What NOT to Do on Your Decking (UNIQUE CONTENT how to keep your family safe on your garden decking)

What NOT to do on your decking

I’m sure you’ve tons of articles telling you how to maintain your outdoor decking, but what about the things you shouldn’t do on there? What is it that could ruin your deck? Well, that’s why we have written this article for you.

Don’t put your kid’s paddling pool on there
We know your decking might be a tempting place to temporarily put a paddling pool, with it’s nice flat surface and close proximity to the house, but it’s definitely not a wise idea for several reasons.

The first reason is that with paddling pools come a lot of water, and when the time comes when your children no longer want to paddle, what do you do with that water? You certainly can’t pour it all over your decking.

And the second reason is safety, wood can sometimes splinter. You don’t want one of those splinters to land in your child’s foot as they’re running barefoot to the water, or worse you don’t want a splinter to deflate the pool.

Don’t BBQ on your decking
Many people don’t observe this rule, but it is definitely not recommended to have a barbecue on your decking. Some wooden decking is treated with flammable materials, and this combined with hot flames could land you with a scorched deck that no amount of decking paint will be able to conceal.

Instead we suggest placing your barbecue in an area of its own. Whether that be in a concrete area in a separate part of the garden or on the lawn it’s up to you. You can still use your deck as an area to congregate and eat.

Don’t Put Pot Plants on Your Deck
Plants look great, there’s no doubt about it. But you should try and keep potted plants away from wood. The reason for this is because the bases of the pots often have drainage holes which dampen the wood. This dampness can wear away any wood stain you maybe have used, as well as encouraging mould.

Another thing to remember is that the sun causes natural changes in the tone and shade of your wood. If you have potted plants covering certain areas then that can lead to uneven shading.

Conclusion:
Though decking is perfect for many things, it’s not suitable for every activity. By remembering these simple do-not’s you can ensure that you don’t damage your decking or yourselves.