Decking has grown in popularity in the last decade. The U.K. Teesside and the Tees Valley are no exception.
The style and design of your decking area
When deciding on what type of decked area to have - and there are lots of choices. We recommend that you first decide what it is you want from your decking area. Is the decking area going to be a place to sit and socialise with your family and friends on a warm summer's evening. Perhaps you want an area of complete tranquility and seclusion away from the kids so you can relax and read your papers on a weekend. Ask yourself, what you are aiming to create visually with your decking space.
What are you are hoping to use your decking area for. Answering these questions will help you quickly decide on the size of the area to be decked, the location of your decking, the style of your decking and a theme to keep your new decking tied neatly in with your existing garden and garden furniture
Theme your decking for inspiration
The smaller the decking space, the more your deck will benefit from a theme. A theme will help you to define your decking's personality. Few decking areas are very large features so a decking theme can be cost effective and simplify your aims.
Themes
Mediterranean decking, Oriental style decking, Woodland decking, Country style decking, Family decking,Colonial decking or Water Garden decking.
Decide from the start what you really are trying to achieve and what statement you are trying to make with your decking. Once you've made that decision ensure that each feature of your decking sticks within this theme, this way everything will pull together and create one unique look.
When your garden space for your decking is limited, a decking area needs a linking theme. Instead of planting and furnishing it with random mixtures of ideas - which often looks messy, it really does pay to have a particular style in your mind. If you have a theme, everything you buy for your decking will have a focus: the plants you buy, the pots you choose, seating areas and even your decking boards. If you theme all of these it will make choosing materials, paints, pots and plants much easier and all the things you buy will naturally go with your theme, creating a focused beautiful decking area for you and your family to relax on.
Theming your decking not only unifies everything but will also save you a lot of money. You will be less likely to buy pots and plants which end up not fitting in with your theme, or pots which don't look as good as you thought they would when you saw them and bought them.
A decking area does not have to look fashionable to be stylish.What is fashionable in decking trends now, may not look right for your home or neighbourhood, or may not suit the way you want to use your surroundings. Oriental style decking would look completely out of place in a rural area, but if you were to deck in this style in a minimalist town garden it would look great!
With good, thoughtful planning and design you can very often adapt unlikely decking styles to suit a range of very different surroundings. You could for example have a woodland deck in the middle of town or a colonial style deck outside a city basement.
If you are worried that you might get bored of your themed decking, don't be, you can always get a landscaper to change a part of the design, planting scheme or pots surrounding your decking. Small changes will give your garden a regular face- lift.
You could even change the decking style completely, leaving only the decking itself and any other permanent fixtures, then you could re stain the decking or paint it a completely different colour and change the pots and plants. It is of course only practical to do this with a small decking area, sweeping changes to small areas are less likely to be costly and require little effort. If you'd like to view some of our decking ideas or completed decking jobs visit our decking, portfolio or garden design pages.
Wooden decking is a fantastic patio material, and is a practical alternative to stone slabs. Decking boards also blend naturally with their surroundings. Wooden decking ages beautifully and naturally. Decking is comfortable to walk on with bare feet and is warmer than paving. Decking is also more comfy to sit on than paving and children enjoy decking areas more than hard patio areas.
Decking is especially well suited to the Northern climate that we get in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Darlington and the outlying Cleveland and Tees Valley areas as it usually dries out quickly. Even after a particularly rainy day your decking will be ready for action once it's had a few hours of sun.
Our team can construct your decking in any weather. Some people think that decking cannot be constructed if it's raining, or it has been raining. This is not correct. You do not need to worry that rain will make your deck boards shrink or warp. Most decking woods and boards are treated with special preservatives to stop the wooden decking boards from shrinking or warping in the rain. A professional landscaper can deck in any weather conditions - Don't worry. Leave the hard work and planning to us.
Don't be concerned about the Teesside or Tees Valley climate rotting your decking either: Modern pressure treated woods make decking very easy to care for and the construction of a raised deck makes a decking area ideal for almost any ground, no matter how badly sloping, uneven or otherwise unusable it first appears. Decking can be constructed almost anywhere.
