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Garden makeovers are one of the top renovation choices when it comes to adding value to your property. From budget-friendly touch-ups to more extensive DIY projects, there are plenty of ways you can spruce up your outdoor space and secure higher offers on your house. Ready to get inspired? In this guide, check out the top garden improvement ideas to add value to your property.

Boost Privacy in Your Garden

Over half of UK house hunters said that a private garden was the most important feature they looked for in a potential new home. If yours is feeling more communal than cosy, look at options for boosting privacy.

This might include installing new timber fencing to create a higher and more secure divide between your garden and your neighbours’. In gardens where large fences are not suitable, consider adding high bushes and trees to enhance privacy.

If you struggle with next-door neighbours being able to see your garden from their windows, a pergola is a fantastic way of adding a little private space. Made from sustainably sourced timber (such as PEFC Certified Oak or FSC Certified Douglas fir) and with the option to add climbing vine plants to the trusses, it is an unobtrusive way to bring shelter from nosy neighbours.

Add a Functional Outhouse

Homebuyers searching for properties with outdoor offices have risen by over 22% in just a few years. Thanks to a surge in remote working, these offices are one of the most in-demand features in gardens and can drastically increase the value of your home.

If you already have a shed in your garden which is looking a little worse for wear, consider bringing it up to a standard where buyers could easily use it as an office. This could include insulating and upgrading the appeal of the shed with high-quality, naturally durable timber cladding such as Canadian Western Red Cedar or European Larch, or adding more sturdy and appealing flooring such as Oak.

For our DIY experts, you could also consider building a simple office space in your garden. With a durable hardwood timber species on your side and a little bit of woodworking knowledge, you can create a great outhouse on a reasonable budget.

Create an Entertainment Space

If you can show off the potential of your garden to buyers, you could increase the value of your house. One way to do this is by establishing a clear space for entertaining and relaxing. This could be a timber decking area, a sunken BBQ pit or even just some neatly arranged exterior furniture.

The idea here is to show off how your garden can be used to hook potential buyers. Even if you are working with a small, paved yard, you will be surprised how much a nice set of garden chairs can elevate the space.

Focus on Usability

Your garden should be easy to access in order to win over buyers. This can include simple maintenance, such as cutting back overgrown bushes and mowing the lawn.

It might also mean a little bit of clever landscaping. For example, if you have a sloping garden, you could reduce the slope by digging into the lower level and using a retaining wall to separate the two sections. Add timber sleeper steps between the two for easy access.

Find More DIY Advice at EcoChoice

At EcoChoice, we are experts at transforming gardens and homes using responsibly sourced timber. For more tips, be sure to check out our blog.

Interested in any of the projects mentioned in this article? Make sure you are ready to get to work with high-quality, sustainable timber products. Get in touch with our team today to start an order.

Garden improvements to add value

Ask Joe! Expert industry advice

Unsure which timer is best for your project?

Our timber experts have years of experience and will be able to match the perfect species to your project, as well as provide a quote for sustainable timber at highly competitive prices.

Frequently asked questions

Do you supply timber for domestic uses?

Yes, we supply timber for domestic applications as well as commercial and public constructions. From garden decking to shed cladding, we will be happy to supply smaller deliveries for home use.

Is your timber FSC-certified?

Yes, all timber we supply is FSC or PEFC certified and sourced from independently verified responsibly managed forests. If we can’t find your request in FSC/PEFC certified timber we’ll suggest an alternative that is certified or clearly note that the offer is minimum EUTR.

Where does EcoChoice deliver to?

EcoChoice delivers to construction sites, warehouses and homes across the UK, as long as there’s access and unloading for our trucks.

What are the best timber species for exterior use?

There are many different timber species suitable for exterior use and which is the best for your project depends on your requirements. In general, though, we recommend EkkiGreenheartOpepe and Oak for heavier civil/marine uses. For intermediary external use such as decking, where the timber needs to be both strong and durable but not on the same level as civil engineering (bridgespiling, etc) we usually supply CumaruIpe, Jatoba, and Balau. And for the lighter exterior use where the timber is non-structural such as cladding, we deliver CedarLarchThermowood and others.

Which timber is the most durable?

Durability Class 1 timbers are the most durable. This of course depends on the use (hazard) class they’ll be in service for. For direct ground and water contact such as sleepers, fenders, marine piling, etc, Ekki and Greenheart are known to be the most durable timbers available. For decking and cladding where there’s no direct ground contact (use class 3) there’s a much wider range of timbers such Larch, Cedar, Thermo modified Pine or Ash and others.

