Garden Design ⋅ Walthamstow ⋅ Tottenham

FIVE · GREAT GARDEN DESIGN · IDEAS TOTTENHAM

You who have found your dream house. And finally Bought It. You have spent time and money renovating it!

TIME TO REDESIGN THE GARDEN

Now it’s time to redesign the garden. Here are our top Five garden design ideas for your garden in Walthamstow and Tottenham.

TRADITIONAL · CONTEMPORARY GARDEN DESIGN

Gardens designed. Include Courtyard, Traditional and Contemporary garden design Walthamstow.

GARDEN DESIGN BUILD · LONDON · WALTHAMSTOW

He’s a selection of ideas gained over the years, Designing and building gardens in North London. Creating a stunning garden design in Walthamstow and Tottenham.

CONTEMPORARY · TRADITIONAL · ZEN · TROPICAL · GARDEN DESIGN · WALTHAMSTOW

TIP ONE ⋅ AN OUTDOOR ‘ROOM’⋅ FOR ENTERTAINING

• Create an outdoor room ⋅ seating ⋅ garden design in Tottenham
• Create an outdoor room ⋅ and add some heat ⋅ garden design Tottenham
• Create an outdoor room ⋅ add a lighting ⋅ garden design in Tottenham

TIP TWO ⋅ ADD A GARDEN STUDIO ⋅ DESIGN WALTHAMSTOW

TIP THREE ⋅ ADD A DECK ⋅ GARDEN DESIGN ⋅ WALTHAMSTOW

Why ⋅ add decking

Hardwood ⋅ versus ⋅ softwood

Cost ⋅ longevity ⋅ finishes

Decking ⋅ create a tropical oasis ⋅ add a hot tub

Decking ⋅ create the mood ⋅ add lighting

TIP FOUR ⋅ PRIVACY ⋅ ADD A SLATTED FENCE

TIP FIVE ⋅ VERTICAL GREENERY ⋅ BEDS ⋅ CLIMBERS

Window boxes ⋅ planters

Climbers ⋅ garden design · Tottenham

ADD AN OUTDOOR KITCHEN

Add an outdoor kitchen for cooking in those long hot summer months. Add a fire pit for warmth. And why not add zone lighting? Extending the party into the night.

BBQ AREAS

Outdoor cooking is gaining popularity. At the simplest end of the spectrum. This could be a simple BBQ or grill. Great for those who taste the steak. Grill vegetables and smoked fish.

GAS · CHARCOAL · ELECTRIC

BBQ options include Gas, charcoal, and electricity. Great for garden design in Walthampstow and Tottenham.

CREATE A PIZZA OVEN

A Pizza oven is another popular choice. Everyone likes a great stone-baked pizza. Recreate the taste of Italy by installing a professional-grade pizza oven. In your garden design, Walthamstow and Tottenham. Small pizza ovens are compact.

CAST IRON OR BRICK · PIZZA OVEN

And usually made from cast iron. Large pizza ovens are made from brick. They can be bought as kits and installed on-site. Most ovens are wood fire. For that authentic taste. Great for that Saturday nite pizza. Or that homemade savor pie.

OUTDOOR KITCHENS · GARDEN DESIGN · WALTHAMPSTOW · TOTTENHAM

Why not go for broke? And install a full kitchen in your garden design, Tottenham & Walthamstow. A simple outdoor kitchen would comprise an outdoor grill and an integrated work surface and seating area.

KITCHEN ISLANDS · STORAGE

A kitchen island style is the most compact version. You can also add storage for plates and utensils, fridges of drinks, and a sink and tap!

MODULAR KITCHENS

Profession units are generally modular in design. Allowing you to decide on which elements to incorporate into your outdoor kitchen design.

CONSTRUCTION · STAINLESS STEEL · GRANITE

Construction includes easy-to-clean brushed stainless steel cupboards and grills. And granite or marble preparation areas.

SEATING AREAS ⋅ Fire Pits Chimineas ⋅ Zone Lighting

It’s a great idea to treat your garden, as an extra room, for entertaining friends and family. When designing your garden in Walthamstow.

TABLES AND CHAIRS

Why not add a seating area? A table and chairs. For al fresco dining. Or maybe a comfy outdoor sofa. Perfect for an evening drink.

TRADITIONAL PAVING ∙ GARDEN DESIGN WALTHAMSTOW TOTTENHAM

Sandstone paving looks great in both traditional and contemporary gardens design like Walthamstow and Tottenham.

RIVEN SANDSTONE

Sandstone natural paving has a riven appearance. Autumn brown looks great in a traditional garden design, Walthamstow and Tottenham. The edges are hand-cut. Which gives the stone a rustic appearance?

TRADITIONAL FIVE-STONE PATTERN

Why not lay a traditional 5-stone pattern and add a traditional bird’s beak pointing?

ADD PLANTING

Soften the paving with a planting bed. Box hedging, Box balls, and hebes for form and texture. Add snowdrops and tulips for string color. Add alliums for spring color and agapanthus for summer color.

SINGLE SIZED PATTERNS

Lay a single-sized pattern, Using 900 x 600 slabs. Lay in an offset stretcher pattern. Add a raised bed for planting. Phormiums, crocosmia, miscanthus, and Stipa grass.

PRE-SEALING STONES ∙ PRIOR TO LAYING ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ WALTHAMSTOW TOTTENHAM

This can be sealed by the supplier. London stone offers a sealing service. Or you can seal the stone yourself. You will need somewhere dry and warm for your stones.

PRE-SEAL STONES · LONDON STONE

Best to get London stone to do the work for you! Sealing will make the stones less of a liability during the laying process.

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STAINING FROM BELOW ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ WALTHAMSTOW TOTTENHAM

Shot-blasted sandstone can also stain from the mortar bed it is laid on. This is a particular problem for those lighter stones.

ADD A THICK CEMENT SLURRY

Is a good idea to coat the stones with a thick cement mortar slurry. To prevent staining. Some manufacturers do suggest white cement and river-washed sand. However, can make the paving project expensive and it may be better to pick another stone!

ADD A BORDER TO YOUR PAVING ∙ GARDEN DESIGN WALTHAMSTOW TOTTENHAM

Why not add a definition to your paving project by adding a border to your garden design project.

