Decking Your Garden: Wood Choices, Design, and Installation

Decking offers a durable, contemporary alternative to paving, adaptable to any shape, slope, or style. Professional advice is wise for complex or elevated structures.

Softwood vs. Hardwood

Softwood (pressure-treated, ~25-year life) is popular in the UK. Common types:

• Western red cedar: straight grain, few knots, prone to splitting.
• British spruce/European whitewood: straight grain, few knots—above ground only.
• British pine/European redwood: visible grain, lower grades knotty.
• Douglas fir: wavy grain, naturally durable heartwood.
• European larch: prominent grain, sometimes knotty.
• Southern pine: visible grain, few knots.

Hardwood (naturally durable, no treatment needed, costlier, colorful but fades): Teak, Iroko, European oak, Opepe, Jarrah, Karri, Balau.

Board Selection & Prep

Widths: 75–150 mm. Wider boards cover faster. Round edges for water runoff. Grooved or plain.

Site Preparation

1. Clear all vegetation and turf.
2. Compact and level ground with gentle slope toward outer edge for drainage.
3. Lay weed-suppressing membrane, cover with gravel.

Ready-to-assemble kits and standard components are widely available. Proper prep prevents weeds between boards and ensures longevity.