Curved decking
We are decking specialists. We are both decking designers and installers. We work with both soft and hardwood timbers to give fantastic, stunning and practical decking solutions and decking areas for you and your family to relax on and enjoy.
We have installed many large and complex decking areas in and around Teesside, Tees Valley and North Yorkshire including Stockton, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stokesley etc. The decking areas we have constructed always enhance our customer's existing garden features. We have decked around hot tubs and garden ponds and added deck lighting to give the end project that special ambient feel.
Timber decking is a favourite that can be a solution to very awkward areas. We can build raised platforms to provide usable areas in sloped gardens or build steps and access ramps to cater for the disabled or elderly. Any decking style or shape you want, if it's possible, we will construct it.
Over his years of decking, Andy and his team have developed precise methods of constructing curved decking areas. The curves of your decking can be any radius you desire and of any size and shape.
Curved decking brings a whole new dimension and look to a decking design. Curved decking is far more interesting to look at and much more pleasing to the eye in a garden landscape. Curved decking is slightly more expensive to construct but you will be able to acheive a more desirable and unusual shape to your decking area.
If you're thinking about decking in your garden and planning a timber decked area for use in your garden this summer,then consider an exotic curved decking feature, it really will make all the difference to your existing garden landscape and will also provide you and your family with somewhere to sit and relax that not only looks good but also serves its decking purpose.
We use only top quality timber products which are treated or completely naturally suited for out door decking areas. We also can advise on anti-slip coatings and applications to protect and enhance the colour of your decked areas.
We are able to offer advice on the choices of wood available and which decking boards would most suit you and your family. We can advise whether it would be better for you to have your decking constructed from hardwood or softwood timber.
Andy is an expert landscaper, he will be able to advise the best construction for your decking project and will be able to recommend the best way to achieve your desired deck design.
Soft wood v hardwood decking
The names 'soft wood' and 'hard wood' have nothing to do with the actual hardness of the wood; rather the term refers to the type of tree the timber came from, i.e. hardwoods generally come from broad-leaved trees while softwood is from conifers. As an example, balsa wood, while very soft is actually a hard wood.
Most decks are constructed from 'pressure treated' softwoods, mainly because they are a lot cheaper to grow, they grow quickly and are therefore readily replaced by foresters and more widely available. They are also very easy to work with as they are easily shaped, cut, formed and finished.
Pressure treated decking wood
The process of pressure treatment involves introducing the wood into a holding tank under low pressure. The tank initially creates a low vacuum condition; as the tank is filled with chemical preservatives the pressure inside the tank is gradually increased, forcing the chemical preservatives deep inside the wood. Pressure treated lumber is used for building decks and making fence posts, tables and other wooden garden furniture and gardening components. High quality pressure treated wood can lasts for 20 years or more, if it's prepared and cured in the right way.
The positive and negatives of pressure treated lumber
Some pressure treated woods can allow the chemical preservatives to leak out into your garden's soil resulting in adverse effects on plants growing in the surrounding area. One should consider this problem if planning to grow vegetables in the garden: We will always ensure that you get the best quality decking for your particular budget and are happy to advise on the best lumber for a particular situation.
Softwood alternatives
Hardwoods, unsurprisingly, are the only wooden alternative to softwood. Hardwoods come in a wide range of colours, but they are more expensive as they generally require more work to prepare and finish. They also require a lot more aftercare if you want them to maintain the look they had when initially installed. See the above Cedar Wood decking in Middleton St. George, Darlington, Teesside.
Unusual hardwoods create stunning coloured decking areas
• Iroko - similar to teak - a warm brown
• Tigerwood - (Featured in one of the above photographs) is also known as: Goncalo Alves, Brazilian Koa, and Muiracatiara. This decking hardwood is one of the finest available. It features a unique light golden-brown to reddish-brown coloring with exotic black and brown streaks.
