Carpentry & Joinery

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Spring DIY - Check Your Decking

22nd October 2018

As the evenings get lighter and the rain eases off a little, giving way to the odd bit of sunshine, it is easy to imagine those long, summer days to come. Get ready for summer by making sure your garden is in good shape, so that you can enjoy the great weather when (if) it arrives.

Decking is a great garden feature, allowing you to dine al fresco and enjoy your outdoor space with friends. It is easy to upgrade your decking with a bit of clever lighting or some new garden furniture, but before you embark on the fun bits, it is important that you make sure your decking is safe first.

With prolonged exposure to the elements, and repeated use, even treated wood can become damaged. Before you get out the Pimm’s, check your decking. It may need a new coat of stain or weather guard, you may need to replace a few fence panels, or you may need to invest in new decking boards.

Look for Loose Connections

Check stairs, railings and ledgers for signs of wear and tear – if any seem to be warped, cracked or loose, it is important that you repair or replace them.

Inspect the Wood

It is natural that, over time, wood will decay or rot. If any of your decking feels soft or spongy, it will need to be replaced. Use a piece of metal, such as a screwdriver or poker to poke the wood: if the metal easily enters the wood, it is decaying.

Look for Rust

It’s not just the wood in your decking that is vulnerable to the elements: nails and screws can rust, making them potentially dangerous. Wood treatment can also be corrosive, so inspect metal brackets and joints to make sure they are intact and holding tight.

If in Doubt – Ask an Expert

Your decking is there to be enjoyed, but your safety is paramount. If you are unsure whether any element of your decking is safe, or want to know if it needs replacing, ask an expert. A reliable carpenter or landscape gardener will be able to give you a quick consultation and offer a quote for the work or provide you with advice and guidance on what you need to do to keep your decking safe for another summer.

Once your decking is checked, repaired, and ready to be enjoyed, you can upgrade it with solar lights, hanging baskets and new foliage, ready for a long, hot summer of enjoyment and relaxation.

If you would like to enjoy your decking with complete peace of mind, we can help you to find a reliable landscape gardener near yo u.

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How To Build A Brick Barbecue

Do you love dining al fresco? If you enjoy nothing more than a barbie in the garden, it is probably worth getting a good barbecue. Of course, you could spend hundreds of pounds on buying a new one but making your own is fun, cheap and will last for years. What’s not to love about that?If you are planning on building a brick barbecue and you have no bricklaying experience, it may be best to find an online instruction film to help you or employing a builder or handyman. However, if you do have some experience, this guide will help you.You Will Need:Bricks or breeze blocks– these can be bought new, or you can look for reclaimed sparesPaving slabsBarbecue set – you can buy grill pans and grills online, from about £30Brick settsCementSandSpadeTrowelSpirit levelHosepipe.Planning Your BarbecueFirst, choose the best spot. Make sure the new spot is level, out of the wind and away from anything flammable. If you are in doubt, you can always have a portable barbecue in the spot to see if it is right. There are two types of barbecue to choose from: a basic barbecue, or one with a stone side table, too. Do a bit of research and plan your barbecue according to your creativity, ability and tastes. Once you have decided on the size and design, you can calculate how many bricks you need. Lay your barbecue grill and (if you are making a side table) stone slab on the ground and lay out a surround of bricks, keeping as many as possible whole. You will end up with a capital E in bricks. This will tell you how many bricks you need per row. Based on a barbecue 13 bricks high, multiply the number of bricks in your E by 14 – to give you a few spares.The BuildUsing a mix of 5 parts sand to one part cement, fix your bricks. Use the spirit level at each stage to ensure that it is even. On the seventh course (row), on the left hand and inner walls, place the bricks side-on to create a ledge for the tray to sit on. Lay another three complete course and use side-on bricks on the 11th course (row) for the grill. Another two rows will give you a completed barbecue but if you want to add a warming grill, complete four more courses around the grill section only. make ledges on the 16th row and finish off with two more courses. Finally, cement a stone slab onto the side table section to complete your work area.Once your build has dried, you are ready to enjoy many years of happy barbecuing!

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Looking for more carpentry & joinery advice?

Find clear, practical answers to common carpentry & joinery questions, helping homeowners understand everyday issues, know what checks they can carry out safely, and when it is best to contact a qualified professional.

What types of carpentry work should never be attempted as a DIY project?

Anything structural - staircases, roof timbers, load-bearing walls, lintels. And anything that needs to meet Building Regulations, like fire doors or stair balustrading.
Getting structural carpentry wrong isn't just a cosmetic problem - it can affect how safe your home is. Worth paying for a professional who knows what they're doing.
Can a carpenter fix a door that won't close properly?

Yes, and it's a very common call-out. Doors that stick, drop, or won't latch are usually down to one of three things: swelling from moisture, hinges that have worked loose, or the frame moving slightly as the building settles.
Most of the time it's a straightforward fix. If several doors in the house are playing up at once, it might point to something structural - worth flagging when you get someone in.
Do I need a professional to install a staircase or banister?

Yes. Staircase and banister installation has to meet Part K of the Building Regulations - covering handrail height, baluster spacing, and stair pitch.
A badly installed staircase or banister is a real safety risk. A qualified carpenter or joiner will make sure it's both structurally sound and compliant.
How do I know if a wooden window frame needs repairing or replacing?

Repair is usually still an option if the frame is structurally sound (no soft or spongy patches when you press it), the rot is only on the surface or in a small section, and the joints are still tight. Surface rot can often be cut back, hardened, and filled with epoxy filler - a good carpenter can make it look like new.
If the rot goes deep, the frame is badly warped, or the joints have failed, replacement is the more cost-effective route.
What causes wooden floors or staircases to creak and can it be fixed?

Creaks come from movement - boards or treads rubbing against each other, against fixings, or against the structure beneath them as they flex underfoot. It often happens as boards expand or contract with changes in humidity.
In many cases, screwing things down more firmly or applying a lubricant between moving parts sorts it. If the creak covers a wide area or keeps coming back, a carpenter should take a proper look.
What are the benefits of bespoke fitted furniture over flat-pack?

The main one is fit. Bespoke is built exactly to your space - and in older UK homes especially, that matters. Sloping ceilings, alcoves, chimney breasts, walls that aren't quite square - flat-pack units run into all of these and often end up with awkward filler panels and gaps.
Bespoke joinery is also generally more solidly built and lasts longer. It costs more and takes longer, but for fitted storage in a room with character, it's usually the right investment.
Can a carpenter repair rotting timber or structural woodwork?

Yes - it's a core part of the job. Surface rot can often be cut back, treated, and filled with epoxy filler that can be shaped, sanded, and painted to match the surrounding wood. Deeper rot in structural timber - joists, window sills, roof timbers - usually means partial or full replacement of that section.
The important thing is also fixing whatever caused the moisture problem in the first place. Repairing the wood without sorting the damp is just delaying the same issue.

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