Here we look at decking design ideas. Decking is such a great addition to a garden. It provides a brilliant entertainment space and is so versatile it can be built anywhere in your garden. It doesn’t have to be laid right outside your back door and if there is an area at the bottom of your garden that attracts the sun a decking space there would work perfectly. Corner decking is also very popular with our clients. Decking can be laid at different heights and levels which works really well if you have a slope in your garden or the ground is uneven with different levels as decking allows you to create a flat surface for a seating area for your chairs or garden dining table. You can also look at what shape your decking will be. No longer does it have to be a standard square or rectangle. Curved decking is very popular and will create beautiful lines in your garden. If you already have an established flower border in your garden then you don’t have to dig it up. The decking can be installed to provide an edge around the border creating a frame for the plants. The decking can be laid in different configurations to create a different look. Either vertical or horizontal. One softwood that we work with regularly allows you to choose whether to have the decking laid with a grooved or smooth finish. A popular method is to mirror the flow of the flooring inside your home if the decking is going to be laid right outside your patio doors. This allows the flooring to flow from the inside out. Decking also looks great against paving and grass so mix up the elements that you use to create a beautiful and well useable space and create different zones in your garden. If you have a colour scheme in mind for your new garden design then the decking boards can be painted or stained to fit into your scheme. When having your decking installed you can also look at adding in built in planters to create a beautiful flower display, seating areas with storage space, sandpits for the littles one to play in under your watchful eye whilst you are relaxing on your decking. These are just some of the options as there are many more. Handrails and balustrades not only provide safety but also add further design to add to the look of your decking. There are many different options available to personalise your look. It doesn’t need to only be used for raised decking as it looks so good it is regularly used on level decking too. Lighting also allows you to personalise your deck and can be built into the decking or hung as string lights between the balustrades or if you have a pergola installed then twisted through. This allows you to stay out later in the evening long after it has grown dark. We love decking here at C&J Landscapes Ltd and are experts in our field so if you would like to discuss a project please get in touch via our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com or email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call us on 020 3633 6413 to arrange a consultation to discuss your next decking project. We cover East London .
Winter Decking. A Good Choice For A Family Garden
Garden decking provides a good choice for a family garden. Even though the weather is getting a little colder our children still love to be able to play outside and we want to encourage them to be out in the fresh air. Yet it can be hard keeping an eye on young children roaming around the garden, while you try and do tasks inside the house. Many gardens incorporate water features and small ponds and these can be very dangerous for young children. Installing a decking area adjacent to the house is a perfect answer. Decking areas can be installed quickly and will blend into any garden and house design. Best of all, you can add some railings and a little gate so that children cannot stray too far. This solves the problem posed by water features. Children can play happily outdoors in safety. Decking provides a flat surface on which children can drive pedal cars, play a little football, and run around in safety. Properly installed by a contractor, decking offers a safe and secure surface. Wood is quite forgiving if little children fall on it, so there will be no nasty accidents or tears. Consider building in a little sandpit. Children love playing with sand and if you place a cover over it, after use, it keeps the sand clean and fresh. Once the children have grown up, you can always turn the pit into a small water feature by installing a pre-formed pond base or covering the pit with a special liner. It is worth considering adding a covered section within the decking area as this will allow all year round use. After rain or periods of ice and snow, decking can become a little slippery. This is easily dealt with by using an anti-slip treatment. Talk to your installer about the best anti-slip treatment to suit the wood you have chosen. It may be possible to build in anti-slip strips which can give that little bit of extra grip. Best of all maintenance is simple and easy. All decking needs is a brush and a wash down of the surface when required. This will keep the surface clean and hygienic. Once a year, use a timber treatment to keep the wood in good condition. Decking will stay looking good for many years making this a wonderful way to improve your home and garden. If you would like to discuss a decking project please get in touch via our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com or email office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call 020 3633 6413. We provide free quotes and advice.
Decking or Paving. Which is Best.
Decking or Paving. Which is best? It can be very hard to choose. Both look great, easy to install and simple to maintain. Both are natural products, and are environmentally friendly. A pretty area of decking, or a smart paved patio or driveway definitely adds value to your home. It makes sitting outside even more fun, and provides a safe play area for kids without having to worry about problems of muddy grass. Decking is very appealing. It can be a pleasure looking at natural wood, with its gently tawny shades or you can paint the wood almost any colour you want. Smooth and slightly warm to the touch, it looks good all year round. Decking is ideal if you have a sloping area, as it can be easily adjusted to cope with uneven surfaces. It is also easy to modify in years to come when your needs change, for example if you need extra space to cope with children or plan more entertaining. Decking is very durable and retains its appearance as long as you do not mistreat it! Paving is very strong and hard wearing albeit a little less forgiving if you fall! Paving stones can be cut to suit a wide range of different shapes and sizes allowing you to create a variety of patterns and designs to give a very individual, bespoke style. You can even co-ordinate that design across your paths and driveway as well as a patio. It can look very visually striking and impressive. Paving makes the perfect choice for driveways as it is extremely strong and hard wearing. Keeping paving or decking clean is important. No matter whether you have chosen paving or decking, algae can build up during the winter time or after heavy rain and make surfaces slippery. A good clean and brush over will quickly deal with the problem. Choosing between decking and paving is not easy. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes to making a final choice. It is very much a matter of personal preference. What do you like best? What will suit your home and your circumstances? A chat with a specialist supplier and installer can be of immense help. They can offer suggestions and advice that you might not otherwise have considered. Whichever you choose, installation is quick and easy – just call in the professionals who can install it for you giving you the garden of your dreams. If you are thinking of a decking or paving project for your garden please take a look at our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com and contact us by email at office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or call us on to arrange a free consultation and quote. We provide hard landscaping services in East London .
