Decking Fitter Dartford Kent: With the arrival of the spring every year many of us with a garden in Dartford start looking at spending more hours outdoors. Nowadays it appears to be increasingly fashionable to spread our living area into the garden. Amongst the most attractive ways by which to achieve this is to build an area of garden decking which allows you to entertain, walk and sit outdoors without getting muddy feet if it has recently been raining, which as you will know in Dartford it frequently does!
Now should you be reasonable at DIY you may be looking at installing some decking yourself, although this can be a rather tough project, so you should really consider carefully before pressing on with this without getting some specialist help. There are quite a few decking fitters in and near Dartford, if you come to the decision that you require some help with your installation. Therefore your next step ought to be to seek out a decent decking fitter working in Dartford, Kent.
As opposed to a cold, hard paved area or patio, decking provides a more comforting surface on which to walk, sit or even lounge. It provides a wonderful area for entertaining family and friends and outside wining and dining, and tends to be more aesthetically pleasing. It's even likely that your new garden deck might increase the value of your property, as long as it is meticulously designed and expertly constructed, as functional outside space that blends in seamlessly with the indoor living area is a huge attraction to Dartford buyers nowadays.
Before you start creating the decking area it could be wise to carry out a quick check with the local council offices and determine if there are any regulations for constructing decking on your property in Dartford. The building of decking on older properties is forbidden in some areas, and in other areas decks above a specific height aren't allowed. Asking about this before you start is obviously a good idea, so as to stay clear of any stressful predicaments down the road, and avoid being forced to dismantle your illegal decking by the council. Professional deck builders in Dartford will be happy to guide you on local restrictions, and if they are not sure will often do the investigation for you.
The planning of your deck comes down to personal choice, but a specialist decking installer in Dartford, will offer a useful insight into what will and will not work and perhaps might be in a position to provide an in-house design service that will make your decking eye-catching and distinctive and that blends perfectly into your home. Setting out the boundaries and preparing the ground for your new decking will commence as soon as you have settled upon a satisfactory design.
If the ground where your decking is to be located has a slope or is liable to being flooded, more ground preparation work will be required. There will be a lot less work if the site is firm and level. In the early stages of the project the decking contractor should check for underground cables, manholes or pipes to ensure that the decking work will not cause any issues. This kind of ground preparation is a most essential part of the new deck because a solid and secure base is necessary to avert shifting and movement of the decking over time.
After the ground and footings have been prepared, the building of the decking can properly start. The work will progress fairly quickly now, and in next to no time your deck will begin to become recognisable as the decking fitter transforms a patch of blank terrain into an attractive and eye-catching feature that you can use and enjoy for many years.
Garden decking can look gorgeous when properly maintained, however when it is uncared for it can go downhill quickly. You should coat your decking with an appropriate treatment immediately after it has been installed to help avoid this problem. Among the most common issues that arise with decking include fading, a build up of mould, splitting, warping and discolouration. The stains, oils, paints and preservers which can be applied to decking are available in many forms, and you are also able to buy restorers for use on decking that has been allowed to deteriorate.
If you think that some decking would look great in your garden, you can set your project in motion by hunting for a trustworthy decking installer. Dartford and its surrounding area boasts a number of contractors who'll be happy to help you with your decking - click here to send off your particulars.
The Benefits of Having Garden Decking
- Perfect for Entertaining
- An Attractive Feature
- Adds Value to Your Property
- Decking Helps to Zone Your Garden Space
- Doesn't Get Muddy - Can be Used in all Weathers
- It's Durable and Long Lasting
- Provides Extra Outdoor Space
- It Looks Good in Any Type of Garden
- It's a Relatively Inexpensive Form of Landscaping
- Low Maintenance
- It Can Be Built Quickly
Wooden Decking - Choosing Correctly
There are lots of different types of decking on the market these days, ranging in style and price as well as different sorts of materials. This section will investigate the different kinds of wood decking available in Dartford.
Firstly ask yourself, will your new wooden decking in Dartford be an eyesore or an enhancement? The answer to this depends on the type of wood decking you use. Pine which is pressure treated is good for resisting rot, however the green-tinged timber is unsightly and the pesticides it contains are not the most healthy.
To build a safer, more attractive wooden deck in Dartford, opt for a more attractive yet still durable wood for the decking floors, railings and steps. Save the pressure-treated wood for the framework and supports. Here's some of the wood decking that is on the market at the moment. We'll be adding to this article as other timber decking arrives.
