Writen by Allison Thompson
More and more people are choosing to build a deck on their property and choosing what sort of wood to use will make all the difference.
Certainly adding a deck on to your home is one way of enhancing the appeal of your garden or a way of creating a welcoming feature to the front. It can also add a small amount of value to the price of your property.
So build a deck that will stand the test of time requires a lot of careful planning, good craftsmanship and very careful attention to detail when picking the materials to be used.
Whenever starting a decking project is good to take the planning stage very seriously. This is as important as exercising good craftsmanship in subject to any building project or perhaps even more so. You need to decide what sort of decking you, how it will look when completed and where it will be going as this will make all the difference later on. But once your plan has been chosen the next step is choosing the right wood for the project.
Choosing the right wood for using in your deck and the ways in which it will be cared for as time passes will make a large difference on how well the finished deck will cope over the passing years. There are different kinds of wood that have now become popular when building decks but the most common types now being used are either Redwood, Cedar, treated lumber or on some occasions, Southern Pine. However, you will find that there are other options available to you thanks to the varying treatment methods available and the many types of hybrid materials which are now available such as those made from recycled plastic and wood by products which have been mixed together.
But it does not matter what kind of material you choose, you will want to make sure that is suitably rated for use as decking. For example timber for use indoors will not do you much good as it will only a couple of rainstorms before the decking becomes ruined. But if you choose a wood that is specifically meant for use outdoors and that which is treated to prevent infestation by pests will help to ensure that your decks will last for many seasons to come.
When you have chosen your wood and the deck has been built the most important thing you can do for your new addition to your home is treat it with the respect it is due. Firstly you will need to seal it appropriately, check for any weak spots that you can see, sand out any rough spots etc. But if you have chosen a hybrid material then go with the care instructions that have been provided by the manufacturer. Even once your decking has been in place for sometime then carry out regular maintenance to help ensure that the decking stays in shape. Regularly clean the deck and remove any debris and ensure that you get into any cracks that you find. By leaving any items within the cracks can result in mould appearing on the wood which may result in the death sentence for your decking so make sure you clean it thoroughly from time to time. Sometimes it may be necessary to reseal the decking to give it optimum appearance no matter what the weather.
So a decking is certainly a wonderful addition to any garden landscape, but if you want it to remain as beautiful as the day you completed it then care should be taken with it at all times.
Allison Thompson a work from home mum now living in Spain and also the partner in a small real estate company. She decided to set up a number of sites relating to property including gardening. If you wish to learn more than please visit http://www.deck.householdfacts.info |
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