If you’re planning a deck for the first time or are re-designing your existing deck then you’re likely to be surrounded by garden design books to help you make sure you make the right decisions. When you’re thinking about installing a deck in your garden landscape project, the wide choice of options can be daunting. However, with the number of experts around, there really is no need to go it alone. At Wood and Beyond, we like nothing more than hearing our customer’s stories and helping them to discover ideas that they mightn’t otherwise have thought about. So if you’re struggling with all the decisions you’re facing about your deck, you can always get in touch.
However, in the meantime in this blog post, we’d like to help you if you’re struggling to decide which width of decking might work best for you. Decking widths typically range from 90mm to 150mm, with 120mm and 140mm in between. Which width option you choose for your project can make a real difference to the end result and it’s well worth getting creative in order to get the best look for your deck and your budget.
In this blog post we’ll look at how different decking widths can alter the look of your deck and we’ll also touch on how the width of board you choose will affect the price.
Decking width and its effect on price
When you’re considering the options between, for example a 90mm decking board and a 140mm board, there really is little difference in price, so you shouldn’t necessarily allow cost to drive your decision-making process, unless you’ve spotted a real bargain at one end of the spectrum or the other. At Wood and Beyond, our 150mm width decking option is a UPM composite decking board, which gives you the chance to avail of a top quality decking product that’s man-made but looks every bit as good as solid wood. The main advantage of this composite decking board is that it’s so easy to maintain.
How to choose the right width of decking board
When you’re planning your garden design, it’s essential to look at your whole garden landscape. It may be that there are parts of your garden that you want to highlight and others that you want to take the attention away from. Either way, (pretty much) anything is possible if you get your decking plans right.
If you want to change the illusion of space or shape in your garden, choosing the right width of decking board is a great way to help you achieve that.
Here are a couple of ideas that we hope will inspire you:
Choosing a narrow width decking board
If the area you are planning to deck is small, it may be that you want to make the space have the illusion of being bigger. In this case, a great way to achieve that goal is to choose a narrow board. By choosing a narrower decking board, you will have more boards to cover your small area and simply because of the number of boards, the eye will have the impression that the area is bigger than it is.
The other situation where a narrow board can be effective is where you are forced through the space available to have a rectangular deck and that rectangle is long and narrow. If you are faced with this challenge in your garden design, then using a narrow board that runs across the narrow side of the rectangle will give you an illusion of the space being more in proportion.
Choosing a wider width decking board
If you have a big space to deck, in most instances a wider board will be your best solution. But, like narrow boards, in small or narrow spaces, broad boards can also be really interesting. If you have a long, narrow deck, you can use wide boards to make it seem wider if you lay them at right angles to the long side of your deck. Ironically, the same can be true for small decks if you plan your laying angle and direction well.
So as you can see, there are no right or wrong answers to which width of decking board you should choose. They key is to let your imagination run riot and ask for as much advice as you can get. At Wood and Beyond, we’d be delighted to help you make the right choice, so why not get in touch?
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FAQ
What widths do decking boards typically come in?
Decking boards usually range from 90mm to 150mm in width, with options such as 120mm and 140mm also available.
How does the width of a decking board affect its price?
Generally, the difference in price between a 90mm decking board and a 140mm board is negligible. Therefore, cost should not necessarily be the driving factor in your decision, unless there is a significant price difference at one end of the spectrum.
How can the width of decking boards affect the look of my deck?
The width of your decking boards can significantly alter the appearance of your deck. Narrow boards can make a small area appear larger, while wider boards can make a large space seem more proportionate. The choice of board width can also help to highlight or detract from certain areas of your garden.
What are some advantages of using narrower decking boards?
Using narrower decking boards can create the illusion of a larger space in a smaller area. If you have a long, narrow deck, using narrow boards that run across the short side can help the space seem more proportionate.
What are some benefits of choosing wider decking boards?
Wider decking boards can be beneficial for larger decking areas, as they can make the space appear more proportionate. Moreover, in small or narrow spaces, wide boards can be used to create an illusion of a wider space if they’re laid at right angles to the longer side of the deck.