Decking vs. Paving: Which is Best For You?

Summer is already in full swing, and with all the changeable weather we can reliably expect from our great sceptred isles. It’s high time – or even somewhat past time – that your garden was updated to make the most of the nicer days, and you may already be some way through renovating or otherwise patching up your back garden. However, you might have something of a pickle on your hands with respect to a key decision: decking or paving?

No garden is truly complete without some form of patio space from which to enjoy it. Having some hard ground on which to place furnishings and esoterica makes accessing your garden much easier, to say nothing of entertaining guests or indulging in some all-weather barbecuing. However, the medium for your patio furniture is not the easiest choice to make. There are pros and cons for both paving and decking, which we’ll be exploring in this brief guide to patio materials.

Aesthetics and Design

The obvious first criterion on which you’ll be judging your eventual patio choice is aesthetics. Firstly, and ultimately, how do you want your finished garden to look? Decking and paving each offer different possibilities, which could complement or contrast your sensibilities elsewhere in the garden.

Generally speaking, decking can be quite a rustic choice. Depending on the wood you choose, you’ll be left with a natural-looking finish that mirrors any trees or hedges in your garden – though decking can also weather in a less-than-pleasant fashion if not looked after. Paving meanwhile, is much more versatile design-wise. For a fresh, immaculate, feel, porcelain paving could be used to give your back patio a gleaming stony sheen. Alternatively, you could go for a rougher, cottage-core York Stone flag arrangement.

Durability and Maintenance

Your next consideration, though, is decidedly less exciting. Each potential material you use for your patio has its own properties with respect to durability, and its own maintenance needs. Decking is relatively easy to maintain, particularly if you use the right kind of treated wood for it; regular power-washes and occasional re-finishing will keep it sturdy for seasons to come.

However, it is demonstrably less durable than stone, which will outlast any patio decking by a number of years. Still, stone requires maintenance too, even if only to retain an aesthetically pleasing finish. Some stone flags are more porous than others, and can stain, or attract lichenaceous organisms. More effort for aesthetic upkeep could be a dealbreaker for you, even if durability is higher.

Evaluating Cost and Installation

Lastly, there is the matter of cost and budget. Decking is the less-expensive option, on account of decking timber being cheaper than most stone flags per square foot. Installation will also be cheaper, as decking is much quicker and slightly less labour-intensive to install – unless your decking is raised, and structures need to be made to support it! Stone paving costs more on most fronts, but can also be DIYed if you have the right nous for it. Ultimately, there’s a decking or paving solution for every budget, and your decision should be based on a combination of aesthetics and effort.