ADD NATURAL STONE SETTS

Natural stone setts look great and can be used to edge your paving. They are usually available in 100 x 100 stones. And slightly longer 200 x 100. You will be able to get the sets in the same colour and finish.

Granite setts look great with contemporary paving. They are also great for edging beds and creating a mowing strip!

SLATE · PORCELAIN PAVING · GARDEN DESIGN TOTTENHAM

Slate is rich in colour and looks great in a traditional garden design Walthamstow and Tottenham. Porcelain paving is the new kid on the block.

UNIFORM · HARD-WEARING · EASY TO CLEAN

Uniform in colour and texture. Porcelain paving is extremely hard-wearing and easy to maintain and clean. Looks great in both traditional and contemporary garden design projects in Walthamstow.

SLATE · RICH IN COLOUR

late is rich in colour and looks great in a traditional garden design Walthamstow and Tottenham. It looks great in a traditional garden design or contemporary, Tottenham. Slate natural stone paving looks great front of house. Creating a doorstep and paving. Add some pots. Plant with bar trees, topped with ivy.

EXTERIOR SLATE ∙ STAIN RESISTANT ∙ GARDEN DESIGN WALTHAMSTOW

Make sure you buy exterior grade slates. It’s thicker than the interior slate. And resistant to frost damage. Slate is naturally stain-resistant and so doesn’t require sealing

PORCELAIN PAVING ∙ EASY TO CLEAN ∙ DURABLE

Porcelain paving is the new kid on the block. Uniform in color and texture. Porcelain paving is extremely hard-wearing and easy to maintain and clean.

DURABLE · STAIN RESISTANT

Looks great in both traditional and contemporary garden design projects in Walthamstow and Tottenham. It’s extremely durable. And scratch-resistant. And is available in a variety of textures. Including anti-slip.

PORCELAIN PAVING ∙ COLOUR ∙ TEXTURE ∙ STAIN RESISTANT

Porcelain is a man-made product and is consistent in color and texture. Porcelain paving is available in both contemporary and traditional finishes. Porcelain paving is non-porous. If you spill oil or grease. It won’t be absorbed by the stone. Spill engine oil. Simply wipe it off with a cloth and clean it with water.

GRANITE PAVING ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ WALTHAMPSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

Granite is strong and hardwearing with a slight sparkle. Available in a variety of colors silver, blue-black, and grey. Go for a textured stone, as granite can be slippery on a frosty day.

GRANITE · CONTEMPORARY GARDEN DESIGN

Granite paving looks great in a contemporary garden design in Walthamstow. Granite works well laid in single 600 x 600 stone. And is great for paths. Linking key areas of your garden design in Tottenham.

LIMESTONE PAVING ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ WALTHAMPSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

Limestone paving is available in both black and light yellow limestone. The black looks similar to slate but at half the price. Overall it is a pretty good natural stone at a great price. The black limestone can fade a little over time and can stain a little. It seems to excel at staining with handprints. During the laying and pointing process. It’s pretty porous and does seem to attract stains. The black stones do extract the summer sun. And can get particularly hot in those summer months.

SEALING ∙ NATURAL LIMESTONE PAVING ∙ GARDEN DESIGN WALTHAMSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

Sealing may prevent the stones from fading and staining. Always test and stone with your sealing product. Don’t seal on a sunny day. As the black stones will heat up and can affect the curing time of the sealant.

HARDWOOD DECKING · SOFTWOOD DECKING · GARDEN DESIGN TOTTENHAM

Rich hardwood decking. Always looks great and is available in a variety of timbers. Add recessed lighting for the final touch.

COMPOSITE DECKING · GARDEN DESIGN

Composite decking is also popular for garden design in Walthamstow and Tottenham. It is available in a multitude of finishes and colors. Including faux-aged timber.

REALISTIC DECKING

Which is extremely realistic for your garden design in Walthamstow and Tottenham.

FORGET THE ROT OR INSECT ATTACK

It’s long last and won’t rot or get be attached by insects. Millboard is one of the premier composite decking products available.

FIRE PITS · OUTDOOR COOKING · GARDEN DESIGN TOTTENHAM

The design for fire pits is endless. And look great in both contemporary and traditional materials in Walthamstow. Metal fire dishes also look great in your garden design.

GRILLS FOR COOKING

They can also be fitted with a grill for outdoor cooking. Remember to always buy or build something that will always fit in with your garden design’s theme, Walthamstow.

ARMORED CABLES · GARDEN DESIGN TOTTENHAM

Complete the picture. By adding some ambient mood lighting. Great for dining in those long hot summer evenings. Great to think about at the garden design stage Walthamstow. Armored cables can be discreetly installed.

During the construction phase of your garden design, Walthamstow.

ARMORED CABLES ∙ For a more permeant solution. Armored cables as integrated into the garden. And used to power LED lights. This is specialist work. And you will need the services of a registered competent electrician.

LIGHTING ZONES · WISE BOX

Add discrete lighting zones to your garden design. Each zone can be connected into a zoned wise box. Controlled, remotely by a wise box key fob. Why not, add external weatherproof sockets. And power, to the shed, garden room, or studio.

WISE BOXES ∙ these units are used to create zoned lighting circuits, in your garden design Walthamstow. Each zone can be wisely controlled by an infrared remote switch. They are available in both three zone or five zone units. And some models allow you to dim the lights in each zone. You will need to install dimmable LED bulbs.

CABLES FOR A LATER DATE

It’s sometimes a good idea to add the cables to your garden design project Walthamstow and tottenham. Allowing you to easily install your electrics at a later date.

LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING ∙ Options include low voltage units. These can be battery operated or can run off the mains using a transformer power supply. Waterproof case and wall sockets will protect any external plugs and cables from water ingress.

HIGHT LIGHT FOLIAGE ∙ LED ∙SPOTS ∙ this lighting is great for highlighting architectural foliage in your garden design, Walthamstow. LED spots are generally available in matt black or a brushed steel finish.

COLOUR OPTIONS ∙ led lights come in a variety of colours or shades. Cool white and warm white being the favourites. The intensity of the colour is also affected by the bulb’s wattage. This just takes a little experimentation!

