Clearview National April 2020 - Issue 221 | Page 46

Outdoor Living
Revitalising your garden
How to make the most of
your outdoor living space
» UK HOMEOWNERS HAVE
become increasingly concerned about the
appearance of their garden — with the
garden products industry expected to be
worth £5 billion. With the warmer months
approaching, many are beginning to prepare
their gardens for the season ahead. Here, Nick
Cowley, managing director at exterior cladding
and outdoor living product Endurawood,
runs through the key considerations when
revitalising your outdoor space.
Renovation over relocation has become a
favoured option for many UK homeowners
in recent years, with many opting to invest in
their current properties and improve instead
of move.
Property upgrades don’t always involve
the interior of the home, with research from
Post Office Money revealing that landscaping
a garden could increase the value of a
property by 77 per cent. However, while not
all homeowners will update their garden
with the aim to increase value, upgrading the
outdoor living space can be just as important
as renovating a kitchen or living room.
FENCING
The perils of winter often mean that
garden owners need to conduct a number
of maintenance tasks as the warmer weather
approaches. Typically made from wooden
panels, fences are an essential feature
in gardens for the security and privacy
they provide. Fences also offer a sense of
detachment as they close the garden off from
neighbours, creating a private haven for the
homeowner.
However, wooden panels cannot always
withstand harsh weather conditions. We only
have to reflect on the likes of Storm Dennis
and Storm Ciara that have wreaked havoc
across the UK and caused significant damage
to properties and gardens. For those with
large or longer gardens, replacing an entire
row of broken fence panels can be a costly
consequence of the UK’s turbulent climate.
Although spring and summer do not
expect extreme weather, it’s always better
to be prepared. Alternative materials such
46 » A PR 2020 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
as aluminium, which has a higher durability
compared to wooden panels, will ensure the
fence remains standing all year round.
DECKING
Decking became popular in the 1990s and
is still desired in gardens now for a number of
reasons, including the fact that decking requires
little upkeep and does not create mess, unlike
a grass lawn.
Furthermore, with UK gardens becoming
smaller, decking can create the idea of more
space when the garden size is limited. This is
beneficial for smaller houses that rely on their
garden for valuable extra space for work and
leisure activities.
While decking is highly desired in UK
gardens, one of the biggest challenges is its
susceptibility to warping in hot temperatures.
This becomes likely in the summer, which
can cause issues if panels need to be fixed or
replaced. Plus, a distorted panel could pose
health and safety risks.
‘minimal maintenance’
Aluminium, on the other hand, is resistant
to warping. This makes it an ideal material for
decking as it requires minimal maintenance.
Wooden decking often demands annual
maintenance in order to keep its colour, and
staining the decking is a yearly task for many
garden enthusiasts. With aluminium decking,
homeowners can benefit from the aesthetic of
a traditional woodgrain finish, but without the
hassle of keeping it looking fresh.