DECKING
PLAN THE PERFECT DECK
Planning a deck can be a daunting prospect for homeowners.
Creating the perfect outdoor space that can be used all year round can require a big investment – so if you’ re working on a decking project for customers, chances are they’ ll welcome your professional advice on how to get it right.
Lee Heitzman, UK & Ireland market manager for Trex, the world’ s number one decking brand, said:“ A deck is a great way for homeowners to create more space for relaxing or entertaining while embracing outdoor living. But to create the perfect deck there are lots of important details that should be considered.”
Here’ s a selection of essential tips to help your clients plan the deck of their dreams.
Perfect position Firstly, think about where to locate the deck. Your clients should consider where the sun hits their garden at different times of the day and how this lines up with the main times they expect to use the deck- for example, many people will see no point in creating a seating area that’ s covered by shade for 80 per cent of the day.
If your client plans to use the deck for al fresco dining, then placing it near the barbecue or pizza oven would make sense- and not too far from the kitchen either, to avoid long trips back and forth.
Size matters How big is the outdoor space in total and what percentage of this is your client considering using for their deck?
For a pleasing aesthetic, the deck shouldn’ t be so big as to dominate the surrounding environment- it’ s important to maintain a balanced look and a sense of proportion with the rest of the garden.
However, the deck does also need to be a useable size. Lee said:“ If homeowners are unsure about what size deck to go for, I would always advise to go slightly bigger rather than smaller.
“ No-one will ever regret having an additional foot or two of space all the way around, but they may regret going smaller the first time they need to squeeze an extra chair around the table for an unexpected guest!”
Plan for purpose Clients also need to think about how they might want to use their deck- will it be primarily for entertaining, with plenty of room for dining and maybe even an outdoor kitchen? Or will it be more of a solo sanctuary, with cosy seating for quiet afternoons in the sun- or even enough space for outdoor activities like yoga?
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