What is better patio or decking and which is easier to do yourself?
Question:
Answers:
Patio, decking`s so "last year". No seriously, patios whilst they can be more labour intensive to "construct", will look better in the long term than a pile of fading/peeling/rotten wood
Why are you doing it yourself? Employ a builder or landscaper.
It all depends on your preference really.
Both look good with the rigth equipment. Decking is usally easier to do yourself.
Decking is easier, but needs more work in the long term. You need to take care of the wood and treat it regularly - dirt will get down between the boards and weeds will grow out of it. Slugs love decking - I have to go out on warm, damp summer evenings and collect them as they come slithering out. Then they are bagged and dumped in the bin.
The patio slabs are much less effort - I put a pressure hose on them once a year!
Paving is more permanent. I have found decking becomes mossy and slippery in wet conditions and it decays relatively quickly. It is the cheaper alternative.
Depending on where you live, you may have to get a permit to do either project. And you may have to get a licensed contractor--so check on these things first.
It is easier to maintain a concrete patio but it is harder to put in unless you hire it out. If you decide to do concrete, make sure you do your research on what kind to use, how deep it should go, what kind or support does it need--rebar or heavy mesh, and whether or not you can rent the equipment necessary to mix large batches of concrete.
You will also need to do research on building your deck but remember, it will need a certain amount of maintenance. If you live in the north, snow and ice can affect the wood, in the south--sun and rain can affect it over time so that it will need to be resealed.
Of course, if you use some of the new non wood decking material, you can avoid weather damage all together--however it is also more expensive--but you will save in the long run because of low to no maintenance.
Most places like Lowe's and Home Depot have good "how to" books as does the public library.
Good luck!
Just to comment about everyones "wood" problems.
Well I'm going to be honest; in this day and age we have new decking material. Wood is ancient, but Trex is modern.
Basically, Trex is a composite which comes in different colors. It doesn't rote, but sometimes stains. Though there are miracle cleaners that get the stains right out.
We had a deck attached to our house with Trex, and we didn't have a problem yet.
Though we had a contractor put it in, I sat down and watched them; it seemed easy. Just a saw and an electric screw driver. Took only 2 days to finish (he had to pull up the old deck; thats why it took longer)
I also want to mention one more thing about Trex, it had a great warranty.
Patio or deck? It's your choice, but all I can say is if you go with deck, USE TREX!
Decking is easier to do, just make sure its level.
Decking is cheaper, easier and is more versatile. I did mine last summer, I managed to do two different levels and steps! Very satisfying. I tried to do a patio once but could not get them to lie level! I've added a balustrade this year with a handrail and wires between, it looks lush. I am keeping the natural colour for now but am toying with other colours for the future.Have a go, remember to measure twice and cut once (good advice given to me by a builder friend)
It depends on the site and what you want. I personal like patios better than decks. While a paver patio can be labor intensive it will last forever. A properly constructed deck looks nice too so it just depends on what you like better.
More Related Questions & Answers...