UP LIGHTERS ∙ These generally give out more light and are great for highlighting architectural features in your

Space ⋅ hobbies ⋅ spare room ⋅ studio ⋅ office

Need extra space. Working from home more. An extra room for a hobby. Which can double as a spare room for guests. Why not add a garden room. The possibilities are endless. It could be a simple office area. Or you could install a kitchen and a shower. More and more people are working from home.

Remote Working · Garden Studio design tottenham walthamstow

Remote working has become the new normal. Forget the cost and time involved in commuting to work. Why not create a relaxing and productive environment in your own garden design Walthamstow. Panoramic view of your garden. In a bespoke, fully insulated garden design room.

Garden Room ⋅ Design & Construction ⋅ Walthamstow

Sound construction and design are important when designing your garden room, Walthamstow. Most designs are contemporary. An insulated timber shell clad with machined timber. Most roofs are pitched. There is a heavy emphasis on modern glazed doors and windows. The internal finish is usually simple and airy. Painted tongue and groove, plastered walls or painted MDF can all be used.

Garden Room Roofs ⋅ Design Walthamstow

Most roofs are pitched with any run-off where possible directed to the rear of the garden room. All roofs are fully insulated to create a warm cozy environment for work and play. Roofing options include heavy-duty felt. Fiberglass roofs. Available in a variety of finishes with matching guttering and fascias. including black and anthracite grey. And EPDM. Slate and tiles are rare for your garden room design Walthamstow. Due to their weight and cost

Felt Roofs · Fibre Glass · EPDM · garden design tottenham

Felts as a traditional roofing product add sheds and flat roof extensions. It’s hard-wearing and easy to install using a blow torch. Fiberglass roofs are extremely durable and robust. They do take a little longer and skill to install. And it a slightly more expensive. Dry and warm conditions are essential for fiberglass room installation. Allowing the resin to properly bond and cure. EPDM is a man-made rubber product. It is extremely durable. And manufactured in one sheet. And apply in one piece with no joints. To create a watertight seal.

Soften your garden room design ⋅ walthampstow

Garden studios can easily dominate your garden design Walthamstow. Don’t worry. Their overall impact on your garden design can be minimized. Add complimentary landscaping and planting can easily soften your garden design studio in Walthamstow.

Add paving or decking. Why not add a softwood deck. Creating a veranda outside your garden room. Creating a seating area for relaxing. Choose a timber that compliments your garden room’s cladding. Natural stone paving can work easily as well. Choose a contemporary stone such as Kandla grey. Lay in a modern single-size pattern. 900 x600 paving slabs always look great in any garden design Walthamstow.

Great planting will always look good in any garden design Walthamstow. Architectural plants, such as palms, tree ferns, and phormiums will work well. Especially with modern structures. Add alliums, agapanthus, and iris for color. For a more traditional shape and box balls and olives. Interplant with hebes and grasses. Add crocosmias and lavender for color. Always plant in groups for maximum impact. Creating swaths of color in your garden design Walthamstow. Try not to block out your view from your glazed door and windows. Try to soften the perimeter of your garden room.

PIZZA OVENS ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ WALTHAMSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

Cooking and entertaining are big in 2022. Forget the BBQ. Pizza ovens are in a big way. Everyone loves a stone-baked pizza.

Cooking Other Ideas ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Why stop at pizzas. Pizza ovens are extremely versatile for outdoor cooking. Great for homemade pies. Or Bread. Remember a pizza oven is just an oven, so be adventurous.

COOKING IDEAS ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ WALTHAMSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

Vegetables ∙ Ideas ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Roasted vegetables ∙ courgettes ∙ aubergine ∙ peppers ∙ mushrooms

Meat & Fish ∙ Ideas ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Baked or grilled fish ∙ sardines ∙ sea bass ∙ bream ∙ maceral ∙ swordfish ∙ shark ∙ cod ∙ trout

Slow-cooked meats ∙ pork ∙ beef ∙ lamb ∙ goat ∙ chicken ∙ gammon ∙ lamb leg ∙ rib of beef

Flamed ribeye steak ∙ Flamed sirloin steak ∙ Flamed t bone steak ∙∙ Flamed rump steak

Smoked and barbecued meats ∙ BBQ ribs ∙ sweet and sour pork ∙ smoked ham ∙ chicken wings

Jacket potatoes ∙ saute potatoes ∙ Roast potatoes ∙ Sweet potatoes ∙ croquettes

Bread ∙ Ideas ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Freshly baked bread loaves ∙ Freshly baked bread baguettes ∙ Freshly baked bread rolls

Focaccia and flatbreads ∙ Nam bread ∙ Chappatis ∙ Tacos

Side Dishes ∙ Ideas ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Side dishes such as shrimp, potato wedges and baked feta

Stews and casseroles ∙ meatballs ∙ chorizo ∙ halloumi ∙ garlic mushrooms

Hot Desserts ∙ Ideas ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Banana & Chocolate ∙ Apple Struddle ∙ Tarts ∙ Baked Cheesecake ∙ Lemon marang

TEMPERATURE ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ WALTHAMSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

With any cooking. Temperature is important. To hot, your food is burnt. Too cold. And your food is soggy and undercooked. With gas and electric pizza ovens, the temperature is easy to control. With a wood-burning pizza oven. Its slghtly twickier.

Control the Temperature ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

With a wood-burning pizza oven. Temperature control for cooking is a little more complicated. Firstly, you need to get the oven up to the correct temperate for cooking. And secondly, maintain it at the current temperature.

Infra-red Thermometers ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Most stone or brick pizza ovens don’t have a built-in thermometer to control the temperature of the oven during cooking. The easy way is to buy an infra-red thermometer that can measure the temperature from outside the oven. At the opening of the oven.

It’s the temperature is too hot. Let it die down a little before cooking. Too cold. Add more wood.

Cooking Temp ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Cooking on a Pizza ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Moisture ∙ Steam ∙ Firstly. It’s important to properly cure your oven when newly installed. This will reduce any unwanted smells or odours that can tint your food during the cooking process. If the pizza oven is of brick construction. The mortar and bricks will contain a lot of moisture. Slowing heating the oven at a sustain low temperature will help the moisture to escape as steam. Avoid curing the oven at a high temperature.

Choosing Your Timber ∙ Obviously for a wood-burning oven. You are going to need some wood. Using anything treated. Painted and tanalised. It’s going to taint your food. And it is probable toxic!

