When you’re struggling through the cold, dark, icy depths of winter, the recollection of barbeques and summer garden parties may sound like a farfetched dream, a distant hazy memory. The sounds of sausages sizzling on the grill, the sound of kids playing in the paddling pool, the warmth of the sun rays on your skin… In many ways, it feels like such a long way away. However, it won’t be long before summer is here and now is the time to get your act together and sort out the garden in preparation. And what better way to improve your garden than to add a decking? This glorious open space, perfect for entertaining and relaxing, is the perfect addition to any home garden.
How can you get your dream garden to become a reality? The key is in the research. It’s time to start googling, reading, watching, and studying how to up your garden game and make a cosy haven to enjoy warm summer evenings and boiling summer afternoons.
Creating a Sturdy Decking
The thing with decking is that you need to build it to last. In the UK, the months of summer are fleeting, and the season of warmth is short, so you need to build a construction that will survive a harsh, cold, damp winter as well as looking great for summer too. Your deck can’t be style over substance. If you compromise on building materials, cutting corners in an attempt to save money, you’ll regret in within a few months. Save the embarrassment of your guest’s garden chair falling through the decking and invest in a strong, reliable materials to build the framework of your decking.
Building a Strong Framework
It’s essential to build a strong framework for your decking, and the integral aspects of the framework are the joists. Although they are hidden, they are the strong arms that support the boards of the deck and give shape to the whole structure. Clearly, there is a lot of weight quite literally resting on the strength of your joists. Therefore, it’s essential that you think carefully about the type of timber you will use for the joists. While you want to choose a material that is strong and durable, it’s also essential that you select a material that is in line with local building codes.
Factors to Consider
The likely factors that come into deciding over the timber you will use for your decking are budget, strength, and quality. It’s true that you want to invest in a strong material, yet at the same time you likely have a budget that you need to stick to so that you have the funds to complete the rest of the project. Furthermore, you want to ensure that you get the highest quality that you can for the money you have. Evidently, these three factors will certainly play a part in your decision making process.
The Options Are Endless
Typically, people are satisfied with softwood-treated timber, however with a little creativity people are steering towards other materials. If your budget allows, you can even choose a luxurious hard wood like oak. However, one of the best materials that ticks all the boxes is pressure treated wood.
Pressure Treated Timber is the Answer
Pressure treated timber is affordable and durable, resistant to attacks from insects and the ravages of moisture and rot. With the addition of chemicals, this timber is turned into a super material, able to resist various forms of damage that could fall upon it. Whether you choose to use 6×2, 8×2 or 4×2 treated timber, you will likely be happy with the results and the quality you get for the money you pay.
