Category: Decking Advice

Know Your DIY: The Essential Guide to Types of Timber

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types of timber

Do you know your softwood timber from your hardwood? What exactly is the difference between treated and untreated planed timbers? For any newbie starting out on their first DIY project, getting your head around all the terminology associated with types of timber can be very confusing!

Thankfully, we’re on hand here at eDecks to give you the lowdown on everything you need to know about timber.

Getting to Grips with Types of Timber

The types of timber you choose will be largely dependent on the project itself, regardless of whether you’re erecting a fence or laying down some brand new decking. For those on a budget, softwood timber is the preference due to the cheap price point. However, all softwood timber should be pressure treated with a wood preservative, not only to extend the life of the material itself, but also to abide by UK government regulations.

Whilst harder to work with, and a bit more expensive, hardwood timber is a popular choice thanks to its durability and rich colour. For projects that require materials than can stand up against heavy use, hardwood timber is the recommended choice.

To Treat or Not To Treat?

Much like weighing up whether to use hardwood or softwood timber, the choice to opt for treated or untreated comes down to the individual project.

Untreated timber defines itself through the lack of preservatives and chemicals added, making it a fairly “natural” solution. In contrast, treated timber is doused with chemicals and preservatives to greatly extend the life of the material and protect against rot, wear and pesky creepy crawlies.

Choosing treated timber may seem like a no-brainer, but some DIY enthusiasts choose to opt for untreated timber due to the cheaper price point, as well as concerns about health and the hazardous preservatives (albeit considerably less toxic than previously manufactured) used to make treated wood.

In short, for activities that handle an outdoor purpose, or come frequently into contact with insects, treated timber is the recommended material. However, for projects with the end goal involving food or people, such as a desk or dining table, untreated timber may be better placed.

All Sawn Up!

Looking to wrap up a project sharpish, on the cheap? Don’t be lured in by lower prices – rough sawn timber is only for the hard-core DIY enthusiasts! But if you love crafting your project from start to finish, rough sawn timber may be perfect for you as it offers greater control. Rough sawn timber will need to be planed and dried before being used in a project. Expect the rough sawn timber to arrive slightly larger than finished timber as it will shrink down during the planning and drying process.

Timber Supplies at eDecks

At eDecks, we offer a vast range of types of timbers at wallet-friendly price points to suit projects of all levels. If you’re still not sure which timber to use for your project, simply get in touch with our friendly team on 0844 474 4444 and they’ll be more than happy to advise! Ready to get cracking? Head on over to our timber bestsellers to snap up a bargain now!

How to Apply a Decking Stain like a Pro

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decking stain

Is your decking looking a little tired? Applying a fresh coat of a decking stain can breathe life into old boards – and is much more cost effective than replacing your deck altogether. But for any newcomer to DIY, with so much room for error, applying a decking stain can feel like a daunting task.

Do not fear – we are here to share our top tips on how to apply a decking stain like a pro!

Sample Your Stain

Getting the right finish and feel for your deck begins with choosing the correct stain. Consider your surrounding décor and choose a colour that compliments your household exterior well. For instance, if your home is built up on a red brick theme, contrast your deck with a blue hue.

Another top tip is to consider the wood of your deck. Each wood will have its own hue – stick to the natural tones to bring out the underlying colour, or alternatively opt for an opaque stain to negate the undertones.

Once you’ve selected a few stains you think fit the bill, gather some samples to try out on an inconspicuous part of your decking. How your stain appears on the tin may be very different to how it dries on your own boards.

Scrub Up

The key to getting the best out of your decking stain project is to prepare your canvas. If your deck has been subject to a build-up of old stains, use of a deck stripper will be necessary to create an even and smooth foundation.

For decks that have simply weathered with age, a good scrub is required to remove any mould, mildew and dirt.  A pressure washer can be effective in helping to quickly remove any build up, but be sure to leave the deck to dry through completely before cracking out your new stain.

Not All Stains are Made Equal

After all the hard work of scrubbing up and sampling your new stain, it can be tempting just to grab a paintbrush and get stuck into revamping your decking, but before you do so, be sure to study the accompanying instructions that come with your decking stain.

Depending on the brand or type of decking stain you choose, application may vary – some stains may require several applications, or other types may only be compatible to a softwood deck.

It’s far less of a headache to check through the instructions of your decking stain than it is to repeat the stripping and cleaning process all over again!

Add a Little Elbow Grease

For those that are time-strapped, a garden sprayer or roller are both popular tools to use to apply a stain quickly. However, due to the porous nature of wooden decking, this isn’t always the most effective application, so using some good ole’ elbow grease and a paintbrush will help to work your stain into the grooves of the wood.

A combination of all three tools is absolutely fine, as long as your boards are given the once over afterwards with a paintbrush.

A cautionary tip: when applying your stain, repeat the mantra “less is more.” Applying too much stain to wooden decking can result in some very unsightly peeling once dry.