Season timber is best. Air-dried even better. And hardwood on top of the pile.

Where to position the fire ∙ Start the fire at the centre of the pizza oven. Once the fire is underway move it to one side of the dome. This will allow the oven to draw in air from the mouth of the oven. New wood should be added to at the opposite end of the oven. Once it starts to ignite and burns. Move to the original burning stack at the opposite end of the oven.

Remove the ash ∙ from time to time. It’s best practice to remove the ash from your pizza oven. This will help the oven to circulate and draw fresh air into the oven. Ensuring the flames burn brightly and cleanly.

Recipe 1 ∙ Sour Dough ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Ingredients

For the base

1 batch white sourdough (see step 1)

strong or plain flour, for dusting

For the topping

2 x 400g cans plum tomatoes

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil , plus extra to serve

1 tsp dried oregano

300g mozzarella, torn into chunks

small bunch of basil leaves picked

Recipe 2 ∙ Steak & Ale ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Ingredients

1 tbsp vegetable oil

100g smoked bacon lardons or smoked bacon, chopped

1kg beef shin, cut into large chunks

2 onions, roughly chopped

3 carrots, peeled and cut into large chunks

3 tbsp plain flour

1 tbsp tomato purée

1 tsp malt or red wine vinegar

1 tsp brown miso paste (optional)

400ml sweet brown ale

600ml beef stock made from 2 stock cubes

few thyme sprigs, stalks and leaves separated

2 bay leaves

For the pastry

700g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

2 tsp English mustard powder

150g lard

150g butter, plus extra for the dish

2 egg yolks, beaten

Recipe 2 ∙ Focaccia ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Ingredients

500g strong bread flour, plus extra for dusting

7g dried fast action yeast

2 tsp fine sea salt

5 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for the tin and to serve

1 tsp flaky sea salt

¼ small bunch of rosemary sprigs picked

Why Seal Your Paving Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

First of all, why seal your paving. Natural stone is pretty textured and porous. Dirt, grime and grease from outdoor cooking can potentially stain your patio. Food and wine spills. General foot traffic. And pets and children. Will All take their toll and your new patio? Great for your garden design projects Walthamstow & Tottenham.

BBQs & Stains ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

BBQ cooking and eating is a constant source of stains for your new natural stone or porcelain paving. A quick solution is simple to site your BBQ away from the paving. Next is not to pave under and around your BBQ. Why not just add shingle. Which can either be washed down over time. Over replaced.

If you already have paved. Then sitting your BBQ in a tray of sand is another low tech solution.

Types of Sealants ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

There are two main types of sealants available to protect your patio against stains and dirt. Epoxy Sealants and water-based sealants. Great for your garden design projects Walthamstow & Tottenham.

Epoxy Sealants ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

Expoxy sealants or polyurethane are permanent. Once applied to the stone. They are virtually impossible to remove. Love or hate them. They are there to stay.

I tend to avoid these sealants and go for the natural-looking water based sealants. The epoxy sealants are hard to apply and it’s really a specialist task for an experienced contractor. The chemical themselves are hard to work with and can be toxic pretty unpleasant. Sticky and toxic. Toxic to you are the environment. Additionally, the can be costly to buy and apply.

Shiny ∙ Wet Look ∙ They do give the paving than shiny wet look. A lot of people crave. And can appear to enhance the colour of the paving. Expoxy sealants can also have colour enhancers. To hight light or deepen the natural colour of the paving.

Unnatural ∙ The downside is they can look pretty unnatural and too glossy for many people. Always test the sealant on a spare stone. To make sure you are happy with the finish. Before sealing the entire patio. Great for garden design walthamstow & Tottenham.

Waterbased Sealants ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

Easy to use compared to epoxy-based products. Less harmful to use and generally better for the environment. Water-based sealants have a very natural finish. Most of the time you won’t see it! They work well-repelling liquids. Water, beer wine, coke. And prevent oils and grease from penetrating deep into the stone. Great for garden design walthamstow & Tottenham.

Natural Stones ∙ Porcelain ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

One of the great assets of natural stone. Is its a natural rustic appearance. Not a shiny wet look. If you want a shiny appearance why not bite the bullet and install a porcelain patio. Another advantage of porcelain is that is non-porous and so is pretty stain resistant naturally. Great for garden design walthamstow & Tottenham.

Which Stones to Seal ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

Sandstone is pretty easy to stain. With grease and grime. Granite can stain and so does limestone. Although black limestone can be tricky to seal and can benefit from a colour enhancer. Great for your garden design projects Walthamstow & Tottenham.

Slate is natural pretty stain resistant and hard to successfully seal. And porcelain doesn’t require sealing at all.

Pre-sealed Stones ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

Why buy pre-sealed paving? Certain paving suppliers with pre-seal your paving for you. Firstly certain stones will stain easily during the laying process. And sealing stones in wet cool conditions before laying can be problematic.

Lighter Stone ∙ Pre-sealing ∙ White Cement ∙ River Washed Sand

Certain lighter stones will stain easily. Sandblasted sandstone is one of the culprits. Staining can be caused by messy laying. Handprints and spilt mortar. Wiping down slabs is essential. A tile emulsifying pad. Is a great investment

Staining from the mortar bed ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

Laying a lighter stone on a mortar bed can cause staining from below. Iron stains from the sand cause leach to the surface of the stone. Can cause an unsightly appearance in your paving project. The easiest solution is to avoid the lighter shot-blasted stones. If laid without staining. They are sure to stain after being and will need constant cleaning. Pre-sealing the stones will go some way to solving the problem. But you may still get staining from the bed below

How to prevent staining from the bed ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

Sealing the top and bottom of the stone is a start. Using white cement and river washed sand will further reduce the chances of staining your patio. Using a cement slurry also helps. Create a slurry from cement and water. And paint onto the slabs before laying.

Problems ∙ Pre-sealing your slabs ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

Using a water-based sealant. You can save a little and pre-seal your paving slabs. You will need a lot of space to lay your slabs out. A fine dry day. A warm temperature is needed for the sealant to properly cure. And then you will need to repeat the process for the other side. Paying for a pre-sealed paving can save a lot of time and effort.

