Tag: decking

Restoring the Colour of Your Deck: A Comprehensive Guide

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Is your deck looking dull and lacklustre? Has the vibrant colour that once adorned your outdoor haven faded away over time? Fret not! In this guide, we will walk you through the process of restoring the colour of your decking, bringing it back to its former glory. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or someone looking to embark on their first decking project, we’ve got you covered.

Understanding Deck Aging and Discoloration

Before diving into the restoration process, it’s essential to understand why decking loses its colour in the first place. Outdoor decking is constantly exposed to harsh weather conditions, UV rays from the sun, foot traffic, and general wear and tear. Over time, these factors can cause discoloration and fading. Understanding this natural aging process will help you choose the most appropriate restoration method for your decking.

Assessing the Condition of Your Deck

Before starting any restoration work, it’s crucial to assess the current condition of your deck. This step will help you determine which approach is best suited for your specific situation. Here are some key points to consider during your assessment:

1. Evaluating Structural Integrity

Inspect your deck for any signs of rotting wood or structural damage. Look out for loose boards, wobbly railings, or nails sticking out. If you notice any significant issues, it may be necessary to address them before moving forward with restoration.

2. Identifying Stains and Discoloration

Examine your deck closely to identify any stains or areas where the color has faded unevenly. Different stains require different treatment methods for effective restoration.

3. Checking for Mould or Mildew Growth

Look out for signs of mould or mildew on your deck surface. These can manifest as dark spots or patches that are usually accompanied by a musty odour. If present, mould or mildew should be treated appropriately before proceeding with the restoration process.

By thoroughly assessing the condition of your deck, you’ll be able to identify any underlying problems and tailor your restoration efforts accordingly.

Restoring Your Deck’s Colour: Options and Techniques

Now that you have a clear understanding of your deck’s condition, it’s time to explore various restoration options and techniques. The appropriate approach will depend on factors such as the type of wood used for your deck, the severity of discoloration, and personal preferences. Let’s delve into some common methods:

1. Deck Cleaning

Before applying any restorative treatments, it is essential to start with a clean canvas. Deck cleaning involves removing dirt, debris, mould, mildew, and any remnants of old finishes from the surface. This can be achieved through pressure washing or by using specialized deck cleaners.

2. Sanding and Refinishing

For decking with significant discoloration or stubborn stains, sanding may be necessary. Sanding helps remove layers of discoloured wood, exposing fresh layers beneath. Once sanded down evenly, you can apply a new coat of stain or finish to restore colour and protect the wood.

3. Stain Application

Applying a fresh coat of stain can breathe new life into an aging deck by enhancing its natural colour while providing protection against future damage. Choose a high-quality stain that suits both your desired aesthetic and functional requirements.

4. Painting Your Deck

If you prefer a more vibrant look or want to completely change the colour of your deck, painting is an excellent option. Opt for outdoor paint specifically designed for use on decks to ensure durability and longevity.

5. Sealing for Longevity

To prolong the vibrancy of your newly restored deck colour and protect it from external factors like UV rays and moisture, sealing is crucial. Applying a sealant acts as a barrier, preventing premature fading and maintaining the integrity of your deck’s colour.

Maintenance Tips to Preserve Your Deck’s Color

Once you’ve successfully restored your deck, it’s important to implement a regular maintenance routine to keep it looking its best. Here are some tips to help you preserve your deck’s colour:

  • Regularly sweep away dirt, leaves, and debris to prevent discoloration.
  • Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaning materials that can damage the wood or finish.
  • Apply a fresh coat of stain or sealant every few years as a part of routine maintenance.
  • Consider adding outdoor rugs or furniture pads to protect high-traffic areas from excessive wear.

Conclusion: Rediscover the Beauty of Your Deck

Restoring the colour of your deck is a rewarding endeavour that allows you to reclaim an outdoor space that brings joy and relaxation. By understanding the causes of discoloration, assessing your deck’s condition, choosing the right restoration methods, and implementing proper maintenance techniques, you can revitalize your deck and enjoy its vibrant hues for years to come. So roll up your sleeves, gather your tools, and embark on this exciting journey toward a rejuvenated outdoor oasis!

Do I Need Planning Permission to Install a Deck?

