To not put decking in the garden?

[ChequeredPasta]

So myself and OH are updating our garden. OH is very keen for decking at the bottom of the garden, but I'm less convinced. I'm worried it will date, and that decking is 'over'
Is decking 'over' and chavvy, or a lovely use of a small space??

Do NOT have decking. That is all.

Rats. That's all I'm saying.

I agree OP. We took our old manky stuff up with a view to replace....But we won't now. I think it's over, or soon will be. Not that I'm any kind of trend predicter...

Firs he want to maintain it every year? Mil has it and expects dp to sort hers out but he does what fil does and says 'you wanted the damn stuff...'

I'm not sure it being fashionable or not should be the point. It harbours rats and mice and needs loads of maintenance. What's wrong with a nice brick or cobblestone patio?

I think decking is over. Large, warm tone sandstone paving is in at the moment I think. Exact tone to match house brick colour. I think prices for stone have come down in the 15 or so years since decking peaked in popularity.

Real stone (not concrete covered with something) will last far longer too, and be easier to clean. Does, of course, depend on budget.

It's ugly and collects rubbish under it. I'm having my garden done and have given the designer a free hand but have stipulated no decking. YANBU.

It's good if your garden slopes, and you want to create level areas, but if it's already flat? It will become a haven for rats.

Decking is over - and is a magnet for rats
🐀

Flagstones last forever and are easy to maintain. They can be inexpensive and as contemporary looking as you wish.

Decking has been over for about ten years. Natural stone is the way to go.

We've just decked our back garden and we love it! I'm fed up with people looking down their noses at decking, paving, double glazing and most things that make life easier. Do what you want to do - it's your money. I've seen gardens of people who look down their noses at decking etc - I wouldn't want them anymore than they would want mine. Why do you even care - make your own decisions.

We have a small area of decking in our garden and I hate it. It gets really slippery, maybe I need to get outside and clean it with special cleaners but I haven't bothered googling to find out how to stop it being a hazard.

I'd go with a proper patio.

Again, rats.

Claudia you're absolutely right. Importing stone now is cheap as chips. OP don't look at places like Global or Marshalls, Ca Pietra. Stupid prices.

gets slippery and attracts vermin.

if you want to be a fashion victim, your call. But there's a reason it has gone out. The issues were obvious from the start, of course. Bad idea for the UK climate.

It's awful. And rats!!!!

Harbours rats and too much like hard work, we declined when our landlord offered to have our back garden decked (he'd done one of his other properties gardens and had loads left over).

I know it's slippery but no idea af the rat issue.

Love mumsnet.

Second natural stone too.

We are about to get rid of ours, and have a nice patio area instead

I liked ours in our old house... but it is so slippery, and the kids constantly dropped small toys and bits of food down it.

We also called it Spiderland. Because oh my god the spiders 😬

I wanted decking but DP has said no, and since he's the gardener, his word goes. But we do have a bird table and a shed. How would I know if we had rats? We live right on the edge of a small town (i.e. There's our neighbour, then there are fields and a small wood) but we do have cats who are keen hunters, and so far they haven't brought home any dead rats (we have had voles, field mice, rabbits, shrews, actual mice and birds)

No to decking!
I had to have raised decking at the end of my garden (different levels) and I don't like it. It's slippery most of the year and soon loses its nice looking finish.