How to Upcycle Garden Furniture

Garden DIY gardening Gardening Advice 2 Comments

When the darker nights draw in and the weather gets colder, it’s easy to forget about our once-beloved garden furniture. They become home to spiders and bugs, fade away with the harsh weather and become unused. We’re here to help you rescue your furnishings, breathe a new lease of life into your garden again and get ready for the warmer weather!

Embrace the natural wood

If your garden furnishings are wood, why not embrace their natural beauty? By using a wood preserver you can nourish the wood whilst adding a natural colour, which will match the natural feel of your garden. Perhaps you want to give your shed a new lease of life whilst in the DIY spirit? Shed and fence preserver allows you to match your newly renovated furniture to your garden buildings!

Natural wood preserves are perfect if your wooden garden furniture is in need of some extra TLC and the colour will last years so you don’t have to keep doing it every summer. You’ll also be able to enjoy your garden as soon as the warm weather returns!

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Give your furniture a new life

Why not go bright and bold? We carry a wide range of colourful furniture paint that can bring your garden furniture to life. Adding a pop of colour can turn furnishings into the focal point of your outdoor area. If you’re also short on space it can add a playful touch and brighten up even the smallest of gardens!

If your garden is filled with greenery, it’s a good idea to match your furniture to its prominent colours. By doing this, you highlight the natural beauty of your plants. Why not try one of our bright greens to go alongside bright artificial grass or a neutral grey to match a decking stain or a neutral interior, bringing the inside outside?

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Cheat the system

Looking to cut the painting job in half? You can take a shortcut by draping a tablecloth across a tired old table or some brand-new chair cushions can help to transform your furniture from shabby to chic and hide all your sins (just make sure you don’t leave them out in the rain!)

Don’t want to DIY or upcycle? You can always cheat by shopping our great range of garden furniture here at eDecks. We offer beautiful, natural furnishings like garden benches, picnic tables and contemporary dining sets. If you’re inspired to go colourful though, you can always shop for our colourful paints and stains alongside garden furnishings.

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Looking for the best deals on upcycling materials?

Check out our amazing deals here on the eDecks website!

We also offer plenty of support and expert advice for most projects – and any products we sell online. Contact eDecks here for personalised advice for your project today.

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.

Preparing Your Ground for Installing Decking

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Apart from our high quality, people choose eDecks because laying our decking is simple and can easily be installed at home. Before the installation can begin, however, there is one very important first step to get right. Preparing the ground for decking. You need a strong and sturdy base upon which to start installing your deck boards. How you prepare the ground will depend on the surface upon which it sits and whether you want ground-level or elevated decking. Here are some of our tips for preparing your ground space for garden decking installation.

Lay the groundwork

If you are working with grass or soil as opposed to a more solid surface, it doesn’t necessarily mean groundwork needs to take place, but some light work will be needed. Regardless of whether you’re having elevated or ground-level decking, be sure to clear all the debris from the area before installing decking. Anything that would live underneath the foundations whether it be flowers or weeds needs to be cleared.

Of course, if you consider yourself an adequate landscaper and you’d like to level the ground yourself, that is one way to ensure sturdy, balanced patio decking. Before starting any digging, it’s advisable to rent a cable avoidance tool (CAT) to check for pipes or cables in the area you’re leveling.

Whilst eDecks’ decking can be laid flush to the ground, we also recommend the use of our adjustable risers and deck raising kits as they can be laid onto uneven ground without having to perform strenuous groundwork.

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Remember the membrane

If you’re building upon soil or grass instead of concrete, then it’s a good idea to install a membrane underneath your deck first. This helps to prevent weeds from springing but still allows water to permeate back into the ground.

Give any existing weeds a spray with weed killer before you put down the membrane. It can also be a good idea to place a layer of gravel above the membrane to really prevent them from growing after installing decking.

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Pest control

Decking can be just as much of an attraction to pests as it can be for humans. If your decking is surrounded by lots of overgrown hedgerows and uncut grass, then this can be a real magnet for attracting wildlife. So, if you want to keep pests away then it can help to keep on top of garden maintenance.
Wooden decking can also fall foul to things like woodworm. However, if you seal your wood then it will not only sustain your decking in harsh weather, but it also protects from rot, decay, and fungi.

Cleaning your decking properly as well as cutting your boards in a way that forms a neat finish with no gaps for pests to sneak in can all help with pest control.

While there is plenty of work that goes into preparing your ground space for installing decking, taking the time and care to do so will really make all the difference to the result.

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Looking for the best deals on decking?

Check out our amazing deals here on the eDecks website!

We also offer plenty of support and expert advice for most projects – and any products we sell online. Contact eDecks here for personalised advice for your project today.

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.

How to revive your decking in four easy steps

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It’s incredibly important to keep on top of your decking maintenance. You’ve spent a good deal of time and money on your deck, but it’s starting to show its age, or maybe you’ve fallen behind with maintenance. Whatever your reason for wanting to revive your decking, there are plenty of ways you can do it yourself without having to pay for expensive contractors (or even hiring one at all!). Here are four easy steps that will help restore the smoothness of your once-perfect decking:

What you’ll need:

1. Clear the decking

To begin, you need a completely clear decking space so you can thoroughly clean it, remove any furniture blocking access to the wood. Grab your tough brush and give the decking a good sweep to dislodge any dirt. Don’t worry if the brush doesn’t clear any tough dirt, the cleaner will loosen those up!

