Decking or Patio?

Duncan0808

Just to throw in another thought, I was having a similar debate with myself, plus I don't have a lot of money to throw at this and will be DIYing..
As I have a dodgy back was thinking of block paving a sitting area in a corner of our garden, mainly because they are smaller and easier to handle.

Havent a clue on the cost slabs v's blocks, and not sure which will be the easiest.

(Had also thought about decking but agree with all the comments above when you think about it - decking had a good point for me as my dad would do it and I wouldn't have to!)

So any tips for cheapest hard standing option.
Thanks

medical

what types of paving are good? could you name a few pls. i am a novice
medical

scotcitz

Hi, on the subject of decking, I had some put in last year and wondered at the time if the gardeners really should have been doing it. One thick plank has just rotted through and it's a bit uneven in other places (it was reclaimed timber but maybe there is a point past which nothing can really be reclaimed!) Any thoughts on going back to the person who put it in a year later ... or just suck it up? What have been other experiences about this? I live in Scotland by the way and the law is different although I don't think legal pursuit would work/be worth it in the end ... You guys may have talked me into patio, it sounds like even when it is installed well maybe decking and British weather just don't mix ...

Plasticman

scotcitz wrote: »

Hi, on the subject of decking, I had some put in last year and wondered at the time if the gardeners really should have been doing it. One thick plank has just rotted through and it's a bit uneven in other places (it was reclaimed timber but maybe there is a point past which nothing can really be reclaimed!) Any thoughts on going back to the person who put it in a year later ... or just suck it up? What have been other experiences about this? I live in Scotland by the way and the law is different although I don't think legal pursuit would work/be worth it in the end ... You guys may have talked me into patio, it sounds like even when it is installed well maybe decking and British weather just don't mix ...

:eek: Mine has been there for three years and looks as good as new! A lot of work to clean and stain each year though.

We've got both decking and patio. The patio is nearest the house, outside the back door. The decking area is at the back of the garden so it makes a nice seating area in the summer (and looks really nice!) but we don't have to use it in the winter when it can get slippery.

wallbash

scotcitz

quote it was reclaimed timber
When building a deck , have always used treated standard decking boards, supported on concrete blocks ( i.e. not touching the earth) last for years. Even when I have made a compost bin out of decking boards , an awful environment for wood, in contact with wet 'muck' still solid after a number of years. So a rotten board in just a year , blame the material.