Decked areas really come into their own in the summer, as an outdoor extension to our homes providing the perfect entertainment space to gather with friends and family. So, when it comes to installing a new deck, you might be forgiven for thinking that the summer is the best time, but as we show here, winter and spring are both far better.
Reasons to install decking in the winter
Whether you install the decking yourself or contract the work out, doing it in the winter or early spring means you can enjoy your outside space for the maximum period, right through to autumn. If using contractors, you may also find that the ones who will be booked up throughout the summer have more availability, and shorter waiting lists.
Winter weather is good for new timber installations
The dry, cold air we experience in a British winter provides the perfect conditions for a freshly installed timber deck, allowing the moisture content of the timber to evaporate and dry out gradually over several months following installation. Pressure treated decking components will not dry out evenly in the summer sunshine, preferring dry air. If this happens, drier parts will shrink faster leading to stress points in the wood, causing it to warp. So, when timber decking dries out in the low winter air humidity, decking boards will remain more firmly in place over time.
Winter installations give the garden time to recover
Cold, frosty winter weather hardens the ground underfoot, minimising the risk of damage to landscaped grounds during deck installation, as it is firmer to walk on. With plants and grass being mainly dormant in the winter, where they are disturbed, they will have plenty of time to recover before the spring.
Staining decking in winter
While newly installed decking should be left untreated for the first three months to allow the preservatives used to pressure treat the timber time to settle, established decks should be stained every two or three years. If this is done during the high humidity of summer, any moisture in the air can be sealed into the wood by the product used which can cause splitting or rotting over time. The moisture content of summer air may also make it difficult for the stain to be absorbed properly. For these reasons, a cold dry winter’s day offers the best time to stain your decking. Our article ‘How to stain decking’ has lots of tips to help.
Decking supplies from Witham Timber
At Witham Timber, we have over 40 years’ experience in the timber trade and are proud suppliers of quality, pressure treated decking components to the trade and domestic sectors. Our experienced sales team is available to help with trade enquiries over the phone on 01205 359188 or by email at sales@withamtimber.co.uk