Decking - DIY vs Kit?

Hi there.

I have a fairly large concrete base from an old garage that I had demolished.

I was thinking of putting some decking down but cannot decide whether it would be better to buy a kit or do it completely from scratch.

Having looked, the kits seem to be better value but none of them seem to specify whether the frame timber is Class 4 (which I am led to believe is essential to prevent rotting).

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Comments

  • Brie
    Brie Posts: 14,283 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Only thing I can say is that if you go down the build it yourself route do be sure you have an electric screw driver.  The OH didn't when building our deck and the impact of having to manually screw in however many dozens of screws caused a good bit of agony.  
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Debt Free Wannabe and Old Style Money Saving boards.  If you need any help on these boards, do let me know. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.

    "Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.”  Nellie McClung
    ⭐️🏅😇
  • Nobbie1967
    Nobbie1967 Posts: 1,656 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Kits are generally cheaper because they use lower quality materials. If they don’t state a level of wood treatment then you can assume they don’t have much. Try looking around for timber specialists who will usually be cheaper than DIY sheds unless they have an offer on.

    I almost bought a 8*14 foot shed for £880, but realised than even after I’d spent another £400 upgrading bits it would still be rubbish, so built my own. It cost almost £2k in materials. Not cheap, but so much more sturdy and durable.
  • ThisIsWeird
    ThisIsWeird Posts: 7,935 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    If you can, make at least the supporting frame and pedestals out of either aluminium or composite.
    The decking itself can be timber if you like, since it's easy to maintain - spray every few years with wood preserver and then more oil - but if the hidden frame rots, you're sunk.
    Cost comparison? No idea. All I can suggest is to compare qualities.

Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 350.4K Banking & Borrowing
  • 252.9K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 453.3K Spending & Discounts
  • 243.4K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 597.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 176.6K Life & Family
  • 256.4K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.