Category: Garden DIY

With Spring hopefully not too far away now, it is the perfect time to start planning some outdoor blooms to create your very own outdoor oasis, whatever your personal taste. Here at eDecks, we not only sell the usual tools and materials you may find from other DIY companies, but a wide range of planters to fit all gardens of all shapes and sizes.

Our Elite Hexagonal Planter is available in Medium (£31.19) and Large (£41.59) and is a heavy duty planter which has been create using smooth timbers. Our planters are pressure treated against rot and are delivered to you pre-assembled, therefore perfect for starting the job this weekend! Our heavy duty planters are also available in an Elite Square shape (£36.39) which you will be able to fill with your favourite flowers or even herbs and plants.

This simple yet sophisticated Wooden Garden Planter Box (£51.99) is slightly raised and has been handcrafted by skilled craftsmen. Using only solid, durable materials that have been carefully selected to stand all outdoor weather conditions as well as being pressure treated to prevent rot and decay, this Wooden Garden Planter Box will be a delightful vision whilst relaxing in your garden.

The Bella Rosa Planter (£29.99) is an elegant trellis and trough planter which is ideal for small spaces in your garden or yard. The trellis makes it perfect for climbing plants, growing plants or herbs and it is made from FSC mixed source timber and pressure treated green for a longer life. The base of the planter has small feet so that the trough is slightly raised and it is to be self-assembled but comes with full instructions and a hardware pack. This is also available as the Rosa Planter (£48.79) which is a larger version of this pretty garden feature.

The Elite Planter Nest (£72.79) consists of one large and one medium planter, which are heavy duty planters made from selected smooth timbers. The material used to create these neat yet stylish planters is pressure treated to prevent rot and decay giving you a perfect base to add some colourful flowers to your garden.

The Corner Planter (£45) is the option to go for when you are wanting more of a garden feature to house your plants, flowers and herbs. This fabulous planter allows you to plant several levels of flowers, plants or herbs, providing opportunity for a varied display and a greater chance for creativity to add height and depth to your garden planting scheme. The Corner Planter has been manufactured from planed timber which has been pressure treated which will help prolong the life of it.

Another stylish feature planter is the Herb Wheel Planter (£48.06). This delightful herb wheel is designed to join together with interlocking timber logs to form a hexagonal wheel with six sections in which to cultivate your herbs, or of course this can also be used for flowers and plants. As with all eDecks products, you know you will receive a planter made from a high quality timber.

If something more modern is to your taste, then we recommend the Elite Tapered Planter (£49.39). This planter is made from high quality, smooth planed timber that has been pressure treated for a longer life, and crafted into an eye-catching shape that look great by your front door, on the patio or your decking area. The planter is delivered to you fully assembled, complete with a liner so all you need to do is choose what you are going to plant.

If you are wanting to update your garden on a budget, we also offer a Small (£10.39) and Large (£17.46) Treated Garden Planter. These are made on a budget using our discount decking timber but are still pressure treated to help protect the wood from rot and decay. They will still be able to add charm to your garden once filled with beautiful Spring and Summer flowers.

Last, but certainly not least, we have the stunning Raised Corner Planter (£119.59), which is certainly going to add a feature piece to your very own oasis. At three feet high, the three individual compartments of this planter are easy to tend and can be very productive. Whether you are growing vegetables or decorative plants, sowing and weeding herbs, flowers and salad leaves, it is super simple with this planter. The Raised Corner Planter has been made using pressure treated timber to ensure it is long lasting and resistant to decay and perfectly complements the ergonomic design.

eDecks offers some of the best deals on Planters around, including all of the installation supplies and tools you may need. Not only do we provide plenty of unbeatable deals but also:

Super-fast FREE delivery on orders over £100*

48 Hour Delivery on many products

Handy FREE installation guides and instructional videos

Anti-Slip Decking v Standard Decking

March 8, 2018

eDecks

decking Decking Accessories Decking Advice diy Garden DIY 1 Comment

Decking is an attractive and useful upgrade to any garden, as well as helping you to avoid the upkeep of mowing the lawn. But with so many options out there, it can be difficult to choose the kind of decking which is best for yourself and your garden, so eDecks are here to help you decide between anti-slip decking and standard decking. The main types of decking materials that you will find will be softwood, hardwood, composite and anti-slip.

Softwood decking comes from fast growing trees such as pine, which is quickly replaceable. This then makes this decking material the cheapest option, but it is weaker than a hardwood or composite decking.

Things to know about Softwood Decking;

The cheapest decking material
Easy to install
Requires the most maintenance (cleaning and treating with oils is recommended for longevity)
Lasts up to 25 years when well maintained
Colour and finish is easily changed

Hardwood decking comes from slower growing trees such as oak, which can be far rarer and therefore are often the most expensive decking option. Hardwoods can pay off though – not only are they more aesthetically pleasing but they usually last longer than softwood and require much less maintenance.

