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Patio vs decking is a long-time debate. Perhaps your garden is looking a little tired, and you know it’s in need of a makeover. Either way, you’ve arrived at the classic patio or decking debate, and you’re not sure which one is right for you.
Both patio and decking have their merits. However, when it comes to certain aspects, one may be better suited to your needs than the other. It’s all about learning the pros and cons of each.
Patios offer a solid surface with materials such as limestone, sandstone and concrete being very popular. Decking offers something unique and can act as a stunning feature in your garden. Decking is traditionally wooden, but more advanced materials such as composite decking are becoming more and more popular due to their higher-quality
So, patio or decking, which one is best, and most importantly, which one should you choose for your project? Here’s a quick rundown in the table below, but read on for a full breakdown.
| Patio Rating | Decking Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | High | Medium |
| Installation | Medium | Medium |
| Maintenance | Medium | Low |
| Visual Appeal | Medium | High |
| Weather Resistance | High | High |
| Longevity | High | High |
Naturally, at the very top of most property owners’ considerations is wanting to know how much a certain feature is going to cost them.
Something you need to think about when deciding between patio and decking based on cost alone is that it’s not just the price of materials but the installation too. There may also be unforeseen costs that can often happen when digging up a garden (i.e. to lay patio).
Plus, you need to consider the ongoing costs of maintaining whichever surface you choose. So, think of the cost in terms of the lifespan of the material, rather than just turning up at the store to purchase your chosen material.
Patios can be made from a variety of materials, including concrete, porcelain, limestone, sandstone, slate, granite and more. The quality of materials varies greatly, and as you’d expect, this then impacts the cost.
A middle of the road patio would be a wood effect porcelain tile at £40 per square metre. These can look quite stylish, although some porcelain tiles do not have slip resistance which is one issue to look out for. Top of the range patio options includes high quality Indian sandstone, which can cost up to £100 per square metre due to import costs.
Similar to patios, the cost of decking is going to depend on the type of decking you opt for.
For example, 40 square metres of composite decking in our stylish Mocha shade would cost £1,724.31.
About 40 square metres of budget timber decking averages at around £1,400. While you may save a few hundred pounds versus composite decking on your initial outlay, you have to consider why that’s the case, and reading the reviews of cheap timber will often fill in any gaps here!
Common problems with cheap timber decks include cracking, splits in the wood, warping and even inconsistent lengths being supplied. Upgrading to a premium grade of timber would set you back £4,400 for the same size area on average.
Another big difference to consider is that not all decking is created equal. With timber decking, there is a tremendous amount of prep work involved prior to installation to ensure the deck won’t rot. Plus, timber decking adds less value to a property than composite decking due to its shorter lifespan and higher maintenance costs.
Composite decking arrives ready to install with no treatment or surface maintenance required, other than an occasional gentle clean. The colour is also added at the time of manufacturing, which means no shelling out on painting your deck at the time of installation or over time.
Read Next: PVC Decking vs. Composite Decking
The installation of a patio and/or decking is the one aspect nobody likes to think about due to the mess and expense involved. However, the quality of a patio or deck installation will impact every aspect of your garden’s usability and enjoyment.
Both patios and decking can be installed by competent end-users. However, if your budget permits, we’d always advise a professional installation. Quite simply, a professional will be able to get to work quickly without having to figure out how to complete certain aspects or buy additional tools and their work will be guaranteed.
The first step of installing a patio is to map out where your patio is going to go and calculate the amount of materials you will need. However, this is where the similarities end, as preparing your ground for a patio installation can get very messy very quickly.
That’s because the ground will need to be completely level, and drainage will also need to be factored in. The work will usually involve digging out the top layers of the ground before concrete is mixed and applied to the ground, ready for the patio slabs to be placed on top.
Another aspect to consider is the weight of the patio or paving stones. Even smaller patio slabs can be incredibly heavy, meaning the installation needs to be handled by someone capable of lifting and repositioning each stone.
Installing a composite deck involves building a framework for the deck to sit upon. Everything you need to build your frame, such as the pedestals, joists and fasteners, can be purchased right here at Dino Decking.
A big difference with the installation process versus patio is that composite deck has a number of components that are ready made and designed to be fit together.
Competent DIYers may find installing a composite deck straightforward. But for the best possible results, we’d always advise a professional installation.
Try our composite decking calculator to figure out how many boards you will need to order.
It’s one thing to be happy with how your garden looks once it’s finished. But what happens when a stain gets on the material, or the British weather does its thing? If you install any surfaces in your garden that need maintenance, then forgoing this won’t just cause the material to look bad, it could actually cause the material to disintegrate too.
So, you’ll need to consider the time and cost of maintenance of any surface you are looking to add to your garden.
The amount of maintenance a patio requires is going to depend on the type of material you opt for.
Cheap concrete will deteriorate quicker and will likely require jet washing at least once a year, especially if your concrete is lighter in colour.