SEALING YOUR PAVING ∙ AFTER LAYING ∙ WALTHAMSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

efflorescence ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

It’s a good idea to leave your paving a couple of months before sealing. This will allow any efflorescence to disperse. Before the sealing process. This is where a salt layer from the mortar rises through the stone. Forming crusting on the surface of the paving. Over time the salts disappear naturally in most cases. Chemical treatments can also be applied to speed up the process. Its not a good idea to seal the stone. Until the paving, the efflorescence has time to disappear. Rather than sealing the salts on the surface of the stone.

SEALING YOUR STONE ∙ GARDEN DESIGN WALTHAMSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

Cleaning your paving ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

First, before getting started. It’s a good idea to clean the paving. If the paving has been paved pretty recently. Then this could be a sweep or a blow. Followed by a jet wash. If the paving has been down a lot longer. Then this will be a chemical clean. Which will remove dirt, grime and grease. And any organic material. Algae, moss, lichen and black spot. A patio cleaner can be applied with a deck brush and water. Don’t let the solution to dry out and let the chemical dwell on your stone. For the recommended time.

When jet washing the stone. Don’t get too close to the stone as it can easily mark the stone. Creating lines on your new patio.

APPLYING WATER-BASED SEALANT ∙ GARDEN DESIGN WALTHAMSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

The easiest way is to apply with a roller working from one end of the patio to the other. It’s a good idea to apply on a dry warm day. If it’s too hot the sealant will cure too rapidly. If it’s too cold the sealant will cure too slowly. If it’s too wet then the sealant will be washed off!

Urban zen is a take on the Japanese style zen garden design. Forget the bonsai and rake gravel. The aim is to create a relaxing and peace full environment. Amidst the Hussle and bushel of modern city life.

Small Garden Design ∙ Tottenham ∙ Walthamstow

Most city gardens are pretty small in size. Even in London. Space in the city is at a premium. You have had the loft conversion. Extended the kitchen. And now you want to make the best out of the garden.

What To Include Zen ∙ Garden design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Everyone wants a seating area. An area to relax and entertain. You are going to need a practical area for your seating. Forget the gravel. Paving and decking will work well in your urban zen garden design Walthamstow.

Paving ∙ Urban Zen Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Natural stone paving works well in any garden design project. Sandstone Natural stone paving is a perfect choice for your urban zen. It’s great value for money and is available in a variety of shades.

Sandstone paving is natural in appearance. It looks great with rustic hand-cut edges that complement its riven surface. Kandula grey has a light and airy appearance. Great for small spaces. Autumn brown is a little more traditional. Lay your pavers in a simple 900 x 600 single size pattern. A 600 x 300 & 600 x 600 two stone pattern works well for paths and walkways. Add extra detail by adding edging sets to your zen urban design.

Decking ∙ Urban Zen Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Decking looks great in your urban zen garden. Great for creating a seating area. Especially in gardens with uneven ground. Or slopes to contend with. Decking also works well linking kitchens and gardens. Especially bifold doors. And with drain freely!

Decks seem to get better with age. Forget the border and boards 45 degrees. Keep it simple. Chunky smooth boards. Creating that boardwalk feel in your Zen garden design, Walthamstow.

Softwood Decking ∙ Garden Design

Softwood decking is great value for money. Available in both smooth and ridge boards. Each board is tannalised. Offering protection again water damage and insect attack. The boards can be left plain. Or stained or painted.

Hardwood Decking ∙ Garden Design

Rich and luxurious in colour and grain. Hardwood decking boards look great. The are long-lasting and solid in appearance. Fix each board with stainless steel screws. Don’t paint or stain! Simply oil annually. To enhance their appearance. And protect the grain from cracking or splitting.

Construction Your Deck ∙ Garden Design

Level your area. Add your weed membrane and then your carcassing. Finally, add your decking boards!

Garden Room ∙ Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Garden rooms are becoming popular in garden design. Homeworking and zoom meetings. Making homeworking more and more common place.

Garden Office ∙ Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Its great to work at home. Convenient, forget the commute. Fighting the traffic in the morning. More time for you and its better to the environment. With more and more people working from home. It makes perfect sense.

However the home can be full of distractions. Especially if you have young children or pets. Its great to a have a dedicated office space.

Benefits ∙ Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Have an office separated from the house. Create a peace full environment for home working. Free from the distracts of the home. Separating your home and work environment. Create a tranquil working environment. With a relaxing view of the garden.

USES ∙ GARDEN DESIGN ∙ TOTTENHAM ∙ WALTHAMSTOW

Garden room have multiple use.

Garden Rooms ∙ Music Studio ∙ Office Room ∙ GYM ∙ Art Studio ∙ Guest Room ∙ Yoga Studio ∙ Games Room ∙ Cinema ∙ Granny Annex ∙ Bar ∙ Pool games room

DESIGN ∙ CONSTRUCTION ∙ GARDEN ROOM ∙ WALTHAMSTOW

There are many ways to install your garden room. Kits are available from several UK companies. For you to install yourself. Or contractors working for the garden room companies or you.

Garden Room Kits ∙ Design · Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

These kits are good value for money. Garden room kits. Can work out cheaper than purchasing the timber and windows from you local builders merchant. Every think is worked out for you with not wastage. It takes the stress out of project. It you want challenge why not construct the garden room yourself.

Design Your Own Garden Room ∙ Design · Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Its possible to design your own garden room yourself. A work to the wise. You will need some basic knowledge of construction. And sizes and length of timber. Otherwise, you will end up with a lot of timber offcuts.

Garden Room Kits ∙ Customising Them

Why not buy an off the shelf kit. And customise it during the construction phase of the project. It will add a little extra cost to project. But this approach will help you achieve your perfect garden room.

Garden Room Plans · Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

There are companies providing plans for home build. Why not buy a basic plan and use it a basis for your own garden room design. It will take the stress out of the project. And lead to less wastage and associated costs. Some companies also have you tube clips to help you during the construction phase.

Garden Room ∙ Construction ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

It’s possible to construct the garden room yourself. You will need the right tools and an intermediate level of expertise. The roofing is tricky and so it is fitting the windows properly. To prevent draughts and leaks.

