Landscape With Decking

Decking is a great way extend a living area outside of the home - bringing the outside in, so to speak. As well as, in effect, giving you an extra 'room', it gives solid surface in the garden for your outdoor furniture and BBQ plus, if around a wet area such as a spa or swimming pool, you can ensure securer footing and more safety. Whatever the purpose of your decking, it should to be appropriately designed, installed, and maintained. And, remember this will add value to your property.

Because normal pine is a soft wood it has never been as hard wearing and durable as hardwoods such as cedar or mahogany, although it costs significantly less. Hardwoods usually originate in tropical climate regions, which if nothing else raises the ire of conservation groups as they are often from places being de-forested. So a first consideration is to look at indigenous hardwoods, then those that are sustainable.

Another alternative is to look for re-cycled wood. A clue for being eco-friendly is to avoid wood treated with chemicals - such as pressure treated woods.

Another route to go is to use composite materials which have increased dramatically in recent years because it's easy to maintain and less costly. It is usually made from re-cycled plastics and wood fibre which makes them more acceptable environmentally.

Decking can be built onto a veranda, patio or as a stand alone. If your budget doesn't allow for decking construction when you are initially building a house, make sure your design is such that a later addition of the deck can be done seamlessly.

This applies to both the house itself and the garden you set up - that is don't plant a tree where you will eventually want to place a deck - unless you plan a design that incorporates the potential shade from the tree. Planning is essential if you want a deck that really meets your needs - both in the design sense and for practical usage. it's not much use having a great looking deck that doesn't serve your purposes for entertainment and so on.

Do you want to learn more about gardening? If so, please download my free e-book on "Better Gardening Ideas." Our new Expert Gardening Solutions is also now available. Peter Ryan is a landscape and gardening expert and can be reached here: http://www.betterhouseandgarden.net/learn-how-to-garden-easily.

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Garden Decking - Add Function to Your Landscape

Garden decking is a landscaping feature which extends the living space of the house outdoors. It is a wooden platform built above the ground and connected to the main building. A railing for safety generally encloses it. They are made from treated lumber, composite material, aluminum, red cedar, teak, mahogany and other hardwoods and recycled planks made from PET plastic. You can construct your deck on steep areas or rough grounds which are otherwise unusable. Decks generally act as an alternative for patios covered by a canopy or pergola to block sunlight.

Garden decking, if done aesthetically, can be a serene, tranquil area for enjoying the quiet hours of leisure, or a fun active place for entertaining or celebrating special occasions. They are subject to weather conditions throughout the year so the materials chosen for their built are vital. Decks built of hardwood or softwood is quite popular. Timber decking is widely used due to its flexibility and natural look and feel. Garden decks can be built in any shape or size or color according to your taste and budget. Softwood is the more popular choice when it comes to building garden decks, as they are pressure-treated with preservatives to prevent rotting. Hardwood decking boards do not require pressure treatments. Decking boards are usually 75mm to 150mm wide. Though the wider boards are easily laid, narrower boards are preferred since they look nicer. You can also use grooved boards which have better grip even when wet. You can also have colored boards or color the deck after it is built. Make sure that the boards should have rounded edges to protect feet and improve drainage.

The main complaint for garden decking is the insidious growth of weeds through the cracks of the boards. This can be prevented by clearing all vegetation and turf from the area where you are constructing the deck. Always compact and level the ground where you are building the deck and keep a gentle slope towards the outer edge for proper drainage. Garden Decking involves a simple construction formula of attaching the decking boards to a timber frame that consists of horizontal joists linked to vertical posts.

Garden decking is incomplete without adequate care and regular maintenance. It gives your garden a character and unique feel and it needs proper care to maintain that feel. Follow the simple garden decking tips to keep your deck beautiful round the year:

o Rubber feet and mats minimize damage so furniture should be placed on them.

o In order to allow the air to circulate and prevent mould always put pots on bricks.

o Check and tighten bolts and screws regularly.

o Use brush to remove dirt and keep the deck clean regularly. You can use stiff brushes to remove algae and mildew or with pressure-hose or deck cleaning liquid.

o Add clear water repellent once a year and do not forget to replace deck boards when necessary.

o Choose plants surrounding the decks to give it a more serene and natural look.

Garden decking give a new meaning to your landscape and provide a quiet and serene place to retire after a hard day's work. With little effort and simple care it can be an extension of nature right next to you.

Gardening and landscaping are one of life's simple joys. Learn more about Garden Decking [http://www.garden-facts.com/] by visiting our Garden Facts [http://www.garden-facts.com/]web site.

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