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Installing a deck in your garden can be an excellent way to create an outdoor oasis, providing a space for relaxation, entertainment, and enjoying the beauty of nature. However, before embarking on your decking project, it’s essential to understand whether you need planning permission. This blog post will guide you through the regulations and considerations regarding planning permission for decks, ensuring you have all the information you need to proceed confidently with your project.

Understanding Planning Permission

Planning permission is a legal requirement in many cases when carrying out building work or making significant changes to your property. It ensures that any development adheres to local regulations and does not negatively impact the environment or neighbouring properties. When it comes to installing a deck, there are specific criteria that determine whether planning permission is necessary.

Decking Height: To Seek Permission or Not?

One crucial factor that determines whether you need planning permission for your deck is its height above ground level. In general, if your decking is less than 30cm above ground level, it falls under “permitted development” and does not require planning permission. This means you can proceed with confidence knowing that your project meets the necessary guidelines.

However, if your decking will be elevated 30cm or more above ground level, planning permission may be required. This elevation limit ensures that any raised structures undergo proper scrutiny to maintain safety standards and prevent potential issues such as obstructing views or violating privacy.

Assessing Garden Area Coverage

Another consideration when determining if planning permission is needed for your deck is the percentage of garden area it covers. If your proposed decking covers more than 50% of the total garden area (including any existing extensions or outbuildings), then you will likely require planning permission.

This rule aims to preserve sufficient open space within gardens while preventing excessive construction that could harm biodiversity or impact neighboring properties’ amenity value. By considering this aspect, planning authorities ensure that your decking project strikes the right balance between enhancing your outdoor space and maintaining a harmonious environment.

Exceptions and Additional Considerations

While the guidelines mentioned above provide a general framework for understanding planning permission requirements, it’s essential to note that exceptions and additional considerations may apply. Local regulations can vary, so it is advisable to consult with your local planning authority or seek professional advice if you are unsure about the specifics.

Some factors that might influence whether planning permission is needed include conservation areas, listed buildings, or properties located in protected areas. These circumstances may impose stricter rules to preserve architectural integrity, protect natural habitats, or maintain the character of an area. Consulting with experts will help you navigate any additional requirements and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.

The Benefits of Seeking Planning Permission

Although seeking planning permission may require additional effort and time investment, there are several benefits to obtaining approval for your deck installation:

  1. Peace of Mind: By obtaining planning permission, you can proceed with your project confidently, knowing that it adheres to local regulations and won’t face any legal issues in the future.
  2. Preserving Property Value: Ensuring compliance with planning regulations helps maintain property values by preserving neighbourhood aesthetics and preventing potential disputes.
  3. Environmental Considerations: Planning permission ensures that development considers environmental impacts such as drainage systems, biodiversity preservation, and sustainability measures.
  4. Neighbourhood Harmony: Obtaining permission shows respect for neighbouring properties by ensuring that your project won’t negatively impact their privacy or amenity value.

By considering these benefits alongside the specific requirements for your decking project, you can make an informed decision regarding whether to seek planning permission.

In Conclusion

Installing a deck can transform your outdoor space into a haven where countless memories are made. To determine whether you need planning permission for your decking project, consider factors such as height above ground level and garden area coverage. Remember that seeking professional advice and consulting with your local planning authority is crucial to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations.

While navigating the planning permission process may seem daunting, it ultimately ensures that your decking project aligns with legal requirements, environmental considerations, and neighborhood harmony. So, whether you need planning permission or not, take the necessary steps to create a stunning deck that enriches your lifestyle while respecting the surrounding environment.

EDecks Women’s World Cup Promotional Discounts!

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Edecks are cheering for the Lionesses this Women’s FIFA World Cup, and giving you the chance to bag yourself some exclusive discounts and giveaways along the way!

Introducing the all-new ‘They Win, You Win’ campaign, in which every game England Women’s are victorious in, it unlocks a new offer for customers on select products and ranges!

Tune in to England Women’s first world cup game on Saturday 22nd July, at 10:30am. The game will be covered on ITVX, available to stream online for free for the world to watch the lionesses attempt to bring it home!

Keep an eye out on our social channels to find out what offers we have available for each England win, but act quick, each offer will only be valid until the next England women’s win, and a new offer will be unlocked in its place.

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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.

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