Diy Decking Removal?

MsPennyMinder

Hi

So, I bought my flat last year and there is this random decking slap bang in the middle of the garden. I don't really understand why someone would want to put it there but someone did. I would prefer to remove it but I don't have much of a budget and I'll need to fix whatever in underneath it ( I don't currently know).

I already suspect I shall need to check if my council will accept it at my recycling centre or pay to have it disposed off.

Is decking something it is better to pay a professional to remove or can the liberal application of a hammer and crowbar do? 

Most local businesses only mention disposal of decking, so I'm unsure  

Thanks for any advice.

Bendy_House

Is it rotten? Or just not what you want in that position?

It is amazing what folk will take away for now't, so it could be worth advertising of Facebook Marketplace, or whatever - "Free to good home - collector dismantles." If it's in half-decent condition, I think folk will fall over themselves, as building materials are very costly these days.

If it's in very decent condition, then put a price on it - even if it's only £50 or £100, this will help attract only those who really want it, and will take it all. (To build the deck from scratch would cost many £100s, possibly £ks.)

Worst case scenario - you need to cut it into handleable pieces and take it to your recycling centre, which should have a place for 'wood'.

With £50+ in your pocket, you could buy some wine and go sit out on your de... Blugger...

Ectophile

Councils do vary in their recycling policies, but mine doesn't charge anything for dumping scrap wood.  There's a specific bin for it.  You may end up with quite a bit to get rid of.

With any luck, it'll be screwed together, in which case you need a good screwdriver, with the correct bit on it (don't get philips confused with pozidrive).

If they have nailed it, you'll end up needing a wrecking bar, saw, and a big hammer.

stuart45

I've just taken one down. Having an impact driver makes a lot of difference.

FreeBear

Ectophile said: Councils do vary in their recycling policies, but mine doesn't charge anything for dumping scrap wood.  There's a specific bin for it.  You may end up with quite a bit to get rid of.

Assuming it is wood of course. There are recycled plastic composite materials out there that are sometimes used for decking..

There are also moves to have fees banned in England for the disposal of DIY construction waste. But based on the track record of this government, I wouldn't hold your breath.

Bendy_House

FreeBear said:

Ectophile said: Councils do vary in their recycling policies, but mine doesn't charge anything for dumping scrap wood.  There's a specific bin for it.  You may end up with quite a bit to get rid of.

Assuming it is wood of course. There are recycled plastic composite materials out there that are sometimes used for decking..

There are also moves to have fees banned in England for the disposal of DIY construction waste. But based on the track record of this government, I wouldn't hold your breath.

If it's composite, then DEFINITELY sell it. Buyer dismantles and collects.

henry24

It's surprising how much you can get in a wheelie bin if you make it small. I had 3 6 x 6 foot fence panels to get rid of and put 1 each week in bin 

TELLIT01

If it's in decent condition don't just rip it up and throw it away.  Single decking planks are anything from £10 to £20 each now.  By advertising locally you should be able to get something back for them.  As to what is under them, probably nothing more than bare earth or a weed membrane.  In that situation just prepare the surface and spread grass seed.

Section62

henry24 said:

It's surprising how much you can get in a wheelie bin if you make it small. I had 3 6 x 6 foot fence panels to get rid of and put 1 each week in bin 

You were lucky.  Many councils wouldn't accept the remains of wooden fence panels as domestic rubbish and would either refuse to empty the bin, and/or issue a warning the first time and a FPN the second.

Anyone thinking of doing this should check the local council's policy first.

victor2

I removed some 10 year old decking because I wanted the lawn back and the frame under it had gone rotten. Decking boards were mostly fine and screwed into the frame underneath, although some just lifted out as the frame was so rotten. Re-used the decking to make (large) planters. THe offcuts went into the chimenia. The frame ended up in sacks, as it fell apart as soon as it was distrurbed. Took the sacks to the local tip, who accepted wood waste without nails or fixtures. Without charging too.

Woolsery

henry24 said:

It's surprising how much you can get in a wheelie bin if you make it small. I had 3 6 x 6 foot fence panels to get rid of and put 1 each week in bin 

I have a second special wheelie bin which suddenly appears with all the others on wheelie bin morning. I bag everything that goes in it. Sometimes the operatives hoik out the bags and throw them in the lorry manually, and sometimes they put the whole bin on the auo-emptier, but they never question what's in the bags at all.

I'd guess every situation is different. A raised lid or something like that wouldn't make a difference. We're not jobsworths in this area of the country.

Having said all that, I believe the government has plans to stop charging for DIY waste at recycling centres. Some very bright bods have no doubt done expensive studies and found that collecting dumped materials works out more expensive than charging; something the rest of us knew when the charges came in.