What The Deck Should You Do With Your Garden?
It’s getting to the time of year where we’re thinking about making the outside of our home tidier and more welcoming and with that in mind we’re looking at how you can improve your garden.
Do you want the opportunity to spend more time in the garden that doesn’t involve getting your hands dirty? Or make the best of the weather and have your own outdoor dining spot or social scene for you and your friends? It might be time to get a deck. Here, we’re going to look at how you ensure you have a decking good time and not a decking disaster on your hands.
Location, Location, Location
Before you start putting any boards down, make sure you’re putting them in the right place. You want it to be close to the house as possible, but you have to consider how sun exposure works in your garden. You don’t want to end up creating a sunbathing haven only to find it’s in the shade most of the day. Make sure you measure how much sun exposure different areas of the garden get throughout the day before making the final decision on where to put your deck.
Feeling Handy?
Decks might seem like a major project, but if you’re looking to save money, they can actually be pretty easy to build yourself. If you’re good with woodworking and you have a weekend on your hands, you can construct it yourself. Of course, you have to consider whether any landscaping is necessary, too, which might require a professional touch.
Treat That Wood Right
Whether you have it installed by a professional or you build it yourself, you have to make sure that wood is properly stained, finished, and sealed before you can relax on it. The pros are going to do this for you, and you only need to top it up from time to time with the right wood sealant. Wood isn’t an incredibly high maintenance material, depending on the kind of stain you use, you only need to apply it every year or every 4-5 years. Sealers only need to be applied once a year, too. If you used cedar decking and are wondering if it needs to be treated, reading articles from G&B Quality Cedar Products will help you understand better.
If you’re looking to rejuvenate your old decking, or want to make sure your new decking is treated so that it will last in all weathers check out deckwaterproofingportlandor.com – a Waterproofing Company in Portland.
Jooj It Up
Your decking can easily be one of the most inviting parts of the garden and can be a huge improvement to the curb appeal of your home. You just need to make sure that you take the time to invest in a little décor choice. Hanging planters on the railings can help it look a lot livelier and part of the natural garden environments, and consider softer furnishings and even draped curtains to soften out the hard appearance of wood a little.
24/7, 365 Days A Year
That’s how long you want your outdoor dining/relaxing/social area to be available. Think about investing in an outdoor heating set-up, whether using electric heaters or installing a fire pit near the decking. Lighting is just as vital. If the decking is against the house, then it might be as simple as installing some recessed lighting in the walls.
A little livable space in the backyard can make a world of difference to your home. It’s the perfect place to relax, but it also dramatically improves curb appeal. Time to get decking!
Great article! Specifically advice on outdoor heating. Another article I found even more helpful was this one from Ferrellgas. It goes into more detail and also includes a handy chart on BTUs per square foot!
https://www.ferrellgas.com/tank-talk/blog-articles/how-to-heat-an-outdoor-patio/