rotten decking removal

lizziesmum

Hi
I have some horrible old decking at the bottom of my garden which I would like to have removed so I can have a vegetable patch. Problem is I have no idea who to ask to remove it. Would it be a gardener, handyman, builder or none of the above? Also does anyone know how much I should expect to pay? It's around 4m square and on 2 levels. Thank you for your help.

martinthebandit

Well if you are able to start a vegetable patch from scratch you should be more than able to rip out a bit of old decking so my answer would be 'none of the above' I would also be thinking of reusing the boards to make a compost bin.

But if, for any reason you cannot DIY then a handyman would be my suggestion, no idea on cost though, it would depend on so many factors, access and disposal etc etc

lizziesmum

Thank you for your reply and for your generous faith in my ability! I agree, I should be able to do it but I've got 2 very small children and combining looking after them with rotten wood, massive nails etc. doesn't seem a great plan! I'll call a few handymen and see what they think. Thanks again.

DaftyDuck

Very small children can use a saw, a hammer, Stanley knife, petrol & a bonfire. Thought that's what they were for!

But, it's a simple job, any handyman, or card-through-door garden clearance man (we get loads of them around here). Cost? Not sure, as depends how solid it is. But,they'll have* to pay commercially for the disposal, so that'll be around £50 - £75, then maybe £100 labour.

However, how horrible is it? If you are honest about the condition, and it has any use whatsoever in it, think about Freecycle, collector to disassemble.

You'd be amazed at the carp us skinflints want for compost heaps, garden borders, whatever.

* Some don't dispose of junk correctly.... I would at least ask what they're doing with it....

meer53

Wait until nearer bonfire night, someone will probably take it away for nothing ! Our local scout group usually has a bonfire. Put an ad on gumtree or schpock ?

lizziesmum

Thank you so much, fantastic advice. I hadn't thought of freecycle etc. Also got me thinking about keeping some for raised beds, walkways and borders.:)

DaftyDuck

I have to admit that, if it had any life in it, I'd find a myriad of uses for it. I'd edge the flowerbeds, walkway through your new veg patch, raised beds in the veg patch, compost bin, a garden folly in a corner, bracing for escape tunnel and wooden horse....

I'm sure there are other possibilities, but I do understand the children may be a problem.

Stick them on Freecycle instead?

lizziesmum

Good plan, Daffy Duck although their main uses are making a mess, generating laundry and eating me out of house and home so not sure how much demand there'll be for them!