Things to know about Hardwood Decking;

The most expensive material
Harder to work with (but eDecks provides plenty of guidance and support)
Requires much less maintenance than softwood
Can last for over 50 years
Can look the most impressive

If you live in a particularly wet part of the UK, or you’re planning on adding a high-risk slip area to your deck, such as a hot tub, you may want to consider how you will make your deck safer to use. Anti-slip decking is a perfect solution for this, or whether you have young children, or are simply unsteady on your feet.

If you know your deck is likely to face a great deal of water and heavy foot traffic, getting full anti-slip boards may be your safest option. Full anti-slip boards feature large inserts that cover the majority of the board with a rubbery material that is not only waterproof but more importantly – slip resistant. This means that you will still be able to walk across your decking safely, even when covered in large puddles of water.

These are the best decking boards you can get to avoid accidents and will have the best grip, so if you are looking for a very safe deck or if you are decking an area near a pool or hot tub, we would highly recommend using these boards. Anti-slip strips aren’t always to everyone’s taste aesthetically, but you can get them in a variety of different colours to suit your deck – there are even grass look decking boards if that is something you feel would fit your garden.

If your decking isn’t used as a splash deck, but will still be exposed to water, you could invest in some anti-slip decking with built-in anti-slip strips. These decking boards look very chic and the anti-slip strips are probably the least noticeable of any option – so if you’re wanting a good looking wooden deck, but with the extra safety of anti-slip features, these are the boards for you.

Made with thin anti-slip strips of material made of resin and aggregate, each line of anti-slip material can easily be mistaken for a shadowed groove instead of a safety feature. Because of the incredibly professional finish, these can be a popular but more expensive option, however, we would always recommend speaking to one of our friendly yet professional sales team before being put off by price as we always offer incredible decking on many types of decking. You can even buy samples of all decking options to ensure you pick the best product for you and your deck.

To conclude, anti-slip boards will last the same amount of time and need the same treatment as standard softwood decking boards and this goes for the hardwood option too. Hardwood decking and anti-slip hardwood decking will last the same amount of time as each other and will also require the same treatments. The only difference between Softwood, Hardwood and Anti-Slip Decking boards is the fact that they have the grit inserts running through the boards and will be a lot more comfortable under foot than your normal decking.

eDecks offers some of the best deals on Anti-Slip and Standard Decking around, including all of the installation supplies and tools you may need. Not only do we provide plenty of unbeatable deals but also:

Super-fast FREE delivery on orders over £100*

48 Hour Delivery on many products

Handy FREE installation guides and instructional videos

*Free delivery applies to most of the UK, but some areas may incur a charge. Please check the eDecks website for more details.

Weed Membrane: Woven v Non-Woven

March 1, 2018

eDecks

Decking Advice diy Garden DIY gardening Gardening Advice gardens 3 Comments

Creating your perfect garden landscape can be hard work, but there are products out there that work all by themselves to make your life so much easier! Weed membrane fabrics are making a huge difference to modern gardens by stabilising the ground, improving drainage and filtration, separating aggregates and spreading imposed loads. Ensuring you choose the right weed membrane fabric for your project means understanding the differences between them – a key one being whether they are woven or non-woven.

Woven Weed Membrane fabric is made by weaving polypropylene tapes together. Using this crisscross pattern makes the fabric super-strong but limits its drainage capabilities compared with the non-woven variety. The strength and hard-wearing qualities of woven weed membrane give it a high tensile strength, making it suitable for use under patios, paths, parking areas and for other applications where a high strength but economical membrane is essential.

Although Non-Woven Weed Membrane has a lower tensile strength than the woven type, it still offers great strength, durability and excellent drainage properties. Non-woven weed membrane is a felt-like fabric made by thermally bonding polypropylene or a mixture of polypropylene and polyester fibres and then finishing using needle punching, calendaring and other methods. This type of fabric is easier to cut, has a high water permeability rate and does not lose strength over time, in the same way as the woven fabric does, when used below ground. This makes it ideal for use beneath driveways and roads and in land and storm water drainage systems, where long-term ground stabilisation and filtration is required.

