The arrival of warm weather makes any Australian want to spend more time outside and by the pool. Before you hit the deck this summer season, ensure you take the time to check for safety hazards and give your outdoor areas a little TLC. Here’s what you need to know to get BBQ season ready:

1/ Check Your Deck

You might have enjoyed the occasional warm winters day on the deck or possibly it hasn’t been used for a few months- what could possibly be wrong?... A LOT! Be sure to check your deck to ensure its safe and give yourself enough time to repair or replace what could be broken.

Things to look for:

• Damage from bugs
• Rusted fasteners/ connectors
• Loose railings
• Mold or mildew growth
• Rotting wood
• Cracked or sagging stairs

All of these problems are cause for concern and can become major safety hazards if not attended to quickly and potentially replaced. 

Ensuring that your deck has been properly treated before exposing it to the weather is crucial to the maintenance of your deck in the future. There are a huge range of different treatments options on the market that will protect your timber products from rot and bugs. We recommend the 2L woodcare can for larger projects, and the aerosol for small touch up jobs.

2/ Is your pool fence safe?

With Australian law demanding all pools and spas have four sided barriers and a minimum height of 1.2 metres, it is important to not only check your fence abides by those requirements, but also looks good and is safe for the upcoming summer season.

With many different pool fences available on the market, the most popular and understated option, is frameless glass fencing.

Hammersmith’s range of Stainless Steel Spigots and standoffs can be used to create this modern stainless-steel glass barrier.

There are several different styles of stainless steel glass spigots: such as round, and square. All made from Duplex 2205 grade stainless steel and are available in a mirror polished finish or matt black.

3/   Do your handrails need help?

If you’re looking at upgrading your outdoor handrails there are a few options on the market to suit your style and home aesthetic.

Keep it sleek and modern with Stainless steel handrails.

If you’re looking to install wire cabling to your balustrade you might want to Watch our ‘How to’ videos in The Workshed on ‘How to use a hand swage tool’, hydraulic swage tool and rivet nut inserter.

4/ Wash and Stain

The harsh Australian sun can strip and damage your wooden deck and handrails if not looked after correctly. However, a lot of decks that look weathered and dirty just need sprucing up with a wash and stain. The best time to do this is in the cooler months as washing timber in summer months can put stress on the wood.

If you’re looking to completely refresh your outdoor area, you might consider replacing or recoating old verandah eve brackets or posts.

With party season just around the corner, take the time now to repair, replace and refresh. Before you know it, you’ll be able to enjoy alfresco dinners and pool side barbeques in no time.