{"id":2175,"date":"2018-05-15T08:53:42","date_gmt":"2018-05-15T07:53:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/?p=2175"},"modified":"2022-09-21T14:33:55","modified_gmt":"2022-09-21T13:33:55","slug":"5-tips-to-help-keep-your-family-safe-on-decking-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/5-tips-to-help-keep-your-family-safe-on-decking-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"5 tips to help keep your family safe on decking this summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re almost exactly midway through Deck Safety Month, so in our humble opinion there\u2019s almost no better time to cover a few top decking safety tips to keep you and your family safe this summer. Now that the weather is getting better, you\u2019re probably looking at spending more and more time out on your garden decking<\/a> with your family, so it\u2019s a good plan to take these points into account before you do!<\/p>\n

1. Erect gates and other barriers<\/h2>\n

As a parent, you\u2019ll already know that a lot of what we\u2019re about to cover in this post comes down to parental supervision. With that in mind, our first point probably seems like a bit of a no-brainer, but it\u2019s definitely worth outlining nonetheless! First of all, unless you\u2019re out on your decking you\u2019ll probably want to keep the door locked, so that children and pets can\u2019t adventure out there on their own.<\/p>\n

\"boy<\/p>\n

Out on the decking itself, you may also want to consider a safety gate \u2013 especially if you\u2019ve got raised decking that leads out onto the garden. Be aware that while a safety gate blocking those stairs is probably going to contain dogs and other pets with no problems, kids might be a bit more\u2026enterprising. Children can be notorious for stacking boxes and other nearby objects to climb over gates, so make sure you still keep an eye on them!<\/p>\n

2. Choose carefully what goes out on your decking<\/h2>\n

Furnishing your deck is one of those tasks that seems like it should be simpler than it usually is. You\u2019ve only got so much space after all, and you might have quite a few ideas on what you want to go out there. Your children might have their own ideas too, so depending on their age, you might find it\u2019s a great plan to institute a no-toys on the decking rule \u2013 at least, no while you\u2019re not out there. This can lessen the chances of children firing footballs across it or sprinting at full pelt, but as with the gates above, every parent will know that kids don\u2019t always play by the rules. You can subtly reinforce them, though, by keeping toy boxes and play equipment off your decking and further down the garden instead \u2013 chances are that your children won\u2019t stray too far from them.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re considering having a barbecue or a grill out there, definitely weigh up the likelihood of children or pets cannoning into it. It might instead be a good plan to keep it off the deck entirely, and only wheel it out there for when you\u2019re actually using it.<\/p>\n

3. Give your pets a bit of shade<\/h2>\n

\"dog<\/p>\n

Dogs are particularly prone to overheating in the summer \u2013 especially the breeds with longer, shaggier hair. Dogs and other pets are also likely to want to be close to you for longer periods, which means that they will sometimes silently endure particularly uncomfortable conditions out on your decking area. No matter the material \u2013 whether you\u2019ve opted for timber decking boards<\/a> or composite decking<\/a> \u2013 it can get extremely hot under direct sunlight. Give your pet a chance to breathe by putting down a towel for them to sit on, or cover an area with an umbrella.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking for decking ideas to keep yourself cool, as well (and who can blame you), it\u2019s often worth investing in a traditional pergola kit for your decking. It\u2019s cheap, easy to assemble, and is a great way to keep off the worst of the sun for both you and your family!<\/p>\n

4. Think about your decking’s railings<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re looking for ideas of how to build garden decking from scratch, somewhere along the way it\u2019s definitely worth thinking about how far apart you\u2019re going to space your decking spindles<\/a>. Children and pets are sometimes known to try and squeeze through them, which could lead to them falling out the other side. Best case scenario, they break the spindles or even get stuck, which can lead to a lot of unhappiness (not least from them). A good rule of thumb is to place the spindles around 10cm apart, which is usually closely enough to put off even the most enterprising of kids.<\/p>\n

5. Inspect it regularly \u2013 and keep it clean!<\/h2>\n

Once your decking has been assembled, don\u2019t take it for granted that its safety is constantly guaranteed. Make sure to check it occasionally for anything that\u2019s splintered, nails that are sticking out, or any fungus or algae that\u2019s grown during the winter and spring. Naturally, dealing with any issues promptly is key to keeping both you and your family properly safe.<\/p>\n

\"decking<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re worried about your decking becoming slippery when wet, our anti-slip decking strips are fantastic for adding extra safety \u2013 though we\u2019d still advise against letting your children go out and play on it! We\u2019ve already talked about how a pergola can give you some much-valued shade in the summer, but it gives you plenty of value all year round, as it can keep the rain off your decking in the milder weather, too!<\/p>\n

Here at Savoy Timber, we\u2019ve got a whole range of decking accessories<\/a> and decorative touches available, if you\u2019re still on the hunt for decking ideas to personalise your space! Just pop into any one of our superstores across the North West, in Preston, Blackpool or Wigan to see what we\u2019ve got in store. Don\u2019t forget, for any questions or queries you may have, our friendly members of staff are always around to help!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re almost exactly midway through Deck Safety Month, so in our humble opinion there\u2019s almost no better time to cover a few top decking safety tips to keep you and your family safe this summer. Now that the weather is getting better, you\u2019re probably looking at spending more and more time out on your garden […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":2180,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 tips to help keep safe on your decking this summer | Savoy Timber<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You probably don't need a reminder about May being Deck Safety Month - we know it's probably right up there on your calendar along with your wedding anniversary and child's birthday - but if you're still on the lookout for decking ideas to make your space safer, we've got five top tips that'll be right up your street.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/savoytimber.com\/help-and-advice\/5-tips-to-help-keep-your-family-safe-on-decking-this-summer\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 tips to help keep safe on your decking this summer | Savoy Timber\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You probably don't need a reminder about May being Deck Safety Month - 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