Patio v Decking – Which Is The Best Option?

Green-fingered or not, we’ve all come to value our gardens over the past 12 months.  With lockdown restrictions making us hugely thankful to have somewhere – anywhere – to escape to outside.  

The result of this newfound appreciation, and the approach of warmer, sunnier weather, means that many of us are now looking to make improvements. Motivated to spend a little money and make more of outdoor space.

But how is this money best spent? Should you be investing in a stone patio or decking? And which option will offer you the most value – and enjoyment?

Here the team at Modern Garden take a closer look at both alternatives.

Patio pros:

• Huge variety of stone colours, shapes and textures offers endless choice and the chance to be really creative, designing a patio that is entirely unique to you and your property.
• Relatively easy to maintain. Brushing and occasional jet washing should be enough to keep stones clean.
• Long lasting.
• Classic – patios never go out of fashion.

Patio cons:

• Laying a patio is labour intensive and can take considerably longer than installing a decking area.
• You need to carefully consider your patio’s foundations, not to mention other possible underground obstructions such as pipework.
• They can be very expensive.

Decking pros:

• Cost-effective and usually more affordable than patios. And – by opting for composite decking over wooden decking – you can save even more over time as there’s no need to outlay for future wood treatments or paint.
• Low maintenance.
• Easy to create a raised platform and great for levelling out an uneven surface. Plus, with no foundations placed below soil level, you also don’t need to worry about hitting any underground obstacles.
• Quick and easy to install, decking is lightweight and easy to work with – especially if you opt for composite over timber.
• Decking looks great and is often the more favoured, modern choice.

Decking cons

Now don’t get us wrong, there are some disadvantages to decking but these tend to relate to traditional timber decking e.g. rot and rain damage, ongoing maintenance and slippery surface when wet – but none of these are an issue with composite decking.

This modern equivalent gives the same great look as timber but with none of the cons and a whole host more benefits, such a virtually zero maintenance and a slip resistant finish.

Both patios and decking areas represent a great investment but, even with the most cursory of investigations, it’s clear that if you’re looking for an attractive, low cost, low maintenance way to upgrade you outdoor space, then composite decking is the obvious choice. Offering you more time to spend sitting enjoying your garden – rather than working on it!

Decided composite decking is right for you? Congratulations on making a great choice. Here at Modern Garden, we offer high quality composite decking in a wide range of colours to help you achieve the ultimate garden decking area.

We thrive on customer satisfaction and won’t stop until you’re completely happy. So, if you’re in need of advice or some friendly expert assistance, the team are always on hand and happy to help.

Talk to us today by calling 01695 557 711 or email info@hrcompoistes.co.uk or fill in our contact form and we’ll be in touch as soon as we can.