Summer Facelift For Decking
Summer facelift for decking. Give your decking a facelift by adding some extra features such as planters, built in seats, balustrades or arches. Within a very short time, tired decking can be given a totally new look. Raised beds make a perfect addition to decking as they enable extra space for planting, especially if you are less able and find bending difficult. The planters can be constructed to blend in with the existing decking colour scheme. By talking to your decking contractor, matching wood can be obtained so that the beds seamlessly link into the decking. Alternatively, opt for a contrast colour or a different shade to provide texture and style. Another advantage of adding a raised bed is that it offers quick access to an array of vegetables and herbs for the kitchen, as well as being a pretty and eyecatching feature. Bear in mind, that planters do not have to be square or rectangular – you can opt for a whole range of shapes such as circles, half moons and hexagonals. Size and height can vary according to your requirements. Your decking contractor can advise on load weights so that the planter does not damage the existing decking. Ever thought of installing some built in seating to adorn your decking? This can be a useful space saving feature since it can be combined with creating storage space underneath for bulky items like cushions. Seating can also be combined with built in planters and raised beds to create a pretty, fragrant corner in which to relax. Why not make a feature of your decking sides by adding balustrades and an archway full of fragrant roses, clematis or honeysuckle leading out to the rest of the garden? It creates a wonderful focal point wherever you happen to be in the garden or if looking out from the house. There are a wide range of options as to styles of balustrading and edging so that you can create a really personal effect that reflects your garden and house style. If your garden slopes, you could add steps or a slight ramp so that it blends seamlessly into your decking design. A practical measure, it makes access safer for all users. Decking can be so much more than just an empty space. A chat to your friendly decking consultant will provide lots of ideas as to how you can make it the perfect space for relaxing and entertaining. If you would like to discuss a project please get in touch to discuss via email on office@eastlondonlandscapes.com or calling .
Garden Decking As An Outdoor Room
Decking creates the perfect outside room no matter where you live. The warm, natural tones of wooden decking blends into all house styles and can be made as large or as small as you want. Placed adjacent to patio doors leading from the lounge, or beside the kitchen door; an area of decking gives the impression that the house is much larger than expected. In fact, it is an ideal way of extending your house at a relatively low cost as it provides a lovely place for children to play in safety, or where you can relax and enjoy a barbeque. Planning permission is not normally needed for decking so you can install an area of decking quite quickly. To create an image of another room attached to the house, choose decking colours that blend into your décor. Look for natural shades that will link into your colour scheme or reflect the colour of furniture. A slightly lighter shade of wood can make the area seem even larger. Consider adding a few extras that will make your decking unique. Some balustrading round the decking can add an elegant touch. If you have young children, add a little gate with a safety catch so that they can play in safety while you are busy indoors. Avoid steps if there is anyone in the family with mobility issues – a gentle ramp will be far more user friendly. Leaving the patio doors open so that you can go straight out onto the decking encourages people to relax when having parties. They have the space to move, and are not confined to a small room. The decking can even become a place for intimate conversations while watching the sun set over the horizon. Add a pretty table and chairs, perhaps a barbeque, some planters filled with fragrant herbs and perhaps a candle or two – and your outside room is ready for use. So sit back and enjoy a relaxing evening on your new decking, made even better by the knowledge that this is an experience you can enjoy time and time again in the months ahead.
Garden Decking – Contractor vs DIY
Here we look at the pros and cons of contractor vs DIY for your garden decking project. Well laid decking looks fabulous in the garden and definitely adds value to your home. Not surprisingly, increasing numbers of home owners are installing it. Yet simply choosing materials and a design is not enough – fitting needs to be done just as carefully if you are to have the decking of your dreams. Installation is always a tricky question. Who is going to do it? Should a contractor be employed or should you attempt to do it yourself? Using a contractor definitely has distinct advantages. Contractors can design as well as install decking, making sure that it meets your needs exactly. They will know all the building regulations and ensure these are not broken. Contractors have the equipment, the materials and the skilled craftsmen who can deal with any problems that arise. Above all, a contractor will make sure that the decking is laid safely and securely. There will be no risk of loose planks or uneven surfaces that could pose a hazard to anyone in your family. An experienced installer will have a lot of experience on which to draw. They know what works and what doesn’t, and can bring this experience to bear when designing your new decking. It is not just a matter of putting down a few planks of wood. The site has to be assessed, prepared, foundations laid, wood chosen before the actual process of building the decking can begin. Adding features like steps or raised decking immediately makes the task even more complex. They can also add in seating areas, storage areas, flower beds and build sand pits within the decking and much more. Admittedly DIY can be cheaper. There are no installation costs. But you do need good DIY skills, and more than one person is needed on site. Help is needed to make sure the installation is safe and secure, moving large planks of wood around. It is not a simple task! Opting for a contractor will make the task easier and less traumatic. A skilled team can do the task in half the time leaving you free to enjoy the end result. If you would like to discuss a decking project with us please get in touch via our website www.eastlondonlandscapes.com. We provide landscaping services in East London and Essex.