Basic Tools for Garden Room Construction

Screw Gun ∙ Impact driver ∙ Chop Saw ∙ Planner ∙Hand Saw ∙ Levels ∙ Drills & Drill Bits ∙ Ladders

The Base ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

It’s important to have a solid base for your garden room. This will prevent the structure from sinking or slumping. Especially is your ground is unfirm. Any movement will case the timber structure to move and flex. This could level to doors and windows struggling to shut properly.

Type of Garden Rooms Bases

There are several types of base available for your garden room project.

Concrete Base ∙ Metal Frames ∙ Timber Carcassing ∙ Piling

Concrete Bases ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Concrete bases are probably the most traditional type of foundation for sheds and garden rooms. Mark out your base. Excavate to the required depth. Pour your concrete. Level and wait!

Things to Think About ∙ Concrete Bases

First for a large garden room. Its worth thinking about how you are going to excavate your base. For a smaller base, your might be able to excavate the base with your hand. A shovel and a wheelbarrow. And some friends.

Large Bases ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Diggers ∙ Excavators ∙ For a large base you are going to need a machine. Really you are looking at an excavator. A micro digger is great where access is tight. A small micro digger will fit through a standard doorway of the gate. For a larger base then it’s worth getting a larger machine. A 1.5 tonne excavator is ideal.

Getting Rid Soil ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Excavating the base will generate a lot of waste. Its worth scrapping off the topsoil and putting it a side. Good top soil can be lost around the garden.

Clay ∙ Rubble ∙ Waste ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow

After the topsoil you will meet the subsoil. The crud or even worse the clay. This you will want to get rid of. Options include skips or grab hire (muck away).

Skips are getting for smaller bases. For a larger areas you will need a grab hire. Stack you waste up and lets them get rid of the waste for your.

Mixing Concrete ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Options include mixing it your self or a ready mix. It may seem cheaper to mix it yourself. It’s a lot of work. Allow 6 bags of cement per ton of sand. A mixer is a must and so is a couple of friends.

Ready Mix ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

For larger bases. A ready mix is probably the best option. You need to think about how to get the concrete to the base. One option is to simply barrow it. You will need to pay extra for the ready mix. To wait for you to barrow.

Pumps ∙ Pipes ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

It is possible to pump the cement to the base. You need to check the run to base. And calculate the distance for the pipework. No all-ready mix have pumps for hire. You might need to contact a specialist pump hire company.

Pouring ∙ levelling ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

You need help pouring the concrete. It’s a good idea to invest in a pair of wellies. I heavy rake, and spade to level the concrete. And a couple of scaffold boards and a level.

Simply pour the concrete. Tamp the concrete down with the boards. Raking the high points. To the low points. Checking the level. With your level. Allow the concrete to harden up for a couple of days before boarding on it!

Frost ∙ Reinforced Concrete ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow

Be careful of frosts damage. Fibres can also be concrete to add extra strength to the Concrete.

Metal Frames ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow

Some companies offer metal frames for construction. These are easy to put together. And doesn’t require excavating a base. And you don’t need to get rid of the soil. The bases aren’t cheap but are convent.

Timber Frames ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow

Timber frames can be used for medium to small offices rooms. It’s a good idea to places a few slabs under strategic points. To prevent the frame from sinking. Again, its relatively easy to construct and it’s worth putting down a weed membrane.

Concrete Piles ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow

Another option is to construct small concrete piles to take the weight of the garden office. Less soil waste. Less concrete for the base.

Constructing Concrete Piles ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow

Using a trenching spade and a post hole digger. Mark out a series of points with spray paint to take the weight of the timber base of the garden room.

Digg a long thin hole. Fill the hole with concrete. Insert the thread of the threaded steel into the concrete. Level the bolt with a level. Once the concrete has gone off after a few days. The Timber frame can be hung off the steel bolts.

Walls ∙ Cladding ∙ Insulations ∙ Garden Room Design ∙ Walthamstow

Walls are constructed of timber partitioning. It’s filled with insulation. Allowing you to use your garden room all year around. Insulation material includes rock wool. Rock wool is relatively cheap to buy. And it’s a mineral wool material. With pretty good insulation material. Sheep wool insulation is a natural material. Which is great value for money. With great insulation properties.

Celotex is the industry standard now. Its compact and lightweight. With excellent insulation properties. It can be expensive.

EXTERNAL CLADDING ∙ TONGUE AND GROOVE ∙ SHIP LAP

External cladding will create a great look for your garden room. Horizontal slats look great. Vertical slats are particularly contemporary.

Tongue and groove are the standards. Shiplap is more traditional. Softwood is the cheaper option. Hardwood looks great. Options include cedar or meranti.

PAINT ∙ STAIN ∙ GARDEN ROOM ∙ DESIGN ∙ TOTTENHAM ∙ WALTHAMSTOW

Stains ∙ softwood can easily be stained. It’s economic to apply and is available in a variety of finishes and colours. Stains enhance the grains of the timber. And offer protection against water damage. And protect against UV Damage.

Painting ∙ gives you a solid colour. In some cases, you need to prepare the timber. Knot treatment. A primer to help the paint to stick to the timber. An undercoat to help the finish of the topcoat. And finally, the topcoat.

All Coat ∙ is a single coat paint. Forget the primer and undercoat. All coat is a true one coat paint. And it’s easy to apply. Available in all the RAL colours. And in a variety of finishes. Matt, Satin or gloss.

Oil ∙ Hardwood doesn’t need painting. Just oil once a year. To give the timber UV protection. Enhance the grain. And prevent the timber from cracking or splitting.

INTERNAL FINISHES ∙ GARDEN ROOM ∙ DESIGN ∙ TOTTENHAM ∙ WALTHAMSTOW

Time is limited. We are all leading busier lives. Most people want a garden to relax and entertain in. got for ease. By adding a low maintenance garden design. Plants that are easy to care for. Maybe forget the traditional lawn. And go for artificial grass. Reduce your bed size. By installing raised beds. And add an easy to set up the irrigation system. Finally, add a low maintenance planting scheme. Great garden design walthamstow.

RAISED BEDS ∙ GARDEN DESIGN

Raise beds are great for any garden design. And a great way of visually containing your planting. They work well in courtyard garden design. Where space is at a premium. Add vertical greenery to your garden Design walthamstow & tottenham.

