoy entertaining in your garden!
How To Plan A Garden Makeover
Carrying out a total garden makeover is a very exciting and important project for your home. Take your time to think and plan what your dream garden will look like. What look would you like to achieve? Think about what you need your garden to be? Somewhere to relax, somewhere for the children to play? Take into account the size and shape of your space when planning. Do you like a traditional garden or a more modern contemporary look? Think about what would work well with your style of home. Carry out some research by visiting garden centres, open gardens, garden magazines and online and even the gardens of your friends and family for inspiration. A garden makeover can take place any time throughout the year. In the Winter the plants are dormant and so it is easier to work around the garden, or the Summer when you get the opportunity to really understand how to make the best use of your space. If you choose to carry out the work in the Winter this enables you to have your garden ready for when the Spring arrives to get the most use out of it throughout the year. In the Winter you may be able to negotiate more with your landscaper than in the Spring or Summer. Which hard landscaping do you want to introduce into your project? Do you want to be relaxing on a patio or decking area? Would you like a large lawn area to spread out on in the Summer and for your pets to have space to run around? Once you decide then carry out research on what materials you want to use for your project. There are so many options available so make sure you look at as many as possible. Carry out research online and also go into the local garden shops to take a look at samples. For decking do you want wooden decking or composite decking. If wooden do you want hardwood or softwood decking. Which do you prefer the look of, also what budget do you have for this part of the project as hardwood decking is slightly more expensive. Carry out your research to find out which type of decking suits your project and budget. There are many choices of wood available for both options. If you choose softwood decking we regularly use a decking board that allows you the choice to have a grooved or smooth finish so a further decision to make. What shape do you want your decking to be, do you want a curved finish or a standard rectangular shape flush to your home. Do you want to make additions to the decking by adding spindles and handrails, lighting, seating or storage. These additions can really make a difference to the overall project. They can always be added at a later stage if your budget doesn’t allow at the time. For paving there are many different designs and products. Which type of paving slab do you like the look of, which would work well with all the other materials you have chosen for your garden makeover project. Is it one patio needed or maybe two, one outside the back door and one at the end of the garden where the sun trap in your garden is with a path connecting the two. Then you need to decide which way you want to lay the paving as that can create a totally different look too. Do you want a square or rectangle patio or a circular one. Maybe one area of the garden as a patio and a decking area as well. Fencing plays a large part in the look of your garden so consideration really does need to be given to this area of the garden. Do you like the traditional fencing or the contemporary look of the horizontal slatted fencing. Which would work best with your overall design. There is also the choice with the traditional fencing of whether to go with concrete or wooden posts. One area that might not be considered is waste costs for the project. If you require a skip will you need to contact your local council to purchase a skip permit and do you also need to include bay charges if there are parking restrictions in your area. Do remember to include waste removal costs into your budget. If you would like to discuss a garden makeover then please get in touch with us to discuss and we can arrange a consultation to talk through your project. Email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413.
