Latest news with #decking
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
The easy decking mistake that means you're laying it wrong and it could cost you thousands, says gardener
WITH summer nearly here, many homeowners are looking to give their garden a glow up ready for the sunshine. A garden deck is the perfect place to pull up a lounger and soak up the rays on a hot day. 3 3 But if it's not installed correctly, it can quickly become slippery and dangerous to use. Poorly laid decking is more likely to warp or rot so you could have to fork out all over again for the job. It could set you back £2,400 or more to replace your decking depending on the size of the area and the type of boards you choose. Garden expert James Lewis, of said there's one extremely common error that can drastically cut the lifespan of your deck. James told The Sun: 'While it might be a bit of an old faithful, it's surprising how often decking is actually installed completely wrong." What's the correct way to lay decking? The landscaping pro has warned that many DIY enthusiasts and even some tradespeople are laying their decking upside down. He said: 'Often even in advertising images you'll see it with the grooves facing up. 'Because of this, so many people who want to build decking areas believe this is the correct way. 'Some also prefer the look of it, and others have the mistaken belief that the grooves facing up will make it less slippery – a common hazard with decking. 'But actually the correct way to install it is with the grooves in the wood facing downwards.' And contrary to popular belief, having the grooves facing up doesn't prevent it from becoming slippery, according to James. In fact, it's the reverse. He said: 'Installing it grooves upwards can risk trapping water and debris, causing your decking to rot. 'If you wish for your decking to last longer, I recommend that you have it installed with the grooves facing down. 'This will allow for better air circulation within your decking and more efficient drying and drainage of its surface.' Some decking has grooves on both sides. In this case it's designed to go with the wider grooves facing downwards and the narrower ones facing up, according to manufacturers. How to maintain decking 3 If you want your deck to last as long as possible, you need to keep on top of algae and grime, according to Mark Irving, an expert at DIY supplier Build & Plumb. Mark said: 'Regularly cleaning your timber decking is crucial for increasing the longevity of your deck and preventing the build-up of dirt. 'I recommend using a specialised decking cleaner for this process and always following the manufacturer's instructions before use. 'However, warm water and washing up liquid is a delicate, but effective solution for removing dirt and stains. 'Always ensure that you rinse your decking thoroughly after cleaning and leave it to fully dry before moving furniture back onto the deck. 'In addition, it's important to apply a good quality deck sealer to the surface of your decking at least once a year. 'This will create a protective layer on the surface of the decking, to prevent moisture penetration and decrease the likelihood of wood rot.' How much does decking cost and how long should it last? The most affordable material is pressure-treated softwood. For an average sized deck, this costs roughly £2,400 in total, including the materials and installation costs, according to Mark. He said: 'Typically, you can expect timber decking to last an average of 15 to 30 years, if it's installed and maintained correctly.' Composite decking, which is made of plastic or synthetic materials, can cost about double the price of wooden boards. But it's designed to last a lot longer. Mark said: 'Composite decking is typically much more weather-resistant than timber decking. 'It requires far less regular maintenance and cleaning than wooden decking. 'Although composite decking does have higher initial costs than timber decking, its lifespan can reach up to 50 years, adding around 20 years onto the lifespan of wooden decking.' How to find gardening bargains Doing up your garden to enjoy on warm and sunny days needn't cost the earth. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to get a top deal on items for the garden… You can bag big savings on plants, shrubs and flowers, as well as gardening tools and furniture. Many retailers have flash sales across entire seasonal ranges – often these promotions tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout. Sign up to mailing lists of your favourite brands and you'll be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. Use a price comparison site to search out the best value items. And keep a close eye on the specialbuys at Aldi and middle of Lidl drops which drop a couple of times a week and usually mean great value seasonal items for your outdoor areas. If you are not in a hurry to buy an item, try adding it to the shopping cart online and leaving it for a couple of days. Sometimes big brands will try to tempt you into the sale by offering you a discount. And always check if you can get cashback before paying. It's especially worth using sites such as Topcashback, Quidco and app Jamdoughnut when buying bigger ticket items such as garden furniture as you'll get a nice kickback.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The £3.99 Aldi buy that will transform patios AND garden paths in seconds & turn your outdoor space into a chic haven
IT can be hard to think of ways to transform your garden on a budget - especially if you've got an area that would benefit from decking. But there's a new Aldi buy that's got people racing to their nearest store, as it can help give their patio, balcony or garden path a chic new look on a budget. 3 3 The product in question is wooden tiles, with a pack of 10 coming in at just £3.99. The Gardenline Wooden Decking Tiles are made from acacia wood and are also pre-oiled - taking away a lot of the prep work people often have to undertake. The clever 'plug in system' also means you can just clip the tiles together - making the whole process quick and easy. "Got these in Aldi today, £3.99!!" one person wrote alongside a picture of the tiles on the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook. "Don't walk run!" "They are amazing, I got 4 packs!" one person wrote in the comments section. "How cheap are these!" another added. But others admitted they were struggling to get their hands on the tiles. "Need 2 tiles, can't find them anywhere!" one grumbled. As another admitted: "I've been to three different aldis and haven't found these even checked the website for them. I transformed my dull new build's garden into a Disney haven with Aldi bargains "I did see a post about these last year so might be old stock. "Such a shame I've not found any!" One person who did manage to find some of the tiles was Debbie, who used them to give her balcony a new, stylish look. "Revamped my balcony," she said, sharing pictures of the balcony both before and after the makeover on the DIY Ideas on a Budget group on Facebook. "Decking tiles from Aldi edged in black pebbles. Few plastic pots, and painted black. "Rail painted with Cuprinol Garden Shades. A well-kept garden can add anywhere between 5-20% to the value of a property. carried out a study and consulted 36 estate agents, garden designers and property professionals from across the UK. And the experts revealed the garden feature which adds the most value to a property is a shed. Shed - 82% Patio or paving - 76% Secure fencing, walls or gates - 72% Outdoor lighting - 66% Sturdy decking - 62% Water features eg. fountain or pond - 58% Modern garden furniture - 54% Artificial lawn/grass - 40% "So nice to have the sunshine to work in!" "I love what you have done. The floor looks gorgeous," one person praised Debbie. "Looks simply stunning! Well done to you!" another said. "It looks amazing !! Silly question do the tiles feel secure and splinter free?" a third asked. "Thinking of getting them but worried about them with kids?" To which Debbie replied: "No splinters, they have been treated with oil. "And because they are connected together it makes them secure."
