Q for those with decking

by **honeybunch** » Thu May 10, 2022 6:50 pm

Hi girls,

I'd love to get decking out our back but DH says that it draws rats. I have no idea about these things but obviously I don't fancy having a nest of rats living under there. I'd imagine that there must be a way that people keep them away??? Please tell me DH is wrong as I've got my heart set on getting this O:|

Thanks in advance for any info :thnk

BrideOfRecession · by **BrideOfRecession** » Thu May 10, 2022 6:56 pm

That's complete bullsh!t - pardon the language. My husband has put in many a decking (he's a carpenter) and none of them have ever had a problem with rats. My parents, sister, many friends he has done and no rats! Have to say that is a very modern old wives tale! Also asked husband and he says it is codswallop!

I don't know what's wrong with me today, I am exclaiming everything. Sorry.

by **honeybunch** » Thu May 10, 2022 7:05 pm

BrideOfRecession wrote:That's complete bullsh!t - pardon the language. My husband has put in many a decking (he's a carpenter) and none of them have ever had a problem with rats. My parents, sister, many friends he has done and no rats! Have to say that is a very modern old wives tale! Also asked husband and he says it is codswallop!

I don't know what's wrong with me today, I am exclaiming everything. Sorry.

I am so glad to hear this!!! Thanks BrideOfRecession :thnk

Bonnie Parker · by **Bonnie Parker** » Thu May 10, 2022 8:39 pm

I previously was planning on getting me some decking also - but i donno I just went right off it. Decided to do a patio instead. I have heard that about rats before - maybe it's because bits of food would fall down through the wood? But i'm sure there is a solution to this. They do seem to have an area underneath, that would require some awkwardly administered maintenance. I don't like the idea of maintaining all that wood!

PaniniRoses · by **PaniniRoses** » Thu May 10, 2022 9:38 pm

Never heard the rats thing, but I would be wary of decking for the winter, it can be lethal if it's not really well cleaned and maintained - I had it in my house (people who owned it before me put it in) and the first winter we had about 4 significant slips that left big bruises and could have been worse. We had it cleaned professionally as soon as we could but I was always really cautious of it when it was wet.

Littlebo · by **Littlebo** » Thu May 10, 2022 10:59 pm

I'm in the middle of trying to decide on decking or patio.

I keep changing my mind, dunno why. The rat thing is untrue just like BOR my lad has informed me (a builder and has a few decks to his name). Also there is a non slip decking you can get and also for people who have decking there is a coating that stops the slipping also. Don't think it's as simple as coating it though.

I have also seen where people slip on patio slabs in the rain also, a lot of them are the clean cut ones and cause just as much harm.

Ah, patio or decking....not that it makes much of a difference at the moment.

Twinkle toe · by **Twinkle toe** » Fri May 11, 2022 7:35 am

+1 to all of the above. I was also between decking or patio a few years ago. In the end I went for a patio as I thought, once it is laid properly, it would be lower maintenance than decking. I love decking too but think that it can end up looking weathered if not cared for properly (esp in the NW).
TBH I love my patio now.

Anne Cordelia Shirley · by **Anne Cordelia Shirley** » Fri May 11, 2022 7:47 am

We have decking and I wouldn't recommend it. It was in the garden when I bought the house and I'd love to get rid of it. Its really slippy when wet and despite all the non slip paints/varnishes we've used on it, it still gets quite green from rain and ice. It can takes ages to dry out, even on a nice sunny day so its not really safe to walk on. We've both taken tumbles on it and I wouldn't let a small child out on it when its in any way damp. If I was starting from scratch I'd have a nice patio, my parents got theirs redone a few years ago and get a lot of use out of it.

I had hear about rats but we have no issues with anything like that.

Ohnoshedidnt · by **Ohnoshedidnt** » Fri May 11, 2022 8:56 am

We put decking in a few years back and no matter what we did it was always slippy when wet. I went flying on it when i was 8 months pregnant and couldnt walk for days ;o(

There is so much maintenance involved with it aswell. We used to treat it twice a year.
We got rid of it last year and put down patio instead. Its much better with the kids as they can still ride their bikes on it and its not slippy at all. OH does give it a rinse with the power washer every so often!

by **Hopefully07** » Fri May 11, 2022 9:34 am

We HAD decking a few years ago but go rid as like an other poster said it gets very slippy even if you put down all the treatments. The only other thing is the rain and bad weather we have here warps the wood makes it go green and looks dreadfull even when you re-paint it. To keep re-painting it is a pain and can take hours and is back breaking work.

My advice don't do it..... Was glad the day we ripped it out.

SaraD08 · by **SaraD08** » Fri May 11, 2022 9:47 am

its all depends on what you want and like... (rats thing def a myth)

We have both decking (raised area for dining outside) and patio area, both require same amount of maintenance, every two years deck needs to be cleaned and restained, ours comes up like new when we do this... patio has to be cleaned and resealed every 2/3 years so its much of a muchness in my opnion with regard to cleaning and maintaning etc.
Both have to be maintaned so they are kept at there best.... if you dont like maintence then i wouldnt get either.. but i love having our garden looking nice so im happy to maintan both :o)ll

Its also depends on what wood you get for your deck, we got hardwood pre-treated, which is expensive but IMO worth the extra price, it lasts longer over the years and doesnt warp etc.

Have to say I've never siipped on our deck, the hard wood dries out pretty quickly in the sun (one hour most likely).... decks are usually only slippy if you have algae (green mould form trees / plants etc)... it only takes a short while to clean etc, so we've never had this problem.

Personally i love our deck... but its all what you want yourself.... :thnk

Steph2 · by **Steph2** » Fri May 11, 2022 10:01 am

H2B's folks have decking out their back, and they actually do have rats. But it might be more to do with the filthy neighbours who keep leaving rubbish out to rot!!! :-8

I know lots of others who have decking and have had no problems like that. We ourselves have decking on our balconies and I must say, 'tis a bugger to keep clean. So if you go for it, just be prepared to put in some graft to keep it looking fresh ;o)

xxx

SorrentoWife · by **SorrentoWife** » Fri May 11, 2022 3:44 pm

We were between decking and patio for ages and eventually went with a patio. We originally were going to go with sandstone but when 2nd guy came to quote us he said with a dog we'd be mad to go with light sandstone as we'd be cleaning it constantly and was expensive to get sealed. So he recommended smaller darker bricks with a black border around them and delighted we went with his advice. So far it hasn't shown any dirt (and we've had a lot of rain and the dog has been in and out) and looking forward to getting proper use out of it when the summer comes. (fingers crossed)

Here's pic of what we got done. Ignore all the cr@p at bottom of it - we reseeded some of the grass and had to block off pathways dog was using to stop him running on the new seeds.

Minnie10 · by **Minnie10** » Fri May 11, 2022 6:24 pm

Well ladies, we have decking in our garden. It was here when we bought the house. If i had the money it would be gone in the morning. It is soooo slippy when it's wet. Have slipped once or twice.

And YES they are a great hidout for rats. Only a couple of weeks we had two rats under our decking. We have a bit of waste ground behind our house and the residence association decided to clean it up so low and behold whose flipping garden did they come into only ours !! We noticed three holes where they dug to get under the decking. Put the poison and trap under and caught the dirty f*ckers. Was afraid of my life they would get into the house. Even still I dont like going out to put the washing on the line.

If I had the option I would choose Patio.
HTH.

Littlebo · by **Littlebo** » Fri May 11, 2022 10:04 pm

Thanks Girls some great advice and pointers.

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