Woven or non-woven weed membrane can be a gardener’s best friend and whether you are looking for ground stabilisation, separation of sub-base layers, aggregates and other materials, or drainage and filtration, there is now a fabric that is right for the job.

eDecks offers three different types of Woven Weed Membrane, including a Standard strength, Heavy Duty and Super Heavy Duty. Whether it is under your deck, paving, driveway or planting area, weed membrane will prevent nasty weeds coming through. As well as reducing garden maintenance, weed membrane allows water and nutrients to penetrate the soil.

eDecks offers some of the best deals on Weed Membrane around, including all of the installation supplies and tools you may need. Not only do we provide plenty of unbeatable deals but also:

Super-fast FREE delivery on orders over £100*

48 Hour Delivery on many products

Handy FREE installation guides and instructional videos

*Free delivery applies to most of the UK, but some areas may incur a charge. Please check the eDecks website for more details.

Fencing: A Guide to Overlap and Vertilap Fence Panels

February 27, 2018

eDecks

diy Fencing Garden Design Ideas Garden DIY gardening Gardening Advice gardens 5 Comments

Fencing is a good option for adding privacy and security to your garden and with Spring on its way, it’s a good time to stop and take stock of your garden plans for the seasons ahead. Dependent upon budget, purpose and size, the variety of fence panels available is plentiful and choosing the right fit for your garden can be a struggle, however, here at eDecks we like to make things as simple as possible for our customers, and we will equip you with the knowledge you need to make a decision on what works best for you.

Overlap Arch

Vertilap Arch

If you would prefer a heavier duty fence panel, then vertilap fencing is the best way to go. The design means that each wooden board covers part of the next and so allows no light through yet creates a very private fencing area, as well as adding strength to the fencing panel. The added strength is excellent for security, but also helps if you or your neighbours has pets, so that they stay on the correct side of the fence. They are available in both vertical and horizontal overlaps, some boasting heavy duty boards and even made to measure.

Overlap

Vertilap

If you are on a budget, overlap fence panels are a common and wallet-friendly solution. Whilst these panels are not quite as strong as alternatives such as vertical lap panels, they are super easy to install, as well as being inexpensive whilst still providing your garden with privacy. With our handy guide below you can install your very own garden fencing area!

1: Ask the Neighbours – Every new fencing project should begin with consulting your neighbours; this has as much to do with keeping good relations as it does practicality as constructing a new fence is always easier to do if you have access to it at both sides.
2: Pick a Type – It is important to find the right type of fencing for your garden, and here at eDecks we offer a wide range to choose from so it is worth considering what you are wanting from your fence before making a decision. Overlap fence panels are constructed from overlapping horizontal boards and offer high levels of privacy at a very good price, with heavy duty vertilap being the strongest fence panels, offering a perimeter fencing that is very sturdy with a high privacy level. To calculate how many fence panels to buy, start by measuring the area that you want to cover. Since fence panels are usually 6ft wide, you need to divide the length of ground by six to calculate how many panels you will need. For example, an area of 30ft would require 5 panels.
3: Post It – With your fence panel designs taken care of, it is time to then get started installing the fence posts. Steel fence posts are by far the more sturdy option in comparison to wooden fence posts, but they do require more effort to put up. Timber posts on the other hand, are relatively easy to erect so they’re perfect if this is your first time building a fence. If you are using timber posts, we do recommend extending their lifespan by using a wood preserver of your choice.
4: Supporting Cast – Next up, you will need to set the posts in using concrete or steel fence supports to keep them in place. Both methods are good options for securing your posts in the ground, although if you choose to set your posts in concrete, you will require longer fence posts. For a six foot high fence, you will need eight foot long posts, as they will need to be buried at least two feet deep. If you are using steel supports, then these can be the same as the fence panel length.
5: Let’s Prep – Begin preparation by marking the line your fence will follow with string, attaching it to posts along the boundary line. Any climbing plants or dense grass should also be cut away to allow easy access to the area.
6: Diggin’ It – If you are using wooden posts, make sure the holes are at least two feet deep; any shallower and your fence will become wobbly during strong winds. Using your boundary string line as a guide, dig holes at both ends of the line, aiming for holes that are three times wider than the width of the posts. For example, if your post is 4x4inches, dig a hole 12x12inches wide. This will ensure the concrete foundation will be sturdy enough to secure your posts. Mark an 8ft scrap of timber two feet above the bottom to make sure that the depth of the holes are correct and if the mark lines up with the ground, your postholes are deep enough. If you are using steel fence supports, place a piece of scrap timber into the support and hammer that into the ground until the top of the steel support is level with the ground.
7: Set in their Ways – If you are using steel supports, you will not need to worry about securing your posts in the ground, but if you are using wooden posts, you will need to set concrete around them to hold them in place. Once the first and last postholes are ready, position your post and ask a friend to hold it in place. You can mix your own concrete if you prefer, but a 1kg Postcrete mix will work just as well. The Postcrete mix will set in just a few minutes so ensure that your posts are straight using a spirit level. Slope the concrete away from the post using a trowel to get the water to run away from the base of your posts. Next, attach a new line of string on the top of your bookending posts to make sure the other posts line up correctly all along the boundary. You can also use this line to quickly check that the heights of your posts are correct too. With the line in place, you are then ready to continue digging the other holes if you haven’t already done so. Measure out and mark the position of the holes by placing the fence panels against the first post.
8: Putting up the Panels – Now that the posts are in place, nail the post clips to the fence post first and then onto the fence panel. Two or three U-shaped clips per post will be enough to hold the panel in place. Keep the base of your panels from rotting and installing gravel boards. You can protect the top of your posts by using a decorative post cap. Prevent the cap from splitting by drilling a hole into the cap before you attach it to the post.

