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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not put decking in the garden?

45 replies

ChequeredPasta · 20/03/2017 12:14

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??

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 20/03/2017 13:05

We have decking, and in our sloping garden it is much more practical than patio slabs. Its easy to stop it being slippy, and I don't think its hard work tbh

Original poster
ChequeredPasta · 20/03/2017 13:08

Spiders!!Shock
That settles it, no decking. I'm stressed enough when I have to get anything out of the very spidery cellar.

OP posts:
Blossomdeary · 20/03/2017 13:19

Bird tables are what attract the rats. We never put out food for birds.

We have a lot of decking around our new bungalow which is large and sprawling and on a sloping site. Our GC love it as it has a railing around it and is high off the ground and great for playing ships' captains on!

It makes a brilliant large flat area around the whole building and is a huge asset. I think if the ground was flat it would not have been put in (by the previous owner) but as it is it is ideal - we can stroll out from every door onto a flat area.

We have not had a problem with rats here so far - but we do not put out anything that might attract them; and the space below the decking is several feet above the garden, so not so attractive to them as small places they can hide in.

We have put down rubber mats on the decking to make a safe pathway to the wood store/garage/shed etc., but otherwise we just stay off it if it is wet.

I do not know whether it is in fashion, and care not TBH, but it is brilliant here. I am not sure I would bother with it if the garden were flat.

Fluffy40 · 20/03/2017 14:03

We had decking , but you need to maintain it, or it will rot very quickly.
After a few years it can start to look shabby.

Ratonastick · 20/03/2017 14:09

I've inherited some scrotty knackered decking. Part of it will be stone by the end of the summer, but I am a bit flummoxed by the other area. It's slightly sunken and near the house so the underneath is a soak away. It works very efficiently and there is never standing water. So a question for the hive mind of Mumsnet, what can I put there instead of decking that would maintain the drainage?

Gwenci · 20/03/2017 14:15

We've got a small decked area as it was the best option for that particular space for a variety of reasons.

Don't like it? Don't want to maintain it? Don't get it. Think it looks nice and is a practical choice for your garden? Crack on.

SistersOfPercy · 20/03/2017 14:39

We're weird in the UK in that we put decking board down ridged side up, whereas the rest of the world seem to lay it flat side up.

We decked ours only because we have a tiered garden and wanted to make a useable space. I insisted on having flat board. Not only is it a zillion times easier to clean, it's actually a lot less slippery.

AnyFarrahFowler · 20/03/2017 14:41

Rats you say?

(Looks anxiously outside at decking in back garden)

LoriD · 20/03/2017 14:43

Not a fan of decking it's hideous

Chipsandonionrings · 20/03/2017 14:48

We had decking in our last house and it was fab. The garden was very small but the decking was in 2 levels and have the garden a lovely structure and it was fab for the dc to play on as it was muddy like grass. The garden got full sun for most of the day so it was slippery. Every other year we oiled it ( really easy and quick)

Never noticed any rat problems but we lived by a bridle way and had a cat! When we have some cash we will be putting it in at our new house as currently can't use the garden for 6 months of the year. I want composite decking but it's big bucks

Chipsandonionrings · 20/03/2017 14:50

So many typos! Wasn't slippery. Gave a love my structure.

gillybeanz · 20/03/2017 14:54

Everyone I know who had decking soon got rid of it.
If it wasn't rats it was green mouldy stuff they had to keep disinfecting away.

Twopeapods · 20/03/2017 15:45

We have a major slopenin our garden so we have it so we can have a flat area. If the garden had already been flat it would have been a lovely patio. If I had endless amount of money a would have built up the slope level with a wall with some glass wall or something. But I'm terrible at garden planning!

LakieLady · 20/03/2017 15:54

what can I put there instead of decking that would maintain the drainage?

Gravel or pea shingle would allow water to drain. And it can look quite nice.

My mate has a gravel area, with 3 rocks that are home to some pretty alpine plants.

lasttimeround · 20/03/2017 16:50

Decking needs lots of maintenance gets slippery. We had a garden full of it. Ripped half up. Can't wait to rip up other half and put down some non slippery paving

AnneElliott · 20/03/2017 17:08

I hate it. Ours is so slippery in the winter it's a death trap!

londonrach · 20/03/2017 17:13

V dangerous when wet, rats, looks awful when old, chavy, not good for water drainage so bad for the environment...yep..yanbu.

MOIST · 20/03/2017 17:25

Useful if you have a sloping garden. No rats here.

ThisisrealityGreg · 21/03/2017 09:52

OP the biggest spiders I have ever seen in the UK were under our decking when we took it up. I don't mind spiders if I can't see them but I nearly threw up when one of them ran along a beam.

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