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Summer is firmly here in the UK, which means many of your clients will be thinking about how to make the most of their outdoor living space this season. If it’s too late for this summer, they will almost certainly be looking towards 2024 and considering improving their outdoor space for next year after being inspired by friends or spaces they’ve seen in the media.
Whether your clients have small gardens or several acres of sprawling unkempt lawn, creating a comfortable and inviting space to relax and enjoy the warmer weather is essential. Many spaces can be designed to be enjoyed even in the colder months too with a little innovation. In this blog, our knowledgeable team at Edge Building Products share some tips and advice for designing and maintaining your clients’ garden and include current decking and patio trends so that you can ensure you’re staying current and able to offer your client’s the latest design styles.
Designing an outstanding outdoor space:
As tradesmen, it’s not all about the construction. Often you might find that you’re asked for your opinion, advice and experience whilst your clients are trying to decide on where to take their outdoor living space. You can help them by encouraging them to think about the activities they hope to be doing there. Ask them questions like; Do they like to entertain? Do they like al fresco dining or hosting barbecues? Are they looking for a peaceful spot to read or meditate?
Once they have a clear idea of how they want to use the space, you can start to help them plan the layout, from a more informed place. Consider encouraging them to think about separate ‘zones’ for different activities—for example, a dining area, a separate lounge area and a garden bed or flower border. This could be separated using some well-designed fencing. At Edge, we supply Liniar uPVC fencing systems, which are great external fence solutions as they don’t rot, are easy to maintain and there’s no risk of splinters. In your designs and conversations with your clients, encourage the use of plants, outdoor furniture, lighting, and other features to create a sense of enclosure and privacy to the space.
Maintaining the garden and outdoor space:
Once you’ve created this stunning outdoor space for your client, keeping it looking its best will require care and maintenance. We all know that gardens need tending to, more so in the summer months, from watering, weeding, pruning, deadheading blooms and fertilising as needed.
Many of our outdoor products used to create stunning spaces are made using low maintenance and easy to clean materials, such as our Triton composite decking range, or our Liniar uPVC fencing previously mentioned. Warm soapy water, and a sponge or brush will lift any mud, bird droppings or spilt drinks or food.
Choosing the right decking or patio material
The material you choose for your decking or patio can have a big impact on the look and feel of your clients outdoor space. Popular choices include wood, composite, stone, and concrete. However, more recently, sustainable choices and longevity of investment are important factors too.
Each material has its own pros and cons, so encourage your clients to consider factors like durability, maintenance requirements, and cost when making their decision.
For example, wood decking is a classic choice that’s relatively affordable and easy to install, but it does require regular maintenance to keep it looking its best. In comparison, composite decking like our Triton range, on the other hand, whilst more expensive up front, requires little maintenance and is highly durable, it’s likely to last longer than its predecessor.
Planning for year-round use:
If your clients want to get the most out of their outdoor living space, consider how they can use it year-round. In the summer, it’s easier to enjoy the warm weather through dining outdoors, lounging in the sun, or entertaining friends and family. Thinking ahead to the autumn months, encourage your clients to add some functional features like, lighting, outdoor heaters or rustic looking fire pits to extend their outdoor season.
You could even suggest constructing an undercover space in an area of the garden which can be enjoyed by your client across the seasons, acting as a stylish shady escape from the sun in the summer months whilst also a space to sit outdoors in the colder months nestled by a heater and watching rain fall. At Edge, we offer a variety of cladding options which can add a practical and stylish finish to outdoor fixtures.
Creating an outdoor living space that can be enjoyed all year round takes a bit of planning and forward thinking, but the rewards are well worth it. We hope this blog has inspired you with some tips to help you work with your clients, present and future, to create beautiful and functional outdoor living spaces that they’ll love spending time in for years to come, and that you can be proud of.
At Edge Building Products, we have three depots; Chichester, Croydon and Horsham. Each of our branches are open from 7 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
Edge Building Products are proud suppliers to the trade, we specialise in low maintenance, high quality building products and stock a variety of trusted brands. We are focused on delivering the best customer service to the trade, through product expertise.
Did you know that we also provide free chocolate, free hot drinks and next day delivery for orders placed before 3pm. Call us on 0345 021 3333 with any questions, we’re happy to help!
25th July 2023