Overlap

Vertilap

eDecks offers some of the best deals on maintenance-free Overlap and Vertilap Fence Panels around, including all of the installation supplies and tools you may need. Not only do we provide plenty of unbeatable deals but also:

Super-fast FREE delivery on orders over £100*

Handy FREE installation guides.

*Free delivery applies to most of the UK, but some areas may incur a charge. Please check the eDecks website for more details.

10 Year Guarantee against rotting! *Provided all products have been fitted and maintained to the manufacturer’s recommendations. *

Caring for Hardwood Decking

January 31, 2018

eDecks

decking Decking Advice diy Garden DIY 1 Comment

Hardwood decking can be costly, and you will have invested both time and money to deck a part of your garden to create your perfect haven. However, it is also important to maintain and clean your hardwood decking so you can enjoy it for many years to come, getting the most from your investment. As well as looking good, a clean deck is also much safer too, especially in the cold, wet winter months, as keeping your decking clean will prevent it from becoming slippery over time.

Balau decking is one of the most popular hardwood decking boards sold on the market to date. We currently offer yellow balau decking, which is very light in colour, kind of like a milky chocolate shade which fits in well with most gardens and colour schemes. Balau is a type 2 decking which means that it has a life span of between 20-30 years depending on the treatment of the decking.

We recommend oiling your decking boards as soon as they are laid, and then once every 12 months going forward. Ronseal Ultimate Decking Oil is what we recommend you use, as it is a highly adhesive product which makes it more durable to protect the boards, but most other oil-based treatments will help to protect your decking boards as well as keeping them looking their best.

Step by Step Guide on Caring for Hardwood Decking;

Clear the decked area. Ensure your decking surface is free of all obstacles so you can concentrate on cleaning rather than moving furniture around. Avoid dragging furniture along the boards.

Always test your cleaning method on a small, unnoticeable area before applying it across the entire deck.
Brush the deck thoroughly twice a year. Use a stiff broom to give the timber a thorough brush twice a year, followed by a jet wash using a pressure washer if at all possible.

To clean your decked surface on a budget, use warm water and soda crystals. Spray warm water over the decking and sprinkle with soda crystals; leave for a few hours and once dry brush using a stiff broom.
Clean using dedicated cleaners. There are a number of chemical cleaners available which will clean and rejuvenate your timber. Try and find a chemical specifically designed for your type of timber. Normally these chemicals are highly concentrated, so depending on the size of the area, you won’t have to replenish this very often at all.

Another option when taking care of your hardwood decking is to upgrade to Anti-Slip Decking Strips, which will benefit both yourself, your family and your decking. The Anti-Slip process utilises a specially formulated and highly durable combination of resin and aggregate which is professionally inserted into the machined grooves of the timber decking. These are supplied to you, ready to lay with unbeatable anti-slip properties, giving you an excellent and safe finish without the hard work.

When it comes to laying your boards, there are two options – Invisible eFix Hardwood Balau Plugs and SPAX. Balau Plugs are wooden plugs which are used when laying your decking boards to give a stunning and blemish free finish. They are perfect for hiding fixings or screw heads on all types of Balau Decking.

SPAX are concealed connector sticks which ensures a flawless visual impression which is simple and reliable to assemble. The high mechanical strength of SPAX gives the decking board high stability and crushing of the structure is practically impossible due to the large contact surface of the SPAX sticks.

eDecks offers some of the best deals on Hardwood Decking around, including all of the installation supplies and tools you may need. Not only do we provide plenty of unbeatable deals but also:

Super-fast FREE delivery on orders over £100*

Handy FREE installation guides.

*Free delivery applies to most of the UK, but some areas may incur a charge. Please check the eDecks website for more details.

Planters: Adorn Your Garden with Flowers, Plants & Herbs

Anti-Slip Decking v Standard Decking

Weed Membrane: Woven v Non-Woven

Fencing: A Guide to Overlap and Vertilap Fence Panels

Caring for Hardwood Decking

Navigation