Decks Pergolas Screening Tree Surrounds Custom BBQ & Entertainment Areas
The 'outdoor room' is often a popular venue for dining. Extending your living space to the outside creates a more informal and relaxed area to entertain and will give your property added value and appeal. Add a deck or a seated entertainment area. Popular nowadays is built-in seating, especially along walls, as well as outdoor bars with built-in sinks, kitchenette facilities, built-in BBQ's and fireplaces.
Also consider decoration. Express your inner creativity in new and exciting ways. Current trends are hanging paintings created on metal or all-weather vinyl canvases, statues or wall-hung plants (creating “green walls”).
Every home needs a great deck for entertaining outdoors or just relaxing. Having a portion of the deck covered, or being able to utilize the area under the deck is also a definite plus.
We can help you create your perfect entertaining environment.
Things to consider: DECKING
What will you use your deck for? Size it to fit your needs (and furniture). No decking material is completely maintenance free, so making a deck too big will mean spending time maintaining space you don't use.
Do consider the space underneath your deck. Depending on how elevated the deck is, the space underneath can serve as storage.
The size of the deck also has direct structural implications. Oversizing the deck by 1 meter in one direction may mean an additional row of footings, as well as an increase to the cost of decking materials and labor. We can discuss the structural implications with you so you can get the deck that is the right size for your family at the price that's easiest on your wallet.
How will you get to your deck? Sliding doors could open onto the deck from the interior. A sliding door can be left open if there's a flyscreen panel in place. If your plan calls for french doors that swing outward, you should check the flyscreen options before you commit. Also note that the arc / swing of the doors will take up space.
What decking material will you use?
Composite decking (made of a wood and plastic blend), has become popular as it does not require periodic sanding or sealing as wood does. Note though that it is not maintenance free - Mold and mildew can form on it depending on the location of the deck, so be prepared to scrub your deck several times a year.
Only certain species of wood is durable as a decking material. Generally a hardwood such as Merbau (Kwila) is used, so to Jarrah, Spotted Gum, Cedar and redwood have a natural resistance to the elements. Treated pine decking is a soft wood that has been treated with chemicals to make it weather resistant.
Although timber decking can be left to weather (turn gray), most people choose to stain and/or seal the wood. This prolongs the life of the deck and gives you many color options. You should however let a 'fresh' deck weather for 3 - 4 weeks to bring out the natural colour before you seal it. Depending on the exposure, staining will need to be redone every two to five years.
Safety considerations. Unless your deck is built at or near ground level, you will probably need to have a railing or ballustrade. We can discuss the associated building regulations and requirements with you. In addition to timber railings (to match your deck), you could opt for glass panels, stainless steel cables or welded metal railings.
PERGOLAS / GAZEBOS
Defining your outdoor space without closing it in, a pergola makes a versatile addition to any outdoor living area because it can be sized and customised to fit the style of your home and garden. It can be formal or casual, attached to your home or a completely freestanding structure.
The design of your pergola will depend on its function. Long, narrow pergolas are best suited to paths and walkways and emphasise direction. Pergolas for entertaining areas should be wide enough to allow for traffic flow around furniture.
Consider incorporating fixed seating into the structure or screening panels to create interest.
Benefits of having a pergola:
- Provide a structure for climbing plants.
- Rain shelter / weather protection.
- Improve the look of your house.
- Add interest to a garden path.
- Screen out unsightly views.
If you are interested in having us partner you in your new deck or pergola project then please contact us through our Contact Page. We look forward to helping you develop and create the space you've always wanted and a quality finished structure.