How to Install Artificial Grass in 6 Steps

how to install artificial grass

Great news – you’ve decided to save yourself all that time you spend mowing the lawn by replacing it with artificial grass. You’re looking forward to spending more time enjoying your garden and relaxing, but before you get to that stage there is just the matter of getting your new lawn in place.29

Here at eDecks we pride ourselves on being helpful to our customers, and as a family run business we believe in keeping things simple. To that end, if you are wondering about how to install artificial grass then you need to wonder no longer – here is our guide to getting your new lawn in place in 6 straight-forward steps.

Step 1: Preparation

The first stage in any DIY project, as you probably know, is the preparation.

Measure out the area(s) that you are going to lay down the artificial grass, ensuring that you get your measurements absolutely spot on, so you don’t end up with gaps (it’s good to measure then leave a couple of days and do it again to make sure you don’t rush and make a mistake). Then decide exactly what you want your lawn to look like: we offer lots of different options and variety, meaning you can choose everything from the exact colour of your new lawn to the thickness and length of the ‘grass’. We also offer our Cut to Size service, which will save you lots of your precious weekend by having everything cut to your specifications rather than you having to do it.

Step 2: The Digging

Once you’ve measured it all out, ordered your new grass and are waiting for its delivery you should get the area ready (although you’ll have to be quick as our delivery is famously fast!). Start by removing the old lawn, if there is any, and then dig out the soil that was underneath that. Not only will this remove all roots and other weeds, but it will give you room to add in a base layer, for a better looking lawn.

Step 3: The Base Layer

Once your area is dug out, you need to make sure there’s a firm base layer. This will ensure that your lawn is smooth and level, with no strange lumps that could damage the grass or make it uncomfortable to walk on. It will need to be compacted and flattened, so allow enough time for this and for it all to set firmly.

If you want your lawn to be even softer, you might want to consider adding in a base layer of shock pad matting to make it even more comfortable to walk on – it works the same way as the layer under your carpets.

Step 4: Laying your Lawn

If you’ve used our Cut to Size service, this next bit is easy (providing you roll it out the right way!). Start at one edge, and simply roll out the grass, ensuring that any joins are secured discreetly. For larger and thicker lawns, it’s worth remembering that your rolls of artificial grass are going to be heavy – get someone to help you, as it’s all too easy to injure yourself!

Step 5: Securing and Filling

Once your new artificial grass is rolled out, it’s time to secure it. Using Ground PINS, your lawn will be easy to secure and won’t be going anywhere. Space them out evenly around the edges and throughout your lawn to make it firmly held down, remembering to hammer them in flush to the base of the lawn so they cannot be seen.

Step 6: Enjoying!

With your new artificial lawn now in place all you have left to do is sit back and admire your handy work, or better still get the whole family together for a barbecue safe in the knowledge that your grass will not become patchy with people walking over it.

How to Install Artificial Grass – Stock Up!

Now you know how to install artificial grass, head on over to stock up on artificial grass essentials here.

How To: Cutting The Perfect Box Profile Roof Sheet

box profile roof sheet

Throughout the year we’ll be posting a number of super useful “How To” articles to help you out with some of the most common D.I.Y related questions that we come across! For this weeks’ we’re going to give you the low-down on how to cut a box profile roof sheet for the – potential – arrival of the better weather and the chance to replace any damaged roofing sheets. So now you can finally get around to putting them up!

But… how best to go about cutting what can be a tricky and cumbersome material? For us, it’s all about breaking it down into three easy pieces.

Where to do your cutting?

Although the temptation may be strong to cut in situ, we strongly advise not to as there are some very serious health and safety issues to consider, not to mention your ability to craft the perfect cut. We recommend placing your box profile roof sheet face down on a flat surface with padded supports underneath to raise it off the ground and also avoid any damage to their structure caused by unyielding supports.

What tools do you need to cut a box profile roof sheet?

When it comes to tools, the overriding rule is to use something that creates as little heat as possible to avoid damaging the coating on the sheet. For longer straight cuts, we recommend using a fine tooth metal cutting blade on your circular saw, producing a ‘cold cut’. When it comes to the niggley small cuts and openings, we would plump for a jigsaw or reciprocating saw, although the use of nibblers and angle grinders (with a small tooth blade / disc) are often used in the roofing trade.

Any other business?

And hey, you’re going to need to source out the best quality and value for money materials for the job! We’ve got you covered on this one too with our vast range of box profile sheetsscrews,eave fillers and everything else you’d need for the job!

Do you have any top tips for cutting a box profile roof sheet? Share your tips in the comments with us!

Know Your DIY: Common Types of Corrugated Roofing and their Uses

types of corrugated roofing

Image credit: https://www.ezpzroofing.com/

Whether you’re starting your very first project or you’re a seasoned hobbyist, the world of DIY can be overwhelming. It’s likely you’ll have a lot of questions, like: what’s the difference between Onduline and Coroline? What are the benefits of using a galvanised roofing sheet?

Don’t worry – we’re on hand with our handy guide to get you started. Find out more about the most common types of corrugated roofing and their uses.

Galvanised

Galvanised roofing sheets are a simple and speedy fix – offering enough flexibility to cover projects of all levels – from a DIY project to a much larger commercial job. These roofing sheets have the capacity to cover large areas dependent on the size selected and are often chosen due to their protective attributes and lightweight properties. From a cosmetic point of view, galvanised roofing sheets offer something more traditional. Galvanised roofing sheets are also considered to be very cost effective.