• Yellow Balau - weathers to dark red-brown
• Western red cedar- a warm red
Remember, always ensure the wood you choose has been obtained from a sustainable resource - Green Onion landscapers are available anywhere in the Teesside,Tees Valley, Cleveland area to advise on this when you consult them about your deck's construction.
Types of decking boards
Deck boards can be bought in a range of sizes, from 35mm to 150mm wide. They come in a choice of surface finishes too: plain, ribbed or grooved, with a variety of patterns of grooved and ribbed deck board surfaces available.
It's important to make a good, practical decision on your deck surface before it is laid, a bad decision can be expensive to correct after the job is complete.
There are several factors to consider before deciding on the type of deck board you want and we can help you make the correct decision by offering professional advice specific to the function of your decking. The more information you give us the better. We will be better equipped to advise you if you tell us everything you have in mind.
The decking project featured in the picture above is beautifully constructed. The design is eye catching and different. This decking stands out from any other circular decking job I've seen. I think you'll agree it's pretty stunning.
Most DIY decking has a tendency to be built with the decking boards laying parallel to the building, this is usually because it is the simplest and most cost effective method of decking. However, with a little bit of imagination and planning, your chosen decking design will be a beautiful, effective and attractive decked area.
Decking boards are easy to cut and shape with the correct tools
Green onion Landscaping can come up with brilliant bespoke designs for your decking. We will find an easy way to lay your design and screw your deck boards into position for a lifetime of use.
Our team of landscapers haves been professionally designing and building decking areas for over 20 years. All the secrets we've learnt along the way could be used to design and construct you a spectacular decking feature in your garden landscape.
Decking board finishes and surfaces
Ribbed surface decking boards tend not to collect pools of rain water as much, the ribs encourage water to run off from the deck, the construction also has to be correctly executed. Ribbed decking can be more difficult to keep clean as it traps dirt and dust in the grooves. It is possible to jet wash your decking clean, which will transform any dull, drab decking areas and bring them back to life, looking bright and clean.We offer an affordable jet washing service.
Plain decking boards are easy to sweep clean although they do not afford as good a grip in wet weather as ribbed decking boards. Plain boards also have the advantage of showing the pattern of the wood grain, so they can look more attractive.
Your end decision well may be swayed by the look of the decking over the function of it, and that's fine, just as long as you are aware of and have considered your options before you make your choice.
Hand rails for your decking
You may like to add a handrail or railing like in this picture above. Hand rails help to create an enclosed area. These are great if you have little children or toddlers. A hand rail on your decking can provide and act as a barrier or porch style area. A hand rail on your decking is also a good idea for elderly people, providing some extra support.
Laying decking boards at 45 degrees to the house rather than the usual 90 degrees can create a wonderful and unusual look. It's a great example of how 45 degree decking boards on different levels can look fabulous!
Using decking boards made from a combination of reclaimed wood and plastic, or wood polymer composite are interesting alternatives to traditional timber and will not succumb to the weather or rot.
Some decking woods are more costly than others so obviously the decking material you choose will alter your decking price. Also the more complicated a design you choose to have with your decked area, the more man hours it will take to design, plan and construct the decking, this will be reflected in the price you receive.
Whatever you decide to do with your decking, or even if you haven't come to a firm decision on the style of decking you want - if you live in Tees Valley,Teesside, Cleveland or the North east give us a call and book a free consultation. If you would like us to design and build a shaped or circular deck for you, give us a call.
We offer a professional, expert decking service to all our customers'. We are happy to advise on any aspect of decking. We have years of experience to draw on. You can be assured that our advice will be both practical and helpful. We may even be able to suggest a decking solution that you haven't thought of.
Commercial and Domestic
We offer our decking services to
- Homes
- Restaurants
- Schools
- Shops
- Care Homes
- Hotels
- Bed & Breakfast establishments
We provide quality, domestic and commercial decking services to all of the Teesside,Tees Valley area, including: Stockton on Tees, Darlington, Middlesbrough, Yarm, Ingleby Barwick, Billingham, Cleveland, Teesside and the North East