Concrete Blocks ∙ Contemporary Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Raise beds to look great constructed out of concrete blocks. You can use double skins blocks or hollow blocks. Hollow blocks are useful as they can be set with a steel rebar. And filled with concrete. Creating an extremely strong retaining wall. For both types of blockwork. You will need a foundation. To support the walling. And preventing splitting and subsidence. Great garden design walthamstow.

Laying Your Blocks ∙ Contemporary Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Blocks are easier and quicker to lay than blockwork. The finish is not so vital. As the blocks are going to be rendered. Blocks do need to be kept straight and vertical. Most landscapers will lay the blocks themselves. Great garden design Walthamstow.

Rendered Walls ∙ Contemporary Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Blocks can be rendered. And painted white for a great contemporary garden design fee. Remember to use stainless steel beading or plastic beading. To prevent the formation of rust marks. K-render can also be applied. It’s a premix-coloured render. Its gas is a pigment built into the finish. That means it never needs painting. The finish also has a slight sparkle to its texture! Great garden design Walthamstow.

Raised Beds ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

For a more traditionary feel add a raised bed constructed out of bricks, stonewalling, dry stone walling or sleepers. Bricks, stonewalling will need a foundation. Whereas sleepers can be sat on a relatively thick mortar bed. Especially if the ground is firm! Great garden design walthamstow.

Brick Sleeper Beds ∙ Traditional Garden Design

Bricks can look great in a traditional style garden design. The retaining wall will only look as good as. One is the quality of bricks. And the bricklayer. You also get watch you pay for in life. Bricks are no exception. Cheap bricks look cheaper. Whereas expensive bricks look expensive. Its cost is a factor. And you don’t have a supply of good bricks. Go for a sleeper raised bed. Great garden design Walthamstow.

Reclaimed Bricks ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Reclaimed bricks will work well in a period property. They are getting more and more expensive to buy due to the demand. Quality is variable. Some bricks are covered in a mortar or chipped. Other dry and brittle. Cracking like biscuits. Great garden design walthamstow.

Reclamation Yards ∙ Traditional Garden Design

Be careful when buying from reclamation yards. Many will offer pallets to buy as seen. And won’t exchange any poor-quality bricks. The other will sell you the bricks at one price. And buy any excess bricks back at another price.

A common trick is to hide the poor-quality bricks in the middle of a pallet. You can offer to sort through the bricks before buying. But many reclamation yards are not keen on this practice!

Old New Bricks ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

It is possible to buy new bricks that have been aged to look like reclaimed bricks. These tumble bricks are a great alternative to reclaimed bricks. Especially if you need a large quantity. Bricks are tumbles in a large drum. Each brick bashing into the other. Chipping and ageing them. Fire bricks can be tumble. Or unfired bricks the ultimate ageing process. Great garden design walthamstow.

Laying Your Wall ∙ Traditional Garden Design

You have got your bricks and installed your foundation. Next for the laying. Bricklaying is a skilled profession. A good bricky worth his weight in gold. The wall will only look as good as the finish. Most landscapers get in a bricklayer for the wallings.

I can always tell if a landscaper has had a go at bricklaying. Wet weather is a know know. It will ruin the pointing. Staining the face of the brick. Be careful of the frost. It can easily blow the mortar between the bricks. Prices are not cheap for bricklayers. That with the cost of the bricks will make the project fairly expensive compared to a sleeper retaining wall.

Stone Walling ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Stonewalling can be used to construct your raised beds. Marshalls are one of the major suppliers. I’m not a huge fan. Its looks are a little bland and 7o’s! If you are going to the expense of building a wall. You might as well go for an attractive brick. Saying that. If you do need a heavy retaining wall. Then stonewalling might be the solution for a more traditional garden design.

Dry Stone Walling ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Dry stone walling is a huge topic! It’s a skilled profession and not an easy one. Most raised beds are relatively small in height. It’s possible to cheap and create ‘fake’ dry stone walls. Held together by mortar. Giving you the appearance of a natural wall.

Buying Your Stones ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Probably the hardest part. Equal to building it! For a small wall, you need flattish stones. You can easily stack. Or more square brick-shaped stones. Most of the pallets of stones bought will be a mix of the two. And some unusable stone. The triangles. Great garden design walthamstow.

Sorting Your Stones ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Once you have purchased enough stone for your raised bed project. This first process is to sort your stones. By size and shape. This will give to a strategy to construct your wall.

Splitting Stones for Coping Stones ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

You will need some coping stones to finish off your dry-stone style wall. It’s possible to split some of the larger stones to create your coping stones. Using a bolster and hammer. Carefully work around the stones. To split it. To the desired thickness.

Laying Your Wall ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

It’s best to have a foundation in place. It would be a pity to spend all that time building the wall. For its to subside and crack. A good rule of thumb is to build the foundation. Double the thickness of the width of the wall.

Keeping it level ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Obviously. Your stone is not a standard size block. You are aiming for a rough level. However, keeping a check on your stones will give you the best possible results. Sorting your stone. And picking the best stones as you go along with help you. Great garden design walthamstow.

Staggering Your Joints ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

After every course of stone, it’s a good idea to stagger your joints. The wall will look better. And it will be stronger for it.

Cutting Your Stone ∙ Traditional Garden Design

At some point during the build, you might need to cut the corners off the stone. To form a rough block shape. The amount you cut will depend on the quality of your stone. The better-quality stone will be dressed. Already cut into to rough blocks. Most aren’t. Cutting the stone can be hard Work. Depending on the stone. Great garden design walthamstow.

Mortar and Pointing ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

The aim is not to see any mortar. But add enough to hold the wall together. A fair amount of mortar can be added to the inside of the wall. Which can be hidden with the soil and planting. One technique is to lay the stone. Add brush out any excess pointing. This can be done the next day. Just before the pointing has fully gone off. And reduce the stain of the stones

Finally Adding Coping Stones ∙ Traditional Garden Design ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

The final stage is to add the coping stones. These need to be firmly set in place. One tip is to add some SBR either to your mortar mix. Which can be messy. Or to the back of your coping stone. This will add extra strength to the mortar. And help to prevent the stones from knocking off. Great garden design walthamstow.

SLEEPER BEDS ∙ GARDEN DESIGN

My favourite method of raised bed construction. Forget the foundation. The expensive bricklayer. The expensive bricks. Or the blocks and plaster. Great garden design walthamstow.

