AlfrescoPlus products are specifically designed and engineered for low-maintenance durability and long-lasting performance.

That being said, a good buff now and then never hurt anyone and occasional TLC can help keep your deck sparkling spectacularly week in and week out.

For a show-room shine that wows year-round, follow this handy guide on how to clean composite decking.

Basic Cleaning

For optimal performance, we recommend periodic cleaning with a power washer, using a fan tip nozzle. To avoid damaging the finish, we recommend spraying in the direction of the grain with a pressure of no more than 1500psi.

Decking Maintenance Guide

If you want to give your deck a thorough polish to really bring it back to “like new” health, we’ve got you covered for that too.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to clean composite decking for a spotless finish that truly sparkles and dazzles.

Prep Work

Before you begin cleaning your deck, it’s important to clear the area, particularly if you have furniture or outdoor accessories that aren’t made of composite material. Splashing these items with a bona fide composite cleaning solution could damage them, so it’s worth getting them out of the danger zone, just in case.

Clean Sweep

A quick once over with a broom prior to scrubbing can prevent the spread of surface dirt. Meanwhile, any accumulated dirt found gathering between boards can be removed by using a wallpaper scraper or a putty knife.

Mix It Up

If you’re using a professional composite decking cleaner, we recommend following the instructions on the product to ensure no adverse effects. However, AlfrescoPlus decking can usually be adequately cleaned using simple soapy water.

Work It

Once you’ve prepped your chosen cleaning solution, you can now get to work on scrubbing your deck. Apply the solution to the deck in 5-metre sections, allowing one section to soak while you work on another. Brush through using a stiff broom to scrub through any obvious patches of dirt.

Power Through

Finally use a jet wash to power off the remaining suds, methodically working your way through the entire deck as you clean, section by section. Once you’ve reached the finish line, take time to stand back and admire your handiwork – you deserve it!

Additional Cleaning Tips

While general sprucing can be easily done using the jet wash steps above, you may find there are some occasions that require a method that’s a little more specialist.

AlfrescoPlus composite decking, particularly capped composite decking, is impressively resistant to a wide variety of conditions; however, there may be the odd occasion where additional TLC can work wonders.

For those instances, try these handy tips below to keep your deck in fighting shape.

Ice & Snow

For chilly occasions of ice and snow, rock salt or calcium chloride can work wonders, keeping your deck safe in wintry conditions. After application, simply rinse with water or mild, soapy water to remove the residue for a frost-free deck.

Tannin, Mildew, Dirt & Grime

Mildew stains can occur due to an excess build-up of debris. Periodically rinsing your deck can prevent this problem from escalating.

Spot Stains

Spots and stains can be a real blemish on your otherwise awesome deck. Clean with soapy water and allow the area to weather for 8-10 weeks to regain its colour.

Scratches, Nicks, Cuts and Grooves

Despite their heightened durability, composite decking isn’t indestructible and abrasions/indentations can occur. Treat damage by brushing in the direction of the grain with a stiff broom. The brushed area should weather back in 8-10 weeks.

If you would like to find out more about decking maintenance or have any further questions about how to clean composite decking, why not drop us a line? Call 0800 028 8756 today to speak with one of our helpful staff or click the button below to get in touch online.

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When the weather is warm, the sun is shining and the clouds are curiously absent from the British skyline, the garden can be the perfect destination for a lazy afternoon of carefree relaxation.

That worriless ambience can be made all the more wondrous if you know how to accessorise your garden with the right furniture.

Give peace (and quiet) a chance with a garden seating area that turns your outdoor space into an R&R VIP room.

Benefits of Outdoor Seating

While Mother Nature’s weatherly influence can determine when you enjoy your garden, there are a few man-made factors that are firmly in your hands – namely garden furniture.

Whether you have decking or a paved patio, the introduction of outdoor seating to your external space can notably improve your outdoor enjoyment.

Better still, not only can it enhance your relaxation, it can also add an instant element of style and fashion to your garden.

Outdoor Seating Ideas

While it’s easy to automatically think of typical garden staples when it comes to outdoor furnishing, there’s so much more to outdoor furniture than wooden benches and metallic dining sets.

Here’s a few creative ideas to help you think outside that box when it comes to your garden seating area.

Hanging Out

If Homer Simpsons has taught us anything – and I think we can all agree, he’s taught us a lot – it’s that there’s no better way to relax in the garden than in the supine comfort of a hammock.

It’s easy to overlook this unusual yet awesome seating option, as many of us will have a pre-conceived notion that your garden needs two conveniently placed trees to support a hammock.

