Decking vs. Patio: Which Is the Best Option for Your Home?

With longer days upon us, we can get back to enjoying those peaceful moments, with the sunshine beaming into the garden and the sounds of chirping birds, and evenings with friends or family as the sun drifts down slowly.

These are those moments we long for, and yet it’s these warm fuzzy feelings of spring and summer that give us a gentle nudge – time to get our gardens ready for the season ahead! Having an area in your garden to provide hardstanding flooring is always going to be a winner, especially when entertaining friends or relaxing after a hard day but choosing between a patio or a decking can be a difficult decision. Patio and decking areas can both deliver contemporary and traditional styling, depending on the materials you use. However, many factors come into play such as cost, durability, practicality, and maintenance. Let’s take a good look at the pros and cons of each.

Dreaming of decking?

Wooden decking can certainly bring a warm feel to your garden décor —not to mention an abundance of character. This type of flooring is much more versatile to meet the look and design you desire because it’s timeless. It comes in a variety of colours, material finishes, and styles, so it’s suitable for gardens of all shapes, styles, and designs.

With unpredictable weather after a little rain shower, decking can easily drain the water away, leaving you with a dry outside area soon after the rain stops. That said, decking does require routine maintenance to prevent damage to the wood. If it’s not properly treated, warping and rotting can occur, but if you are willing to spend some time each year treating the wood, then this will not be an issue.

Wooden decking is a durable option too, and should any boards become damaged, replacing parts is easy. You would only need to replace the damaged panel or board, and it is as good as new. If you wish to change the colour of the decking, you can easily stain them or even repaint them to your desired colour, whether that’s teak, charcoal, light grey, ivory or olive green!

Pondering the perfect patio?

Patio areas can sometimes feel stunning outdoor extensions, adding a dining area or a relaxed lounge beneath the stars. Adding a patio to your home is one way to add value to your house, however, isn’t necessarily as cost-effective as wooden decking. Patio areas are extremely durable and hardwearing, meaning heavy items of furniture can be placed on them without causing damage. However, if one slab cracks, it is extremely difficult to replace one slab alone without taking up the entire patio area and having it relayed. Patio areas can look seamless in appearance, but they may become very cold to walk on and cannot drain off rainwater quite like traditional wooden decking, meaning puddles of water may linger on the patio area.

There is also an element of maintenance needed here too, such as ensuring your patio is clean and tidy. Over time, any kind of dirt, grime, mould, and mildew can build up, causing cracks, discolouration, and even various structural issues. It’s a simple fix – using a jet washer will bring slabs back to their desired appearance in most cases. Once you have chosen the colour of your patio area, you have limited flexibility to change this later without laying new slabs.

Making your outdoor living ideas a reality

Once you have a vision of the outdoor living space you want for your own garden, it’s time to make this a reality. With a warm, welcoming wooden decking area, you can create a simple BBQ and seating area for unwinding with family and friends. You may also want to add some plants to surround your decking area or sit back and chill out in a hammock taking in the green tones of the plants around you.

Simply choose from our range of treated and untreated decking options, from hardwood to softwood, and we can help make your dream decking area a reality. For any further information, please don't hesitate to contact us here.