Onduline

Onduline is a branded bituminous corrugated roofing sheeting solution that is renowned for being extremely hard-wearing, insulating and lightweight. The base of Onduline is composed of recycled cellulose fibres, saturated in bitumen. A widely recognised and respected product by professionals around the globe, typical applications of Onduline include stables and agricultural buildings, but the roofing sheets can also be used with sheds and garages too.

Coroline

Coroline corrugated roofing is typically used as a solution by enthusiasts in lower-key DIY applications such as sheds and garages. Coroline is also often used in the building of animal houses due to its resistance to environmental factors, decent sound absorption and good insulation properties. Add into the bargain, its cost effectiveness and it’s not hard to see why it’s a popular solution amongst DIYers.

Polycarbonate

Corrugated polycarbonate roofing offers damage and impact resistance as well as excellent structural durability. These sheets are often selected as a solution in projects requiring roof or side light due to their high light transmission properties and are typically used in projects involving greenhouses, carports and even gazebos and patio canopies.

Types of Corrugated Roofing and their Uses

At eRoofs, we offer many types of corrugated roofing, so that no matter your project or your budget, you’ll never be short of the best materials. To kick off your corrugated roofing project, head on over to eRoofs now!

Dos and Don’ts: Installing Onduline Roofing

onduline roofing

Onduline roofing is a popular choice for application in both DIY and professional grade projects. With a history of over 70 years, Onduline has achieved its favoured name as the result of being subject to some serious rigorous testing and development.

What is Onduline Roofing?

For those unfamiliar, Onduline roofing is a bituminous corrugated roofing solution. The roofing sheets are composed of a single layer of organic fibres, melded with bitumen through an intensive pressure and heat process – giving the final product a highly durable finish.
Onduline roofing is often the first material of choice by enthusiasts and professionals due to its weatherproof qualities – a properly fitted sheet is expected to last for fifteen years!

Of course, if Onduline roofing isn’t applied in the correct way, then sheeting may not stand up to the test of time quite so long. We share our top tips to ensure you get the best out of your Onduline roofing purchases:

Get Your Measurements Right

Onduline roofing only comes in one length – 2m x 0.95m – so your first port of call should be to ensure that you have enough material for the job. Of course sheets can be cut, but there’s a minimum requirement for overhang (70mm at the eaves) and pitching (5 degrees.)

Ensure You Have the Right Accessories

At eRoofs, we recommend a minimum of 30 fixings per sheet – so it serves well to have a little in reserve. It’s also a good idea to use the Onduline branded fixings – these have been designed specifically for Onduline roofing applications – and they’re available in a colour to match your chosen roofing colour.

You’ll likely also want to cut your sheeting to size – for this, power tools are the preference, such as a circular saw (coarse blade.) If you don’t have an appropriate power tool to hand, then a well-oiled coarse tooth manual hand saw should do the trick.

Install Your Sheets in the Right Conditions

Bitumen by its nature is prone to softening up under high temperatures. Therefore, it’s recommended against installing bitumen on a hot summer’s day. If the temperature is approaching 35 degrees Celsius – hold off until things cool down. The likelihood is if it’s that hot in the UK, it probably won’t rain any time soon anyway!

Buying Onduline Roofing

Onduline roofing is a great solution for any DIY project. When implemented correctly, roofing can last over a decade – making it a worthy investment. To start your next roofing project, head on over to eRoofs to browse our selection of Onduline.

What are your top tips for installing Onduline roofing? Share with us in the comments below!

Get More Out of a Garden with Decking

garden with decking

We all love enjoying our garden; whether you’ve got kids that think it’s a football pitch, it’s the cat’s territory or it is planted up as your pride and joy, we all work hard on our gardens so we can have something to enjoy. Having just a lawn (or maybe an artificial lawn) can be great, but many of us could get even more out of our backyard by installing a garden with decking.

What Does Decking Do?

Decking can add beauty and functionality to a garden, and is infinitely more customisable than most people realise. Our decking range offers you almost every choice – from colour to timber type (and being a family business, we know price matters too) – so you can get decking that will fit beautifully with the rest of your garden. Having a raised decking area can help to make your garden feel bigger, and since you can make it either angular or with curves, it can really bring a new dimension to your garden.

Beauty is all well and good, but for most it is the practicality that makes decking so great. Most of us have had the corners of garden furniture sink into the grass, a barbecue down the far end of the garden so it’s level, or the garden table that starts rocking slightly when you start to eat. A garden with decking faces none of these issues as it has the sturdy, level decking exactly where you need it to be, and as an added bonus no chair leg will sink into it if you lean too far back!

A Room Outside

The long, lazy summer months are the ideal time for using decking. If you spend all day inside at work, then having a deck will mean you suddenly have an entire extra room to use. Whether it means the family can sit outside to have dinner or gives you a place to relax for a little while with the paper, having part of the garden that feels like an extra room in the house is a glorious way to spend the summer.

‘I Don’t Have the Space for a Garden with Decking!”

We hear this all the time, but actually for most people this simply isn’t true. Decking can work well in gardens of most shapes and sizes, and can often – if well designed – make better use of the space you have.

Hopefully this will help you (or perhaps a reluctant partner!) realise just how amazing garden with decking can be. If you are not yet quite sure what kind, colour, or size of decking you want, take a look at our range or look at our Decking Samples, so you can see for yourself the quality we offer.

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