Luckily, this is purely a stereotype created by movies and cartoons. In reality, hammocks come in a variety of forms, including free-standing versions with solid frames for ready-made relaxation.

Whether you choose to go full Homer and rest a frosty beverage on your belly while you do so is your call, but the message remains: hammocks = relaxation

If you want to add a unique sense of luxury to your garden, look no further than the hanging haven that is the garden hammock.

Swing Along

In keeping with the hanging theme of the last entry, swing seats are another great way to relax in your outdoor space.

In addition to the ever-popular swing seats (also known as canopy swings) that have been staples of outdoor relaxation for decades, outdoor hanging chairs have become increasingly popular in recent years.

Bridging the gap between hammocks and traditional outdoor furniture, hanging garden chairs come in a variety of forms, from the cushioned comfort of padded armchairs and sofas to the modern style of all-weather bamboo/wicker chairs.

These dangling seats can be attached to suitable structural supports for sturdy suspension, providing a stylish seating solution that’s also spatially economical.

Bubble Over

Stylishly modern and unashamedly different, bubble chairs and cocoon seats are an instant statement, providing aesthetic allure and human intrigue in one fell swoop.

Uniquely designed and for style and comfort, these unusual seating options make for a memorable addition to any outdoor space. These can also come in hanging form, however, the standing form with a standard base is just as common and just as stylish.

The most common options are the transparent plastic versions and the more traditional wicker variety. For a contemporary, if not somewhat futuristic option, the plastic option is sure to be a crowd pleaser on novelty and curiosity; however, the wicker range is undoubtedly a safer option for long term style.

Cutting Corners

Corner sofas have become a preferred seating option for many homeowners when it comes to interior design; however, why should this stylishly practical furnishing be limited to indoor use only?

Modernised rattan furniture has been infiltrating British gardens with increasing regularity over the last decade or two, with revolutionary new designs cropping up as the years roll on.

One such innovation has been the introduction of the corner sofa to outdoor spaces. Space saving, stylish and superbly comfortable, it ticks a lot of boxes.

Better still, outdoor corner sofas are also weatherproof and tailor-made for socialising, making them a great place for summertime gatherings when the weather allows.

Outdoor Seating Area

Now that you’ve got the actual seating sorted, next up is the all-important flooring. After all, what good is beautiful, expensive seating if the base beneath it is made up of weeds, weathered wood or age-ravaged tiles?

To compliment your lovely, new garden furniture, why not explore the aesthetic awesomeness of garden decking or patio tiles from AlfrescoPlus? Both make fantastic flooring options with their own distinct personality and style, providing the perfect platform for your fresh garden furnishings.

You can even incorporate benched seating into your deck design, with decked benches built into your overall decking design. Built-in deck seating can also double up as a storage area to really make the most of the space available.

Conversely, paving can also work just as well and provide an equally stunning solution to your flooring conundrums. With a huge range of designs to suit your mental blueprint, a paved patio area can round off your garden and make for the perfect setting for an outdoor dining area.

All of our porcelain paving tiles are slip, stain and fade resistant and can simply be wiped clean of spills in an instant. Meanwhile, our decking options also boast these protective features, should you prefer to dine on deck over a porcelain patio.

Whichever material you opt for, decking and patio are the perfect base for stylish furniture. Simply accessorise with garden furniture that features complementary colours, sit back and enjoy!

For more information on outdoor living options, why not drop us a line? Call 0800 028 8756 today to speak with one of our friendly staff or use the button below to get in touch online.

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So, you’ve chosen your design from a wide range of porcelain paving options, you’ve ordered the necessary amount and you’re now well and truly excited about your impending paving.

All that’s left is the small matter of installation.

When it comes to laying porcelain paving, there are two primary routes to go down: the DIY option or the professional path.

If you’re planning on installing porcelain paving in your garden, this isn’t a decision that should be made lightly. Naturally, there are pros and cons attached to each, ultimately coming down to cost vs. quality.

To help guide you through the process to ensure you make an informed decision, here’s a quick rundown of what to expect from each.

DIY Paving Installation

If you have prior experience of manual labour, garden maintenance or tiling in general, DIY installation of garden paving can be a worthwhile endeavour.

Even if you don’t have history in any of the above, that’s not to say that the DIY route is completely out of the question – provided you don’t mind taking the risk and jumping in at the deep end.