What’s the best timber for internal cladding?

Internal cladding, where your timber is not in ground and not exposed to the elements can be classed as either use-class 1 or 2 – in which case most timbers will meet this durability criteria. That is not to say they’ll be the best, since internal environments have lower humidity (moisture) levels than outside. So in these cases, it’s best to go for a kiln-dried timber cladding board as these are more stable and delivered already in lower MC (moisture content) than the usual fresh sawn timbers sent to external applications. A word of caution – as timber reacts to variations in moisture, it’s best to avoid cladding any areas inside your bathroom.

How can I make decking less slippery?

The first thing is to ensure your deck boards are kept clean from leaves and other debris which will, over time, cover the surface and make it more slippery. Grooved boards can be used to improve grip if installed and used perpendicular to traffic, so especially useful in narrow passages and footbridges. Lastly, you can add our Grip-Choice strips: these are a mix of epoxy with aggregates that add gripping ridges to your deck area. Gripchoice is an easy way to make decking less slippery and safer, especially over large areas or where there’s high traffic. We can pre-install Grip-Choice strips for your decking before delivery or ship the strips separately to add to your existing deck’s grooves as a retro-fit solution.

What wood machining services do you offer?

We can offer planing, sawing, drilling and profiling of rough-sawn wood to any profile you require: from handrails to large port fenders.

Can you supply pre-drilled timber?

Yes, we will be happy to provide pre-drilled timber which is tailored to your needs for quick installation, thus saving you valuable time on site.

What cladding profiles do you supply?

We provide a wide range of cladding profiles, including tongue and groove, featheredge and shiplap. You can check the standard profiles here – but we can also match or custom make profiles to suit your specific needs.

Does timber change colour?

Yes, timber is well-known for changing colour over time. Some species can darken quickly right after installation, and like most untreated wood will eventually weather to a beautiful silver-grey. Interior timber is less likely to change colour (depending on conditions), and timber can be stained, painted or treated with UV-resistant oils to reduce colour change.

Do I need to treat exterior timber?

Some timbers such as Oak and Ekki, can withstand the strains of exterior use without any treatment. However, to extend the lifespan and maintain the aesthetic of your wood, we do recommend treating your timber with stains and oils. Pre-treated timber, such as ThermoWood and OrganoWood, are low-maintenance options which are more durable, but can have their life service extended by applying a clean and stain maintenance schedule.

Do I need to treat interior timber?

Depends on what area the timber is being used. For floor joists and timber rafters, it is common to see timber treated, or least very well kiln-dried. Other uses such as flooring may benefit from varnishing while internal timber cladding for decorative purposes shouldn’t require any treatment other than if you want to change its colour with different types of stains or oils.

Where are you based?

We’re based in Cambridge, UK, and coordinate multiple sawmills all over the world to manufacture your order. We then organise delivery with a range of hauliers so that your orders gets to your site on time.

What are the usual decking sizes?

Timber decking is usually 21x140mm or similar. For heavier applications where there’s more load and traffic, we deliver 35 or 45mm thick boards (such as Hastings Pier). Narrower boards are also possible: 95-90mm is a standard width – but we can manufacture whatever size you require.

What are the usual cladding sizes?

Typical cladding section sizes are 18×95 and 18x145mm although we can always custom make a section to suit your project’s design requirements. That includes waney edge boards in Oak or Chestnut as well as extra wide 195mm boards.

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What our customers say about us

Good quality, great service, fast delivery!

5

Marinella Li

Always helpful! One of our valued TDCA DeckMark and CladMark accredited supplier members which means their quality procedures are routinely audited and stand up to scrutiny giving you extra peace of mind.

5

Janet Sycamore

Having needed the supply of cladding, decking boards and other specified timbers through out the year Eco choice have been very helpful in sourcing the specified timbers and quantities required at a very competitive price.

5

Tim Saunders

Great quality, service and price. A pleasure to deal with. I would highly recommend Eco Choice.

5

Emma Hurrell

Fantastic company- Mike and the team are the best in the business- worked with them for many years.

5

Prem Raja

Always reliable and quality products, easy to deal with company.

5

Stone Zone

4.9

Average rating on Google Reviews

  • 9 years ago

Great service, quality products and very easy to deal with. Thank you.

Malcolm Coury

  • 2 weeks ago

Good quality, great service, fast delivery!

Marinella Li

  • 9 years ago

Wonderful guys!

Nicola Edmead

  • 9 years ago

Experts in Timber, Nationwide delivery

Joe Middleton

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