Darker colour patio stones will keep looking newer for longer. However, the gaps in between each stone (if applicable) may need resealing over time which can cost £175-£360 on average. Plus, you may find weeds growing through any gaps. If there are any trees near to your patio, then the roots may grow under your patio stones over time, causing lifting of the stones – this is also another issue that may be costly to fix.
The cost of maintaining decking will vary dramatically depending on whether you opt for a real wood deck or a composite deck, which is a mixture of recycled wood and plastic. As you may expect, using real wood means the time, not to mention the cost of maintaining your decking, will be far higher.
The average cost of maintaining timber decking over 25 years is around £2,420, whereas composite decking totals £475.
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It certainly is down to personal preference whether you prefer the look over a deck versus a patio. So, we can definitely give both patio and decking a pat on the back here, as when installed correctly, both can create a beautiful feature for your outdoor space.
The visual appeal of a patio is going to depend on the quality of the stone that you opt for, including how it weathers over time. Cheaper, basic patios rarely look as stunning as natural stone.
Decking however, always looks impressive and pairs beautifully with other landscaping features such as a lawn, raised beds or a water feature. You can even pair it with composite fencing and composite balustrade. Plus, composite decking offers a lot more flexibility, with a lot of colours to choose from.
Did you also know that giving your garden a makeover can add as much as 5% to the value of your property?
The British weather doesn’t mess around. With endless storms, rain and snow in the winter moving into hot, warm days in the summer, your outdoor surfaces need to be able to keep up.
For example, patios are prone to a variety of disadvantages in poor weather such as:
Similarly, decking is also prone to some similar disadvantages with added issues such as warping and splitting. However, some deck types, such as composite decking, have anti-slip properties, making them safer during bad weather.
Patios or decking aren’t just there to look pretty. How easy they are to use matters, since the surface will be subject to heavy use.
Some of the aspects to look out for is whether the surface can cause a slip or trip hazard, how easy it is to place furniture on, plus whether it’s user friendly for those with mobility issues.
When installed correctly, and opting for a smooth rather than rough texture, patios can be incredibly user friendly. However, this can change over time if any of the stones begin to lift or get broken. If a patio isn’t 100% even, then furniture won’t sit correctly on top of it and those with pushchairs or wheelchairs may struggle to navigate it. So, everything hinges on the correct ground preparation work and maintenance of your patio.
Decking is designed to sit on a framework, and that framework is mapped out to precision, ensuring all of the angles are perfectly level before the first plank of decking is even placed down.
In the case of Dino Decking composite decking, our decking is reversible allowing you to choose the texture of your decking. Whether you want to place furniture over the top or even let the kids ride a bike on it – the surface is completely even with no sudden dips or jagged edges.
You can even complete your decking with bullnose edges and corner trims to make it ultra user friendly, not to mention give it an incredible finished look.
The final aspect to consider is how long your outdoor surface will last, especially after it’s been exposed to the elements time and time again. In addition, how easy it is for the material to crack, chip, warp or break.
Changing trends may also impact how long the material lasts for, as a dated style may reduce the value of your property.
How long a patio will last will very much depend on the quality of stone or paving slab that you choose. Some of the ultra cheap concrete slabs are known to break being loaded off the van, never mind after 20 years of use!
On average though, a decent to high end quality patio should last for at least 20 years. After this time, it may no longer wash up nicely, have developed cracks or chips, or generally look dated.
It’s extremely important to check the guarantee as this will differ depending on the manufacturer or installer of your patio. Some only guarantee the stones for 1 year, whereas others offer a 10 year guarantee.
Decking’s lifespan is between 15 and 25 years on average, with wooden decks having a slightly shorter lifespan due to aspects such as rot, mould, cracking or chipping.
Composite decks fare slightly better as the addition of plastic, plus mould, chip and crack resistant technology help to solve some of the pain points of using 100% timber decking.
Here at Dino Decking, we offer a 10 year guarantee on our products, with our Premium decking range offering enhanced qualities that lend towards a longer lifespan. For the best results, we recommend using a qualified installer and following the maintenance instructions to keep your composite deck in the best condition for as long as possible.
When it comes to which material is best, it’s impossible to rule either patio or decking out completely, because both have their pros and cons. But, when it comes to ease of installation, maintenance, being easy to clean, and having weather-resistant benefits, there’s no doubt that composite decking rules the roost.
Ready to get started with your composite decking project, or have any more questions that you need help with?
Dino Decking is a UK-based supplier of composite decking. You can reach our customer team at any time by giving us a call on 01942 355968 or dropping us an email at support@dinodecking.co.uk.
As well as giving us a call, if you’re local to Wigan you can also visit our showroom to see our decking in person.
Based elsewhere in the UK? Order your free sample of Dino Decking today, and we’ll send you a beautiful range of our decking options.
Alternatively, if you’re ready to get started, head to our composite decking page to select your items and check out. We deliver across the UK.
You can also download our brochure to browse our full range of products.
Our sample pack contains a sample piece of each colour currently available. Order your free sample pack today to compare the colours and get a true feeling of the Dino Decking range!
If you’re looking for a stylish and practical way to make your deck stand out, our balustrade installation guide could
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