anti slip decking Archives

Non-slip decking is a great way to make use of your garden all year round. Not only can it be customised and personalised, but it also allows you to create alluring and safe outdoor spaces. Many people choose garden decking to create functional areas for families whilst some just prefer it to a traditional garden.
Softwood and hardwood have their own individual qualities so it’s important to consider what the space will be used for when it comes to choosing the best timber for decking. We’ve compiled a comprehensive analysis of the two, to help guide your decision.

Softwood and hardwood

Hardwood timber comes from trees that are slower to mature. Oak and Beech are just two examples of hardwood trees you might find in the UK. They’re made up of a more complex structure and will lose their leaves in autumn and regrow them in the warmer months. They’re more often found in temperate countries where they will only shed occasionally.

Softwood trees are much faster growing and in great supply. They’re coniferous and retain their needles all year round. Some examples are Pine, Redwood, and Cedar.

Price difference

Price will most likely be one of the biggest deciding factors when it comes to choosing the timber for your non-slip decking. Due to its fast-growing nature, softwood is widely available meaning it has a lower price than hardwood. Hardwood’s complex structure makes it more difficult to process. When combined with how long it can take a hardwood tree to grow, you can justify the higher price.

Other pricing factors may also influence your decision. For example, softwood decking will need treating or staining. It will also depend on where you are building your garden decking and on what type of surface. Will you need to prepare your ground? There are extra costs to consider but, ultimately, adding non-slip decking to your home can add value to a property.

Durability and ease of maintenance

In terms of their durability, softwoods are generally less dense which makes them more susceptible to moisture and rot. However, if the wood is treated and sealed before the decking installation, you can improve its resistance to bad weather. Bear in mind that softwood decking will need annual maintenance to ensure it keeps its look and durability. Most softwood timber decking boards will have a 15-to-20-year lifespan.

Whilst hardwood decking boards require less maintenance than their softwood counterparts, it’s still advisable to do so. Softwood or hardwood decking boards are still timber. This natural material is likely to weather and age naturally, so staining, oiling, and cleaning your deck as needed will help to keep it looking fresh.

Hardwood decking is known for its longevity. Woods like Yellow Balau and Cumaru are renowned for their water resistance and their stability and can last for up to 50 years. For the most part, it can be left alone and will uphold its robustness. The average life span for a piece of hardwood decking is from 30 to 50 years.

Look and feel

Look will no doubt be a priority when choosing the best non-slip decking. A garden is an extension of a person’s home. So, the look and feel of it needs to reflect that. As well as coming in a variety of different shapes, sizes, and heights, the wood you choose will have the most noticeable difference.

Hardwood decking is more comparable to having an indoor floor outside. It’s typically smoother due to its more complex structure. The shades tend to be dark with a much warmer tone. These can be anything from a brown tone to a darker, golden brown. Hardwood decking is also unlikely to need staining unless you’re after a different look for your garden.

Softwoods are typically a much lighter shade of timber decking. When treated it has a pale green tinge to the wood. Just like a tan, after a few weeks outdoors, it will turn more golden. If you choose to use a stain, then you can make the wood much darker, even closer to a hardwood shade. With softwood, you have more options to customise it.

When you should use each

It’s good to think about what you will be using your garden for when considering the best timber for decking. Will it be exposed to the elements? Will it be a high-traffic area? For example, if you have a swimming pool or a hot tub, hardwood generally has better moisture resistance.

How heavily will your deck be used? For the average household, softwood decking is perfectly suitable and durable for an average amount of use. If your deck will need to withstand heavy foot traffic and will see lots of use, then consider hardwood.

Looking for the best deals on decking?

Check out our amazing deals here on the eDecks website!

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At eDecks you can not only expect a good deal but also:

Superfast FREE delivery on orders over £150*

48 hour delivery on many products

Handy FREE installation guides (and even instructional videos!)

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

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.

Non-slip decking: What is the best wood to use?