AlfrescoPlus tiles are designed for easy installation. While traditional tiles and pavers require mortar and cement, our revolutionary pedestal support system totally by-passes this antiquated approach in favour of our simple, new-school technology.

This allows for dry installation, without the use of any kind of adhesive whatsoever. Not only does this keep the mess to a minimum, it also makes them user-friendly and far easier for a novice would-be paver to handle.

Best of all, the absence of adhesive mean there are no drying periods to wait around for once your pavers are laid. Since there’s no cement or mortar involved, you can simply lay your pavers and begin using straight away.

Tips for Laying Porcelain Paving

If you do plan on installing porcelain paving tiles yourself, there are a few things that are well worth keeping in mind.

Coverage Area

Before you start, calculate the area you will be required to cover by measuring the dimensions of the space. We recommend allowing for 10% waste as it’s inherently common for paving jobs to require slabs to be cut and trimmed along the way for the perfect fit. Meanwhile, it can also be good to have some slabs in reserve, should you run into any breakages along the way.

Paving Gaps

Our tiles and pavers are designed with a very close dimensional tolerance with very clean-cut edges. While this does allow for a tight “architectural” finish, we strongly advise against jointless installation with no gaps as the slightest alteration in settlement can affect the overall aesthetic. Instead, opt for at least a 2mm grout gap between pavers.

Colour Variation

Pavers with an intrinsic colour variation between tiles (such as the Sandstone Grey and the Travertine Grey ranges) are designed to naturally differ from one slab to the next. As such, when you are laying your tiles, it’s worth alternating which pavers you use. Choosing paving tiles from different boxes or varying sections of delivery pallet can help ensure a randomised pattern for a heightened authenticity.

Cutting Tiles

While installation is designed to be as simple as possible, it’s unlikely a paving job will fit perfectly from edge to edge. As such, you may be required to cut certain tiles to make them fit snug from left to right. Be sure to prepare for this eventuality by sourcing the relevant cutting equipment before your start the job.

Professional Paving Installation

While our indoor tiles and outdoor pavers are specifically engineered for simple self-installation, we understand that laying porcelain paving in your property can be a daunting task and won’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

Home improvement can be quite the investment and the prospect of that investment going to waste with a sub-par DIY job can be one that many will want to avoid. If that sounds like you, fear not – that’s where we come in.

At AlfrescoPlus, we pride ourselves on our customer service and providing complete, comprehensive assistance from start to finish is something that we thrive upon. Our expert team of professional fitters are more than happy to help you achieve the paving design you paid to see.

Available in most areas nationwide, our experienced staff are fully capable of tackling a variety of tasks and projects, from straightforward patio installation to complex designs involving additional features, like steps and levels.

From gardens patios and poolside surroundings to balconies and roof terraces, we can handle the hard work so you don’t have to. Simply make the call, sit back and enjoy the results!

For more information on our installation services, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 028 8756 to speak with one of our helpful customer service staff or use the button below to send us an enquiry online.

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Like any kind of home furnishing, garden styles have their own revolving door of fashion trends, ranging from crazy paving and water features to parasols and trampolines.

2019 is no different, with a number of exterior design choices expected to crop up with increasing regularity over the next year and beyond.

To keep you in the loop and ahead of the curve, we’ve laid out a few of the most popular garden trends we expect to see over the coming years and how you can implement them in your home.

Inside Out

Bringing your interior design to your outside space is a growing trend in outdoor living and it’s easy to see why. Creating a stylish external space with the aesthetic allure of your interior is a fantastic way to bring your garden to life and make it the place to be for social gatherings and solo relaxation.

While gardening culture may be more associated with older generations, this new trend of interior designs outdoors is something that is particularly popular amongst younger generations. This could be due, in part, to the fast-paced lifestyles of the modern day.

However, that’s not to say it’s a trend that is exclusive to Millennials and Generation Z. Extending your indoor space into your garden is a design choice that can be enjoyed by all ages. This can be done using our indoor/outdoor tiling range, creating a seamless transition that effortlessly flows from your interior to the outside.

Eco-Friendly

Climate change, deforestation and a general sense of increased awareness has seen the world take a far more responsible approach to daily life in recent years, from weekly recycling and energy saving lightbulbs to wind farms and electric cars.

The garden is no different and eco-friendly garden design has become increasingly popular. This is something we take particularly seriously at AlfrescoPlus, which is reflected in our products and our production methods.

All of our porcelain tiles and composite decking is designed to meet and exceed the environmental standards of the European Ecolab, while our sourcing methods are meticulously refined to ensure our carbon footprint is kept to a minimum. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly garden, you can rest easy if you opt for AlfrescoPlus.