Mahogany Garden Decking - Mahogany is a tight-grained hardwood decking that resists pests and rot. Treat it with marine oil and it looks like teak wood decking. Or, let your mahogany wood decking age to a silvery hue. Look for the "FSC" trademark to assure that rain forests have not been harvested irresponsibly.
Redwood Decking - Redwood is a soft wood decking option that ages to a pleasing grey. Prolonged moisture will cause the wood to blacken. A red wood decking will resist rot, but will look more attractive if you use a sealer.
Ipe Wood Decking - Ipe is an almost magical South American hardwood. This wood decking is so hard, it's nearly as difficult to burn as concrete. The use of rain forest woods is controversial, however. If you choose Ipe for your wood decking, make sure that it has been harvested responsibly.
European Oak Garden Decking - A popular choice for garden decking, the cheaper price of oak belies its natural elegance, not to mention its amazing durability in an outdoor setting. Possibly the cheapest hardwood decking option, European Oak is both aesthetically pleasing and long-lived. Once given a coat of suitable oil, European Oak is medium to light brown in colour. It is advisable to leave a slightly larger gap between the decking boards as European Oak has more movement when compared to other tropical hardwoods.
Western Red Cedar Decking - Western Red Cedar is reddish brown and ages to silvery grey. This soft wood decking can splinter easily, but holds up well in rain, sun, heat, and cold. To add beauty and durability to your cedar wood decking, use a penetrating stain.
So, here we have looked at a few of the wood decking options that are available for your garden decking in Dartford. Perhaps this will help you make your choice.
Deck Repairs
Homeowners, odd job men, or a professional deck construction and repair specialist can execute repairs to decking depending on their skill set and equipment. The repair must be carried out by a skilled and experienced individual to make sure that it is done safely and effectively.
What are the potential repair requirements?
When it comes to decking repairs, there's no one-size-fits-all solution, as the needed repairs depend on several factors such as condition and materials.
- Replacing damaged or rotten boards
- Fixing uneven or loose boards
- Staining or sealing the deck to protect it from the weather
- Replacing or repairing railings and balusters
- Replacing or mending steps and staircases
- Sanding or resurfacing the deck
- Reinforcing or strengthening the deck structure
- Fixing water damage or mould growth
Inspecting your deck regularly and dealing with any problems immediately is essential for its longevity and safety.
How Long Will Wooden Decking Last?
The lifespan of wooden decking is largely determined by a range of factors, including installation craftsmanship, the specific wood species, upkeep practices and exposure to environmental factors. With proper maintenance and upkeep, hardwood decking such as teak, ipe and mahogany can endure for up to half a century or more, while softwood varieties such as pine and spruce have an expected lifespan of around ten to fifteen years. Regular maintenance such as cleaning, sanding, and sealing can help prolong the life of your timber decking. The incorporation of a sub-frame or deck blocks can prevent moisture-induced wood rot in your deck. Carefully installing and maintaining your timber decking can create a stunning and enduring feature in your outside space, but keep in mind that these factors influence its expected longevity.
Decking Furniture Dartford
There are now a large number of pieces of furniture that you can purchase for your outdoor garden decking in Dartford. Before you buy any make sure that it is going to match up with any furniture that is already on your garden deck, and if your decking area is not that large then be careful not to over clutter it. Better to have 1 or 2 top quality pieces of furniture on your decking, than lots of shoddy items.
Garden Decking Near Dartford
Also find: Leyton Cross garden decking, North Cray garden decking, Questor garden decking, Welling garden decking, Slade Green garden decking, Temple Hill garden decking, Darenth garden decking, Sutton at Hone garden decking, Hawley garden decking, Belvedere garden decking, Green Street Green garden decking, Crayford garden decking and more.
Garden Decking Related Work
Any professional local Dartford decking fitters ought to be able to help with: the construction of patio decking, garden decking installation in Dartford, deck builders, timber garden decking Dartford, uPVC decking installation in Dartford, non-slip garden decking Dartford, fitting garden decking lighting and electrics, wooden decking construction Dartford, building wood decking around a swimming pool, building split level patio decking, cedar decking installation Dartford, the construction of timber garden decking Dartford, the fitting of cedar decks, deck staining, deck railings in Dartford, landscaping design in Dartford, the installation of low maintenance decking, the planning of timber decking in Dartford, cheap deck construction, bespoke decks, fitting wooden decking around ponds, the fitting of metal decking, the fitting of composite deckings in Dartford, installing patio decking seating, wood decking replacement, metal decking installation, composite decking installation, wood garden decking Dartford, wooden decking design and planning, arbour installation and other decking related services. Listed are just an example of the jobs that can be undertaken by decent decking fitters. Dartford decking contractors will inform you of their full range of decking services.
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