Decking vs. Patios: Which Is Best For Your Garden?
Outdoor living spaces are an incredibly popular form of garden design, allowing people to take better advantage of their gardens and expand their living spaces. Gardens designed for outdoor living aim to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor life, creating a landscape that is just as comfortable as the living or dining room.
The foundation to all successful outdoor living spaces, however, lies in the surfacing you choose. Many property owners debate between decking vs patios, considering whether a raised platform is better for their home or a traditional paved surface.
As a leading landscaping company, Taming Mother Nature has seen an increase in outdoor living spaces. We offer both decking and paving, understanding the unique benefits each form of hard landscaping offers. Using this experience, we are comparing decking vs patios in this post to help you make the right decision for your garden.
Understanding Decking: The Pros & Cons
Decking is a raised outdoor surface, typically built with timber or composite boards. This form of hard landscaping is usually designed to create a flat area for seating, dining, or relaxation.
Decking is a traditional type of outdoor surface, offering a natural, seamless integration with the surroundings due to timber or wood-effect composite. It can be customised into a variety of shapes, sizes, and levels when working with a professional installer, making it ideal for gardens with unusual layouts.
Whether leading directly from the back door into the garden or an additional area elsewhere in the landscaping, decking can offer additional space for your favourite activities. Garden designers can incorporate features like built-in benches, planters, or lighting to complement your existing layout and landscaping purposes.
Typical Decking Installation Considerations in Surrey
While decking can be a great solution for a range of outdoor spaces, no matter their size or condition, it is important to note that additional work may be needed for longevity.
For example, uneven or sloping gardens may require a sub-frame or supporting structure along with the primary decking installation, which can influence costs and installation timeframes. Likewise, Proper drainage is essential to prevent water pooling beneath the decking.
This is why professional installation is a must with decking, and a landscaping company like Taming Mother Nature can help. To learn more about landscaping companies and whether we are the right fit, see our post How to Choose the Right Landscaping Company in Surrey: Questions To Ask.
Decking works well with adjacent patios, paths, or planting schemes, but professional advice from a Surrey landscape gardener can help ensure a safe, level surface that complements your unique outdoor space.
Pros
- Warm, natural appearance that complements planting schemes.
- Excellent for raised or sloped gardens, offering versatile design options.
- Comfortable underfoot, particularly compared with stone or concrete surfaces.
Cons
- Wood decking requires regular maintenance, such as staining, sealing, or cleaning to keep it in prime condition
- Can be slippery when wet if untreated, especially traditional timber decking
- Higher initial cost for quality timber or composite materials
Understanding Patios: The Pros & Cons
Patios are hard, level outdoor surfaces that are typically made from stone, paving slabs, or concrete. Due to the fact that they are made with paving slabs or stones, patios can provide a solid foundation for outdoor furniture and entertaining.
While decking can be customised in terms of shape or material, patios offer higher levels of customisation. There are not only options for paving materials, including edging, but also design and patterns. Working with a professional paving installer in Surrey gives you access to a completely bespoke paving service where the design, layout and shape are customised to your needs.
Patios can be laid in herringbone, stretcher bond, random, or geometric patterns to add visual interest to the garden and complement the existing garden design. Larger slabs create a clean, contemporary look, while smaller stones suit traditional or rustic gardens, ensuring a complementary appearance to all landscapes.
Paving and patios are ideal for flat gardens in Surrey, where a stable, low-maintenance surface is preferred. To learn more about low-maintenance gardening and installations, see our post Simple Solutions: Designing Low-Maintenance Gardens.
Typical Installation Considerations for Patios in Surrey
Like decking, there are several installation considerations that need to be made ahead of investing in patios and paving. Usually, working with professional installers makes this process easier, as they will handle all the requirements and concerns during the consultation process.It is good to have an understanding of these considerations ahead of time, as it can determine whether patios are suitable for your garden.
Patios perform best on flat or gently sloping ground, so preparing a level surface is essential during the installation. Unlike decking, patios cannot be installed directly on uneven ground. Uneven areas may require excavation, soil levelling, or the construction of retaining walls to create a stable base.
However, like decking, proper drainage is also key in patio installation to prevent water pooling or frost damage. Incorporating a slight fall away from the house or using permeable paving options can help manage runoff effectively.
A strong sub-base, typically made from compacted crushed stone or gravel, provides stability and prevents the patio from shifting or sinking over time, which is particularly important in Surrey’s clay soils. This is part of a professional installation service and cannot be avoided if you want to ensure a long-term investment in your landscape.
The type of material chosen for your patios will also influence installation requirements. Natural stone may require precise cutting and careful spacing, while concrete slabs need even bedding and proper jointing. Edge restraints, such as timber, stone, or concrete kerbs, help maintain the patio’s shape and prevent movement over time.
