Planning your patio or deck:

A garden patio or deck extends the comfort of your home into the world outdoors. In creating a garden patio or deck by using low maintenance materials you, with your friends and family, may enjoy the sights, sounds and fragrances only nature can contrive.

Your patio can be just like another room in your house. Effective patio design can mean that your increase the floor space of your home, by adding an outside room that allows you to entertain like never before. A patio can just be a rectangular slab of concrete with some plastic chairs and griller, but it can also be so much more.

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What comes to mind when you think of a patio?

Patio design gives you the opportunity to create an outside living area – an extension of your home – for entertaining and relaxing all year round. For instance, people who like to entertain may want to consider a patio with an undercover kitchen and dining area. By adding a barbecue grill, a built in fridge and some quality outdoor furniture, the patio can, in itself, become a feature of your home.

When commencing a new patio design, it is important to remember that your new outdoor entertaining area does not need to be expensive. There are a variety of different patio surfaces to fit a particular style or budget, including concrete pavers, natural clay stones and bricks. There is no need to stick to one type of paving or surface - experiment. Pebbles, gravels, bricks and tiles, can all be incorporated. A contrasting brick edge can also be effective. Similarly, patio shades need not be extensive, just enough to cover the main cooking and eating areas; after all, why block out the view of your gorgeous garden in the midday sun or the stars in the sky on a clear night.

Consider textures, colors, and materials before starting

One of the most important considerations of patio design is landscaping. Plants help to soften the hard surface of a patio floor by providing color, texture and fragrance and they set the mood for an outdoor living space. Further, you might also like to consider the use of a water feature and some soft low voltage lighting or candles, to create a stunning patio setting for night time entertaining.

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Finally, selecting the right furniture is the key to the perfect patio design. There is no need to spend thousands of dollars on the right setting; more importantly you want to select items that are durable, basic in color and rich in style and sophistication. Consider resin coated wicker or rattan pieces that can be dressed up with different cushions and throw rugs. These items can be changed regularly to cater for a themed party or more simply, to match the changes in your flourishing flower beds.

A patio design can be as elaborate or as straightforward as you want it to be. Patios can be arranged in any shape and size and can be refreshed regularly just like the interior of your home. Outdoor entertaining is an increasing pastime – enjoy it with family and friends!

Cleaning Tips

Sweep it out. Start by picking up stray leaves and sweep up dirt that may have spilled from planters.

Spruce it up. Swipe down outdoor furniture with with an all purpose cleaner that combines the tough grease-cutting formula with pure orange oil. No harsh chemicals to ruin your party, and your patio will be left smelling like a garden.

Swipe it down. Ambient indoor light is part of your garden-party's romance, so keep your panes grime-free. 

Decorating Tips

Scope out the sun. Take advantage of the sun-and-shade patterns by setting a patio couch to receive direct light in early morning. Place your hammock or reading chair to catch shade at the days hottest.

Establish your boundaries. Keep car exhaust out and protect your privacy by creating a trellis or screen of latticework laced with climbing vines.

Roll 'em out. Set heavy planters on a base or platform fitted with casters so you can clean underneath them. Wheels will give you more freedom to move plants in and out of the sun.

Decorate with glee. Pick a color theme and carry it through your foods, plates, centerpieces, and potted plants. Create your own flower containers.

How to build your deck:

As decking has become increasingly popular, it is now quite easy to purchase timber suitable for decking projects from local timber merchants or garden centres.  While decking used to employ standard timber treated with a wood preservative, nowadays it is available in an array of specially manufactured configurations, usually tanalized to make it weatherproof.  The deckboards are made with longitudinally grooved surfaces which are not only non-slip, but also visually appealing.

When it comes to making your own decking, the first and most important consideration is to purchase the best quality timber that you can afford.  Cheap timber sparingly treated with preservative not only looks poor, but will have a very limited life.

It is vital to ensure that all supports for decking are substantial; timber uprights should be at least 4in (10cm) square and either set in concrete or dropped into a metal fencing sleeve or pipes set into concrete.  The maximum distance between structural posts should be 6 ft(180cm).  The boards themselves are mostly 6in (15cm) although it is possible to get both narrower and wider deckboards.

The gap between boards when they are fastened to the subframe should be no more than 5mm (0.2in); make sure that whatever gap you leave is consistent across the whole deck.  The space permits the timber to move in different weather conditions and lets rainwater drain away freely.  Remember to treat any sawn ends with a proprietary sealer to make them weatherproof.

Decking screws are now widely available and are the best method of securing the timbers so that their supports, although there is still a place for bolts, especially where strong uprights require connecting.  Alternatively galvanized deck ties can be used to secure boards to the joists.  The successful construction of decking depends upon careful planning and accurate measurements.  But with some forward planning, it is not as complex a task as it may at first appear.

Constructing a Decking Platform

1. The timber framework for decking should be substantial and the individual bearers placed at intervals to provide good support.  These should be set no more than 18 in (45cm) apart, but ideally 12in (30cm), especially over water.

2. Having ensured that the framework is square and tightly secured, the first deckboard is placed in position at the desired angle.  Start at one corner of the framework and work outwards.

3. Secure the first board using decking screws.  These are best screwed in using a power screwdriver.  Prior to fastening it down, square off each end of this board so that it will lie flush with the frame.

4. Position the boards so that a straight edge can be placed on them and the angle at which each has to be cut can be marked with a pencil line.  Ensure a small gap between each for subsequent fixing.

5. The gap between boards to allow for timber movement and surface drainage need only be minimal, but it should be uniform.  The end of a carpenter’s pencil can be utilized as a convenient unit of measure.

6. The boards are placed in position and secured with decking screws, at least two being used at each support point.  It is important to ensure that they screw vertically into the timber for a secure fit.

7. There is usually a small carpentry task required at the end to ensure a neat finish.  It is possible to run the decking out to an even number of boards, but this rarely produces ideal overall dimensions.