Replacing decking with gravel

jonnyb1978

Have some decking to the side of the house which has started to rot and is a waste of garden space. No sunlight etc.

Im thinking of taking it up and putting down some hardcore and some sort of decorative stone to create a gravel area. This will be used as a storage area. Bike shed, garden storage, bbq etc. My questions are:

1. Can i put down the hardcore without pulling up the decking posts. Can i just cut them down if they are too difficult to pull up?

2. Is it possible to lay loose paving under the bike shed for a level base or would it be ok to just bit the bike shed on top of the gravel.

Thanks

Silver-Surfer_2

Are you planning on compacting the hardcore? If so the shed can sit on that.

Cut the posts off at ground level, in time they will rot away but it won't be an issue.

jonnyb1978

Yes, the initial plan is to take up decking and whatever bits i can. Posts, Joists etc. Clear area of any growth as i know some weeds are peeping through. Cut down posts to ground level as you say and put down a weed membrane.

Put in some hardcore and compact as much as i can. Then an inch of decorative gravel. It wont get too much foot traffic apart from getting bikes in and out, some tools, bbq etc.


Thanks

getmore4less

might be worth putting the base layer down/compact then the membrane to stop the gravel migrating into the base(and surface weeds rooting into the base), also easier to lift to change/repair. (double membrane an option it's the cheap bit)

Might be worth keeping some of the best bits of the deck bearers for the sheds and not gravel under them.

You could look at gravel containments/shed bases but that adds about £10sqm to the costing.