It’s the garden trend that won’t die! The decking craze started in the 90s, and over the last couple of years we’ve rekindled the romance and fallen in love with it all over again. The difference this time is that previously clients wanted spaces for entertaining. Now the focus is more on improving day-to-day family life.
The modern deck
The modern deck has become an extension of the home so that it feels like an outdoor room. They’ve also become much grander. At the luxury end, the flooring follows a tree’s natural growth, retaining its shape and grain lines.
A deck is a canvas that you can add lots of features to, such as a pergola, a stainless-steel grill, and wine and beer coolers. If you want all the bells and whistles you can even add a spa, but bear in mind that comes with a fair bit of maintenance.
Up until recently the use of timber within the modern home build was confined to the floorboards and chopping vegetables on. Now houses with wooden cladding are sprouting up, particularly in sought-after west coast locations around Cobo and Vazon.
This wood that reaches new heights is decorative, it softens the appearance by adding warmth to a home and a connection with nature. Obviously, it has to be fire-treated wood so that it is non-combustible, and it must comply with building regulations.
Building considerations
Bonsai’s expertise with timber is well-known, we love wood because it’s solid, calm, warm, inviting, and it smells good. We also offer the very best in hidden fixing technology.
The first question people ask is ‘how do you build a deck?’ It’s true that building a small, basic deck is within the range of anyone owning an electric drill and portable circular saw. But before laying decking we recommend using a designer to plan the overall look of your garden. It will very likely save you money and time in the long run.
The planks must be laid at a slight slope, otherwise you risk water lying on the wood and rotting. The spacing between the boards must be Goldilocks-sized. Too small and the decking will retain water, too big and high heels and small fingers will get trapped.
Building a raised wood deck is generally a major project that needs to be carefully planned. The area needs to be cleared, levelled, compacted, and concrete support posts established.
The timber
The choice of wood needs careful consideration. Composite decking, which is a manufactured product that uses ground wood combined with plastic, is growing in popularity because it’s easy to maintain.
However, the look of a composite deck isn’t for everyone, it’s fake after all, so many homeowners want real wood. A higher-end option is hardwood, like mahogany or ipe, a Brazilian wood as such timber can last decades if well looked after. Softwoods tend to be much cheaper, but many do not last anywhere near as long. Instead, look for high-quality treated softwoods which provide longevity similar to hardwood.
Environment
Whatever type of wood is chosen, it will look better and last longer with some maintenance every few years. Industrial stripping solutions, cheap stains and ‘barrier’ varnishes should be ditched in favour of environmentally friendly cleaners, natural pigments and penetrating oils.
At Bonsai we don’t use wood that comes from old-growth forests, but rather is harvested from places like tree farms that replace stumps with saplings. Environmental loss is mitigated because the trees used are fast-growing. We strive to use wood that has as many certifications as possible.
Lighting
Good lighting will help to cosy up your deck. We advise clients to think of lighting in layers, just as you would do inside. Consider a floor or table lamp and an overhead light to give a range of levels.
The connection that people have with wood cannot be underestimated. During spring and summer, a well-crafted deck will become a home’s most popular gathering place.
To browse our decking offering, pop in to our shop on The Bridge Southside and speak to the experts.