If you are considering designing your garden, decking is one of the main attractions to consider and one which often comes up during the design stage. But what is garden decking? To simplify it, decking is a type of floor made from natural materials and placed above ground. Garden designers often use decking to create a recreational area for their clients which can easily exceed 30 years of use.  Why Is Garden Decking So Popular In Garden Design?●        It is a floor type structure which can withstand the weather. Not many other flooring materials can claim to cope with the UK weather well. Extreme cold, icy and wet conditions in winter followed by warm, sunny and sometimes muggy in summer.●        It has a unique ability in terms of getting a balance between a natural look and making practical use of space for an affordable price.●        In garden landscaping, decking allows you to create different levels, steps and to cover unwanted surfaces.●        Being a natural material, wood creates a warm and inviting feeling when you look at it. Which Woods Are Popular For Decking?

For wood spices to be suitable for decking their wood must incorporate a few essential properties. Because it has to bear foot traffic, the wood has to be very durable. The wood should also contain natural oils which seal the wood from the elements and finally... it has to be affordable. Here are some of the more popular wood spices which are used for decking.

Teak Wood - popular due to its natural oils which eliminate the need for preservatives and sealants.

 Iroko Wood - popular because it’s unaffected by insects, fungus, acids or alkalis, making it ideal for decks.

Ipe Wood - popular as a decking material due to its insect resistance, durability and natural fire resistant.

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Cumaru Wood - popular because the wood is exceptionally strong and has the same fire rating as concrete and steel.

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Is Garden Decking Hard To Maintain?

Not at all. To improve the decking longevity, you should consider maintaining your decking for the winter by following the steps below from time to time. Garden maintenance is an important part of keeping your garden lively. Start by making sure that the decking surface is free of any clutter, obstacles and garden furniture. Using a stiff broom brush the area to get rid of any dirt and debris which has accumulated over the summer months. Now that the decking is completely clean, you will need to treat the wood to make it more robust for winter. The best result is achieved by using decking oil which will seal the wood by penetrates the wood leaving a natural looking finish on its surface.Enjoy your decking!

Guide contributed by the team at Wood and Beyond which offers a wide range of garden decking and oak flooring for your home and garden, from engineered flooring to solid wood flooring.