Garden Decks and Garden Decking.

Most gardens can be enhanced by the addition of a garden deck area. Decking in the garden adds a new dimension to the use of the garden.

Decking is used to great effect in gardens in the USA and also on the European continent. It has sometimes had a bad name in the UK - not in the least because of it's banal use in the quick fix TV programme Ground Force.

Timber decking in the garden, is a versatile construction material, and it has many advantages over hard paved areas for family use. A garden decking area can be just a small hideaway - surrounded by plants, or can serve as a large family area for those gatherings at weekends and warm evenings.

All too often, some members of the family are excluded from ideas when thinking about garden decking. The children! Decking is a very user-friendly material, and kids normally love it. They will probably put the garden deck to more use for more of the time than adults.

There are a few important factors to bear in mind when planning and building a garden deck.

Use treated timber - Tanalised softwood is normally guaranteed for 15 years against rot.
Try to get as much air circulation around your garden decking as is possible.
Avoid shady areas - Garden decking will end up like any other surface in deep shad!
Avoid damp areas - with the garden deck sat upon the damp ground.
Try to aim for dappled shade, rather than full sun. Garden Decking surfaces can get very hot in direct sunshine.
Plan the garden decking area so that there is ease of access - especially in wet weather conditions. Garden decks dry out very quickly after rain, and access - other than trudging across a damp lawn to get to your deck - would be good.
Plan for the fact that the kids are going to want to use it as much - or more - than you!
Do utilise some planting around or even on your deck.
Be adventurous - like in the picture below. - Happy Decking!

A garden decking scheme that utilised the whole are of this small narrow garden, Decking was the obvious answer, for a lawn would have soon deteriorated with the use that the garden was put to with the owners.