For more information on our eco-friendly products, check out our Eco-Friendly Garden Choices blog for further details.

Zoning Out

Building a garden that suits you and your family can be a difficult juggling, particularly when your home has numerous ages and personalities all under one roof. As such, garden zoning has become increasingly popular and looks to continue this trend through 2019 and beyond.

The best way to describe this is to picture a long rectangular garden. Imagine a patio area directly outside the back door, leading into a green patch of lawn, before ending with a raised area of decking. Each zone can be used for a completely different purpose, with the patio for relaxing, the garden for play and the decking for socialising and barbeques.

Obviously, that is purely an example; the true extent of garden zoning is limited only to your imagination. If you want to throw a path, a pond or even a hot tub into the mix, you won’t hear any objections from us!

By breaking up your garden into sections, you not only effectively create designated areas for different activities, you also make your garden seem bigger as a result.

Show Time

Despite the general consensus that British weather is dull, depressing and decidedly damp year-round, that doesn’t stop us from venturing outdoors in the pursuit of a good time. In fact, outdoor entertaining has become its own garden trend, with sales of garden furniture reportedly on a steady incline.

British weather can be surprisingly hot at times, making the garden the perfect venue to entertain guests or entertain yourself. Whether it’s dining under the sun or socialising under the stars, holding court in your garden is a great way to make the most of your outdoor space and make the most of the good weather at the same time.

Turn your garden into the place to be when the weather allows by creating a stylish paved patio, complete with comfy furniture like garden sofa, or an inviting deck area that’s perfect for those barbeques that last long after sundown.

There you have it, a peak behind the turf at some of the main garden trends you can expect to see this year and beyond. Keep your garden in vogue with AlfrescoPlus!

For more information on our outdoor living products, call now on 0800 028 8756 or drop us a line using the button below.

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In 1986, Bon Jovi released the album Slippery When Wet, giving the world karaoke classics like “Livin’ On a Prayer”, “Wanted Dead or Alive” and “You Give Love a Bad Name”.

Sadly, the term “slippery when wet” is far less fun and infinitely less awesome when applied to the world of decking surfaces.

Luckily, AlfrescoPlus has laid that fear to rest with composite decking that’ll leave you rocking and rolling whatever the weather.

Non-Slip Decking

Before we go any further, we want to be up front and honest here – there’s no such thing as 100% non-slip decking. No matter how much we’d love to say there is, slip-free decking just doesn’t exist and any company that promotes their products as such is setting you up for a fall…quite literally.

However, when it comes to damage limitation, our slip-resistant composite decking options are as good as it gets. Our quick drying decking boards are specifically designed to take in minimal moisture, painstakingly engineered to absorb less than 1.2%, ensuring our decking is as water-proof as possible.

In fact, after a spell of rain, your deck can be completely dry within 30 minutes. As such, our composite decking is the ideal all-weather surface for the British climate, while also making it the perfect flooring option for use around pools and hot tubs.

Why choose composite decking?

When it comes to water-resistant decking, there’s no contest between genuine wood and composite decking – it’s composite decking all the way. Genuine wood decking is extremely absorptive which makes them problematic when wet.

Worse still, the natural grooves in real wood decking act as a bona fide ice tray in cold weather. These grooves fill up with rain water, freeze and expand, turning your decking into a veritable home ice rink.

What’s more, jet washing – the most common and popular way to clean wood decking – actually opens up the grooves even further, making the boards even more susceptible to water absorption and more slippery by proxy.

Composite decking from AlfrescoPlus

Composite decking is superior to traditional wood decking in virtually every way imaginable. Durable and built to last, composite decking from AlfrescoPlus comes with a lengthy guarantee for peace of mind and is specifically designed to be a long-lasting fixture of your outdoor space.

AlfrescoPlus composite decking comes in a wide variety of styles, colours and designs available, with three different materials to choose from. Our comprehensive collection of composite decking boards provides you with the creative freedom to explore a myriad of potential aesthetics for your property.

What’s more, each board is stain and fade resistant too, so you won’t have to worry if you spill a glass of red and can rest easy when the sun is at its peak. Our composite decking is a safer way to deck out your garden, providing family-friendly, worry-free furnishing for your outdoor space.

For a safe, stylish and slip-resistant solution, look no further than composite decking from AlfrescoPlus.

For more information on AlfrescoPlus composite decking, call now on 0800 028 8756 or drop us a line using the button below.

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