I want to deck a bit of patio but the main drain cover is in the middle of it.....

[padboz]

impossible?

YES do a deck

Get a book out of the library and do it yourself

It will cost 1/3 the price of a patio and is easier on small heads when they trip over their feet

and it's nice to sit on in the summer

yay! Can you follow me about telling me what I need to do generally MP? I need mothering

padboz - how long are you going to be in this house? If long term I would opt for something else...if only short term I would still opt for something else

I put my rock collection on our manhole cover - and some pot plants also

You will need to 'scrub the deckking' every month or so with v. mild solution detergent / bleach to get rid of slippery algae - sounds like a job for the PIRATES (DCs) or get a power hose and a big pair of wellies!

also make sure that the grooves allow you to have water run-off away from the house - a very slight incline in the decking is necessary also - so water will not pool, and will flow away from house. Algae grows on the wet wood, and it's what causes the slippiness. Keep it clean = no slips.

My 'rock collection' is probably not big enough to cover the thing and its sort of central - it would look rather like a pagan burial mound...

what are these 'rock collections' of which you speak???

my mum has a drain in the middle of ehr decking..

the 'decks' are basically cut so that the ones over the drain can be got off if necessary and put back afterwards

We are having the exact same dilemma at the mo and we have decided to deck over it because as op said, if you do it with screws 'tis but a quick blast with an electric screwdriver to lift the boards. Otherwise the drain cover will spoil the nice look of your deck. And it IS a nice look imo!

We are having the exact same dilemma at the mo and we have decided to deck over it because as op said, if you do it with screws 'tis but a quick blast with an electric screwdriver to lift the boards. Otherwise the drain cover will spoil the nice look of your deck. And it IS a nice look imo!

I asked my gardener about this problem this week, as I have a very ugly manhole cover in the middle of my front border. She said she knows someone who makes wooden covers with handles to let you lift it off, which you can fill with soil & plants - she's bringing one round for me to look at next week - I'll add details when I know more if you want.