Why Add Water Features ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham?

A water feature will add interest to any garden design. Water features work well in both contemporary and traditional garden designs. Water features work well in tropical and zen garden designs.

Add Movement & Sound ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Water features are great for adding sound and movement to your garden design. They are great for creating focal points. And work well will timber structures and metal sculptures.

Ponds Versus Water Features ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Mention ponds and most people think or frogs, goldfish, and koi carp. Natural nature ponds where fashionable through out the eights.

Natural Ponds ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

They general require little maintenance. The weed aerates the water. Aquatic life includes stickle backs, frogs, newts, and toads. Nature ponds don’t need filters. The pond tends to look after itself. They occasionally need cleaning of weed. Natural pond work better in informal garden designs. Nature ponds have some what gone out of fashion. Smaller gardens favour more compacted low maintenance water features.

Adding A Water Features ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Designing ∙ Installing A Water Feature ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

You will need a couple of key elements for your water features. A sump holds the water that circulated around the water feature. You will need a pump with a power supply to move the water around the water feature. It’s a good idea to have a valve to control the rate of flow.

A grill can be added on top of the sump, which can be disguised with Scottish pebbles. Water can be fed into a drilled stone, creating a fountain.

Other Design Ideas ∙ Water Features ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Wall Mounted Water Features ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Wall-mounted water features are great for small gardens. Where space is at a premium. Stone bowls are great for more traditional gardens. Where a formal design is needed. Always go for quality.

Stainless steel is great for a more contemporary garden design. Corten steel also looks great!

Rills ∙ Water Channels ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Rills or thin channels of water look great in slightly larger gardens. They can add a formal symmetrical element to your garden design. They are great at connecting two ponds or water features together. They go require a bit of planning. Especially to recycle the water from the lower pool. Into the higher pool!

To Paint Or Not to Paint ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

First, off the bat decide what to paint or update. Painting can be an instant fix for tired garden elements in your garden design. Refreshing garden design features. However, once an area is painted. You are creating an extra maintenance task, for your low maintenance garden design.

Why Paint? ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Painting does have its benefits. Revamping tired timber. Updated cheaper materials. Creating a more stylish finish. You might just want a change. Painting with an exterior product will add protection to the timber. From UV over time and from rot and insect attack.

What To Paint ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Most things can be painted. Metal containers. Brickwork. Timber. Fences are obvious. Especially when cheaper lapwing fences are installed.

Fences ∙ Options for fences include old fashioned creosote. Cheap in price. Easy to apply and offers great protection. The only drawback is the finish. Many fences take on a muddy brown colour. A bit the 70s!

Sheds ∙ Depending on the timber. Sheds can be left bare to silver up over time. And treated with UV clear protection. Or painted a colour. It’s a good idea to leave the timber to weather a little before painting. This will allow the pores in the timber to fully open up. Allowing the timber to fully absorb the paint.

What Not to Paint ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

What to leave natural is a matter of choice in your garden design. Once painted. Remember you are stuck with the colour. Anything constructed of hardwood. Should be left unpainted. Allow the grain to remain visible. It’s better to allow the timber to weather a little and then add some protection. Osmo has some great protection. Protecting the timber from UV damage. Wood rot and insect attack. Great for protecting that hardwood. Finishes include satin or gloss. Oils are also available from osmo for preventing the timber from cracking or splitting. Overtime are wood dries out.

Paints For Timber ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Stains ∙ coat the timber. Enhancing the grain. These are relatively cheap and easy to apply. With a fence brush. Or spray on versions is available. You don’t get a solid colour. And you can still see the grain through the stain. It usually takes a couple of coats to get a good finish. Sadolin has some great products. Be daring and add a black duck’s back colour. Plants really pop against the black colour!

Opaque Tinted Coats ∙ These give a full coat. Where you can’t see the grain through the paint. Available in a huge range of RAL colours. Great for painting timber sheds and structures.

Painting metal Containers ∙ Walthamstow ∙ Garden Design ∙ Tottenham

Painting metal containers. Requires a little more preparation. Metal containers make great planters and window boxes. Remove any rust or loose metal from the surface of your container. A wire brush or wire brush cup for a drill works well. Remember any loose metal will stain your paving!

Next coat the metal will a red oxide primer. Black fryers have a great primer. After the primer has been cured. Paint the metal. If would avoid the gloss and messy. Hammerite! Rustoleum 7500 Alkythane Ral 9007 Metallic is great paint. Its not cheap but produces a great durable finish.

Artificial Grass ∙ Garden Design Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Is Artificial grass realistic ∙ Artificial grass has come a long way in recent years. Forget the cheap shiny grass of the ’70s. Artificial grass is extremely realistic. It even contains a brown thatch, to mimic real grass. There is a wide range and options. And of course options. The more you pay. Generally, the thicker the thatch of the grass.

Is artificial grass easy to install ∙ Garden Design Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Excavating Your Base ∙ Garden Design Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

Installing an artificial lawn does take a fair amount of preparation. First off, the bat. You will need to excavate your base. It is going to generate a fair amount of good soil. If you are lucky. Or a lot of clay. It may be possible to lose some of your soil around the garden. Otherwise, you are looking at a skip hire!

Levelling Your Artificial Grass ∙ Garden Design Walthamstow ∙ Tottenham

In many cases, you can lay your artificial grass to mirror the contours of your garden. As you would do when laying a traditional lawn. If your want a completely level lawn. But have a sloping garden. You are going to need some sort of retaining wall. Around the perimeter of your artificial lawn. Options include ∙ brick walls, block and render walls. And finally, sleepers. Sleepers are generally the quickest. And the cheapest solution. They are great for smaller walls. Up to ½ m. Any thick taller is going to need the skills of a structural engineer. And probably some steel RSJs.

MOT ∙ WEED MEMBRANE ∙ GRANO DUST ∙ GARDEN DESIGN WALTHAMSTOW ∙ TOTTENHAM

MOT is type 1 crushed concrete. And will provide a firm base for your artificial grass. Prevent your artificial grass from sinking over time. It will also provide good drainage for the grass. The weed membrane does what it says. Prevents the weeds. It can go on top or underneath the MOT. The grano dust is a fine powder of crushed granite. And it adds to the rough MOT. To produce a smooth, flat layer for your Astroturf.

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