Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

Original poster

Decking or patio

20 replies

beachcitygirl · 03/02/2023 11:52

Hello all
We are moving to a new detached house and it doesn't have decking or patio, trying to decide what to put down at the back (it has bi-fold doors to garden)
It's a modern barn conversion.

Anyone seen something new & lovely I can put down ?

OP posts:

FirstRenovator · 03/02/2023 12:26

Following - we are also wondering if we should do hardwood decking or lay porcelain tiles for our patio - we are leaning towards the tiles for less maintenance.

BadlydoneHelen · 03/02/2023 12:35

I would say patio over decking. Decking gets slimy/slippy if you don't maintain it and you've got the issue of rats nesting under it.

BlueChampagne · 03/02/2023 12:39

A stone patio will outlast decking.

safeplanet · 03/02/2023 12:44

I hate decking so would vote patio

Isseywith3witchycats · 03/02/2023 13:37

We went for patio as decking encourages rats and mice to live under it and it gets slimey and slippery and cost wise not much difference in price but patio will last a lot longer we went for york stone slabs

tallrectangle · 03/02/2023 13:48

We went with a porcelain patio, a light grey shade, it does look really nice.

20viona · 03/02/2023 13:56

Indian stone patio

parietal · 03/02/2023 14:59

definitely patio - our decking needs a lot of maintenance and gets very slippery too.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 03/02/2023 15:10

Indian sandstone patio, a relative had their decking taken up and this put down, and it looks great.

It's still jet-washed occasionally, but that's more for aesthetics rather than removing the green slime that lived on the decking with a coefficient of friction similar to that of an ice rink.

Clusterfunk · 03/02/2023 15:13

Patio. Maintaining decking is a pain and in a previous rental we had rats move in under the decking when our neighbour bought rabbits and kept them (and their food) in the back garden adjoining our decking. Nightmare.

Mumskisail · 03/02/2023 15:13

Decking gets slimy and slippy and is harder to maintain so I'd avoid

Clusterfunk · 03/02/2023 15:14

Oh yeah, decking slime! I forgot that. Almost killed my housemate once, she got concussion when she slipped. We had to scrub it weekly after that to avoid killing ourselves taking the bins out.

snowflakeinastorm · 03/02/2023 15:49

I would choose patio over decking. Decking looks horrid when it is not maintained, as well as being too slippy. Nothing worse looking than dirty, badly maintained decking. I have had my new patio down over 3 years, and it still looks new, I doubt whether decking would look anywhere near clean in that time.

Callisto1 · 03/02/2023 15:54

I would avoid decking as it's annoying to maintain and you can have rat/mouse issues.

Original poster

beachcitygirl · 03/02/2023 16:51

Thanks guys! Decision made
Patio it is x

OP posts:

coodawoodashooda · 03/02/2023 16:54

Decking is not good. We have it as there isn't really any other option due to logistics. It's a nightmare for maintenance.

grayhairdontcare · 03/02/2023 18:48

Decking makes a lovely home for rats.
Definitely patio

GreenBiscuitr · 03/02/2023 18:52

There are no rats under my decking...😂Seriously though, I'd much prefer a stone patio but we created a sump leading to drainage under our decking so that we can channel the run-off when we have those torrential downpours and the gutters can't cope. This happens often.

VintageThoughts · 03/02/2023 19:19

My decking lasted 15 years before I had to replace the top boards. There are no rice or rats but it's bloody lethal for a good 75% of the year.

Go patio!!!

PrinnyPree · 05/02/2023 22:58

Another thing to consider is what direction your garden faces. If it's North facing definitely not decking as it will get slimy. If South then that does lend itself better. Personally I like patio off the house and a little deck in a sun spot (but my garden is on 2 levels and a funny layout). I've never had a problem with rats as far as I can tell... 😬

Flip