A professional installer can ensure the patio is both durable and visually appealing, while also integrating it seamlessly with planting beds, pathways, or decking areas. Thoughtful design and careful installation at the outset result in a patio that complements the garden, functions well, and lasts for many years.
Pros
- Patios are highly durable and long-lasting, based on the paving material used
- A wide variety of finishes, colours, and textures are available to suit different garden designs and landscape requirements
- Most patios are low-maintenance, an occasional clean is usually sufficient.
Cons
- Paving can feel cold or hard underfoot compared with decking, which may not be ideal for outdoor living environments
- Paving is less forgiving on uneven or sloping terrain, so patios may require levelling or steps to accommodate
- Professional installation is required, especially for larger or more complex jobs, which can contribute to higher costs
Comparing Decking vs Patios: Which Is Best For Your Garden?
To determine which is the best option between decking vs patios, there are key areas to compare, such as:
Cost
While both decking vs patios need to be installed by a professional, their costs can vary. The costs of decking vs patios usually vary based on the materials chosen; for example, composite decking is more expensive than traditional timber, and is more comparable to speciality patios such as natural stone or porcelain.
However, when comparing the cost, you also need to consider the long-term value of decking vs patios, including how much work is needed to maintain and whether this will be a staple within your garden design for years to come.
To learn more about the costs of installation and garden design, see our post Garden Design Costs: A Surrey Homeowner’s Guide.
- Decking: Higher initial investment, especially for quality timber or composite.
- Patio: Costs vary significantly depending on material; for example, natural stone tends to be pricier than concrete slabs, which are one of the cheaper options on the market.
Maintenance
As we have mentioned, the long-term functionality of decking vs patios can contribute to their value and whether it is suitable for your budget. A considerable factor to consider when deciding between decking vs patios is their maintenance needs, and whether this is something you can afford and want to do over time.
The care you put into your decking and patios will determine how attractive they are and how long they last. After investing in professional installation and quality materials, you want to make sure your garden withstands the test of time.
The level of maintenance required for decking vs patios will vary based on the materials chosen for your outdoor living environment.
- Decking: Wood needs regular treatment, such as sealing and staining, to protect it from the weather; however, composite decking requires minimal care and is easy to maintain, even throughout the seasons
- Patio: Most paving materials are very low-maintenance, such as porcelain or concrete. These require an occasional power washing. Moss removal may be needed for most types of paving. It is important to note that block paving or gravel patios require more extensive care, such as stone treatments and weed removal.
Visual Appeal
While functionality is a vital part of outdoor living spaces, the visual appeal is just as important. You want to create a garden that is not only accessible and useful, but is attractive to increase kerb appeal and overall enjoyment.
When it comes to comparing decking vs patios, the visual appearance is a major consideration. Determining the best option will vary based on your garden design and the desired appearance of your outdoor living space.
The visual appeal of decking vs patios may also vary based on the kind of outdoor living space you want to create. For inspiration, see our post Upgrade Your Summer With These Outdoor Living Ideas.
- Decking: Warm, natural feel that blends with planting schemes and outdoor furniture. Ideal for traditional, cottage, or classic garden styles.
- Patio: Clean, solid look that can be styled with patterns, colours, and borders. Ideal in particular for low-maintenance or contemporary gardens.
Suitability for Garden Types
Finally, when determining which is best for your garden between decking vs patios, you need to consider the landscape you’re working with. Professional installation is required for both decking and patios, but there are additional considerations to make. Even with professional help, decking vs patios may not be the right solution for your garden based on its size, terrain and slopes.
Surrey gardens come in all shapes and sizes, and a professional assessment will be required ahead of your installation to determine the best course of action, including material choices and layout.
- Decking: Perfect for sloped or uneven gardens as it can be raised to create level surfaces.
- Patio: Best suited for flat or gently sloping gardens due to the ground installation of paving materials and drainage.
Conclusion
When designing an outdoor living space, one of the most important considerations to make comes between decking vs patios. Both decking and patios can create the foundation of your outdoor living space, but one may be better than the other for your unique garden design and landscape conditions.
As a leading landscaping company, Taming Mother Nature can help you make the right decision for your outdoor space. We will consider your budget, maintenance needs, garden design, and long-term vision for your outdoor space to help you choose between decking vs patios.
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FAQs
What is more durable, decking or a patio?
Patios are generally more durable over time, especially those made from natural stone or concrete, while timber decking may require repairs or replacement sooner. Composite decking offers longer-lasting performance but still doesn’t match the longevity of a well-installed patio.
Can decking be installed on a sloped garden in Surrey?
Yes, decking is ideal for sloped or uneven gardens. It can be built on a raised frame or multi-level structure, creating a level outdoor space without major excavation.
Which requires less maintenance in the long term?
Patios usually require less maintenance than decking. Once installed, they need only occasional cleaning, whereas timber decking requires regular sealing or staining. Composite decking reduces upkeep but still benefits from periodic cleaning.