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.

Timber Stain: When To Use Them On Your Decking

March 6, 2018

eDecks

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If you decide that a decking paint isn’t something you are wanting to finish off your deck look with, then it may be worth considering either a semi-transparent timber stain or a clear sealer to protect your decking. Today we shall talk you through what a timber stain can do for your deck so you can decide whether it is something you would like to use on your project.

Timber stain retains the natural beauty of the wood, as it lets the wood grain show through. Generally speaking, a stain is less slippery than a paint as it gives a flat surface that protects the timber without creating a really slippery surface. When using a timber stain, you will find it much easier to use than a paint, and it is often more forgiving if you miss a spot here and there without it being obvious. As with decking paint, stains are also available in a wide range of colours, but we do recommend you testing a small area of your wood first, as the colour of the wood can have a different effect with a stain.

Stain does tend to have a shorter life span than paint, depending on the quality and amount of coats of the stain, but this is great if you soon get bored of the same colour. You will also find that a stain is more rustic looking, and for the most part, timber stain results in a more natural looking finish. So you can see the grain through the stain, but if you are wanting to conceal it, then a darker colour stain or a paint would be your best option.

Both paint and stain can give you a decking area that lasts years longer than it would if you left it untreated and these materials make the wood less water absorbent, resulting in the wood to stay dry on the inside. They also include compounds which are designed to protect the wood from harmful UV rays, which means much less sun damage to your timber.

If you are considering leaving your wood untreated, it is worth bearing in mind that eventually the elements will wreak havoc on even the toughest of woods. With the exception of some extremely hard tropical hardwoods, you should almost always apply some sort of finish to your decking if you want it to last outside. Skipping a timber stain or paint can lead to the wood cracking, splitting, warping and even rotting before it should do, requiring lots of time and money to make repairs or replacements.

Stain or Sealer Application Tips:

When brushing the gaps between boards with a timber stain, be careful not to get much on the top surface, because each coat of stain will darken the stain colour.
Use a stain with less pigment to let more of the natural wood grain show through. Always test the stain before applying.
If you have a mix of old and new decking boards, use a stain with more pigment to make them look uniform.

In conclusion, a little bit of effort to maintain your decking can be well worth it as wood is a natural, renewable resource and some of the faster growing species are very environmentally friendly compared to synthetic materials. Using a timber stain allows your decking to not only look beautifully finished, but which will last for many years to come.

eDecks offers some of the best deals on Timber Stains 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

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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.

Anti-Slip Decking v Standard Decking

Timber Stain: When To Use Them On Your Decking

Weed Membrane: Woven v Non-Woven

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