If your decking is struggling to absorb your stain, then consider using a lighter hand.

Top Tips for Applying Decking Stain

What are your top tips for applying decking stain? Do you have a preferred set of tools for the job? Share your experiences with us in the comments!

5 Top Tips for Building a Wooden Deck

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building a wooden deck

Building a wooden deck is an ambitious project for even the most avid DIY fan. However, knowledge is power and armed with the right tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to crafting up your very own deck.

Ready to take the plunge? Here are our 5 top tips for building a wooden deck

 

Consider Your Decking Materials

Building a wooden deck is a great way to encourage more time spent in the garden. But, depending on the materials you pick, this could mean much longer than you really want due to maintenance and up keep.

If time is a major factor for you, then look to a hybrid material such as composite decking. Composite decking is partially made of plastic, meaning it will last out against the elements, but retain all the beauty of wooden decking for many years.

Similar to composite decking, hardwood decking is growing in popularity due to its long lifespan and aesthetic appearance. Hardwood decking does tend to be more expensive, but there’s always an absolute bargain suited to your budget waiting to be snapped up at eDecks!

 

Level Up

Struggling to make things fit in your garden? Think you’re limited to decking options because your backyard is on a slope? Think again. Adding a level or two is a great way to make the most of your available garden space and helps to break up long unsightly staircases.

Building a wooden deck on a slope has its challenges, so be sure to swot up on best practice and safety guidelines before tackling your next big project.

 

Style Up with Rails

For some decking, railings may be a mandatory safety requirement, but for others who don’t have this limitation, railings can also help to decorate your deck. Even if your decking is made of wood, alternative materials such as metal, glass or even cabling can be used to spruce up your decking.

Looking to add interest beyond a standard set? Why not use lattice to add interest make your decking rails a feature point?

 

Customise Your Colours

When designing your own deck, taking into account the look of your house and garden is key. Often when building a wooden deck, it can be too easy to get caught up in the final decorative touches, but don’t forget to stop and take stock of your core materials. Will your wooden decking boards match up with the rest of your theme?

Anxious they won’t match? Don’t worry – that’s what decking stains were made for! If you’re not sure which shade of wooden decking to opt for, pick the lighter of the options. This way, you can always adjust the colour of the wood gradually – and it’s always easier to go from light to dark than the other way about.

 

Let Your Deck Bloom

Want to hide unsightly screw-heads? Perhaps you’ve used a few reject decking boards that stick out a little too much compared to the rest of your deck? Accessorising your deck with leafy plants and flowers is a great way to inject personality whilst hiding any minor nicks or flaws created in the process of building a wooden deck.

 

Building a Wooden Deck – eDecks

Ready to get cracking on your next project and begin building a wooden deck? Head on over to see the decking on offer at eDecks now! Not sure where to begin or even what materials you’ll need? Don’t worry – our super helpful sales team are on hand to help you design your project – just give them a call on 0844 474 4444.

Top Tips to Help You Design Your Own Deck

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design your own deck

What separates a good deck from a great deck? Forward-thinking design. If you’re gearing up to start your own decking DIY project, then you’re in luck! Join us as we share our top tips to help you design your own deck!

Gather Inspiration

You may already have a rough idea of what you want your deck to look like, but ordering a load of materials and diving straight in isn’t the best approach. Instead take the time to gather inspiration and consider what sort of decking fits in with your garden and home.

Social DIY havens such as Pinterest are a great place to begin gathering inspiration. Create a mood-board of your ideal decking and collate ideas into different collections. As you gather more and more photos of decking, you’ll be able to identify common themes and establish quickly the sort of materials you’ll need to craft your vision.

Put It onto Paper

Once you’ve taken the time to curate your own decking mood-boards, the next step should be to compare your inspiration to your garden. Be realistic and compare the scale of your inspiration decking to what is viable for your garden – going too big will dwarf your garden, and going too small will look out of proportion.

Begin “brain-dumping” your ideas onto paper – draw sketches of your garden to help you establish the optimum size of decking for your backyard.

Consider Limitations and Features

When planning to design your own deck, be sure to factor in considerations such as the time, budget and manpower available to assemble your decking.

Not sure where to begin? A brilliant place to start is with our customer projects – all of which detail the cost, number of people required to build, length of time to complete and even the very materials used!

Also consider safety requirements and ask questions like: will the deck attached to the house comply with building regulations? Will the decking require security railings? How will the changes in level be handled? Will there be any additional features to enhance the aesthetic?

Design Your Own Deck with eDecks

Designing your own deck can seem a tad overwhelming. If you’re feeling a bit out of your depth, our super-friendly eDecks Sales Team are only a phone call away and would be delighted to give a helping hand! Get the ball rolling and give them a call on 0844 474 4444!

Already prepared with your decking design? Head on over to explore our cheap decking supplies to crack on with your project here.

Are you planning to design your own deck? Or do you already have a plan in place? Share your top tips with us in the comments below!

Get More Out of a Garden with Decking

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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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