Your decking should be completely clear and all loose debris swept away.

2. Clean the area

Before you power ahead, read the instructions on the back of the packet of your chosen cleaner. Some cleaners don’t need water and can be poured directly onto your decking.

Pour your decking cleaner over the decking and immediately scrub it into the surface then leave it for 15 minutes to soak in. We used Ronseal Decking Cleaner as it removes dirt, grease, fungus, stains, algae, and mildew and saves you the hassle of heavy scrubbing.

Ensure the decking cleaner is thoroughly scrubbed in.

Once 15 minutes have passed, grab your pressure washer or hose and thoroughly wash your decking. Enjoy watching all the dirt buildup wash away and seeing your decking slowly revive!

Use your hose or power washer to wash away the dirt!

3. Stain your decking

Whilst this step is optional, we do recommend staining or treating your decking with an oil. We used a Cuprinol Anti-slip Deck Stain which colours your deck with a tough, durable water-repellent protective coat that resists cracking and peeling caused by weather. For Cuprinol, apply 2-3 coats evenly along the grain, avoiding overlaps, and allow each coat to dry fully before recoating. The stain should dry within 2-6 hours, depending on the nature of the surface and the weather conditions.

Cuprinol Anti-slip Decking Stain with invisible anti-slip microbeads gives a semi-transparent, matt finish that will revive your decking!

4. Enjoy your perfect decking!

After all that hard work, enjoy how perfect your clean decking looks! It’s now ready for warmer weather, BBQs, and plenty of footfall.

Recreate this beautiful softwood decking using our individual boards and rope handrails!

Looking for the best deals on decking?

Check out our amazing deals here on the eDecks website!

We also offer plenty of support and expert advice for most projects – and any products we sell online. Contact eDecks here for personalised advice for your project today.

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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Shop softwood decking

Looking for the best deals on decking?

Check out our amazing deals here on the eDecks website!

We also offer plenty of support and expert advice for most projects – and any products we sell online. Contact eDecks here for personalised advice for your project today.

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.

Make The Most of Your Decking in the Autumn Evenings

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Darker and cooler autumnal evenings need not put you off using your decking – making the most of your garden decking into the evening to create an extension of your home.

As we head into autumn, the days are getting shorter. Making comfortable additions to your decking area will encourage you to spend more time outside, even as it gets darker or colder, whether it’s investing in garden furniture or non-slip decking. Here’s how to make the most of your garden decking in the autumn evenings.

Maintenance

The most important part of being able to make the most of your decking, particularly in the colder months, is maintenance. Over the summer, most garden decking sees heavy use. While you should maintain your deck throughout the warmer months, it’s even more important to do so during winter. When the deck gets wet and cold, a build-up of moss or algae can line the surface.

While eDecks’ non-slip decking is very low maintenance, it will still benefit from regular brushing with a stiff broom. Pressure washing your decking once a year is recommended. This will remove the dirt or algae which heightens the risk of slipping. eDecks decking stays safe even with a build-up of moss and algae, but we would always recommend a thorough, annual clean. This will also refresh the deck’s appearance after a long summer, so you can enjoy it in the autumn evenings.

In order to keep your deck looking its best even into winter, consider oiling or staining your decking boards. This will prevent water from getting into the timber and rotting your decking boards.

Garden furniture and furnishings

To make the most of your decking in the autumn evenings, there are a few things you will need to think about. When it comes to choosing garden furniture, you need something that can withstand rain and cold temperatures. Your garden furniture should be made of hardy, weather-resistant materials.

It’s important to note that to minimise damage to your non-slip decking, use rubber feet for any garden furniture.

Warm blankets, cushions and throws can also help to increase the cosy factor by bringing the indoors outdoors. Choosing colours and fabrics that are bright and welcoming helps to bring colour to even the darkest evening.

Outdoor heating

Even in the summer months, if you’re sitting outside, you may feel a slight chill in the evening. When you need a little more than blankets on your garden furniture, outdoor heating can warm things up. There are plenty of options out there for outdoor heating. Most of them are either powered by electricity or gas. For those interested in either of these varieties, there is plenty of choice in what you go for.

A good option is getting warmth and light from a fire pit. However, you need to be extremely careful when lighting fires near or on your decking. Make sure you take the right advice and check carefully whether it’s appropriate. Never place a fire or a fire pit directly on your decking. Always ensure it is raised and that there is something between the source and the surface of the deck. Consider investing in a screen to help prevent sparks or embers from travelling, particularly if it’s windy.

Our non-slip decking is perfect if you’re concerned about slippery decking in the colder months and evenings.

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Looking for the best deals on anti-slip decking?

Check out our amazing deals here on the eDecks website!

We also offer plenty of support and expert advice for most projects – and any products we sell online. Contact eDecks here for personalised advice for your project today.

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.

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