What's better patio or a deck?

We Brits love our gardens. In fact, we’re not shy about shelling out a significant amount of money for garden renovations. After all, there’s something quintessentially British about a well-kept patio, large low-maintenance flower borders and – it would almost be sacrilegious not to mention – our love for all things decking. So it’s not surprising that when people are coming to a decision about what to do next with their gardens, they tend to fall into two camps: patio or decking.

Enter our nifty comparison guide! In today’s article, prepare to get nitty gritty with these two popular landscaping materials – from cost and maintenance requirements to the installation required and physical characteristics, you’ll be a Fall Timber-approved expert on the subject.

First, let’s introduce these ubiquitous garden materials.

Bringing patio and decking to the stage

Patio and decking are both obvious choices for improving your garden: they add a new dimension of charm, extra stability and they’re the perfect place to set up a cosy seating area, BBQ, parasol and all. Their steadfast popularity has risen ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, with tons of homeowners reporting they added these features because of the 2020 lockdown measures.

While they’re equally as appealing as landscaping materials, there are a multitude of differences between the pair you need to get to grips with.

Patios are made from paving stones of different materials that are laid over a subbase sitting on a levelled surface, while decking is a platform typically built out of timber or composite – this means that you get varying heights, appearance and functionality with each. Now, let’s zoom into the details.

Patio vs decking: How do they compare at a glance

Looking at patio and decking in more depth: Key factors to consider

We’ve covered all of the key differences at a glance, but what about the specifics? Here’s a rundown of each of their attributes in a bit more depth.

Cost

If you’re planning a significant garden makeover, this will probably be your primary concern. Not to worry though, there’s a good variety of products, each at different price points. So whether you’re unrestricted budget-wise or you have a particular cut-off point, those funds you’ve been saving up for a rainy day will be well-spent.

When it comes to patios, the news is especially good. Patios are generally considered a good investment as they can add property value and curb appeal to gardens that were once haphazardly kept. Plus, with the abundance of products available, you can carefully choose how much you wish to spend. Higher-end options like porcelain and natural stones – sandstone and slate, we’re looking at you! – are more expensive due to their quality and desirability, whereas concrete pavers and brick tend to be more budget-friendly.

The cost of decking is significantly more expensive owing to the amount and grade of the material, plus the more complex installation. This said, though, with a long lifespan, premium appearance and great durability, it’s worth it in the long run. Another, more hidden, cost not to forget is any products related to your decking’s upkeep – we’re thinking of any cleaners or paint/treatment for wood varieties.

Variety of options

One of the merits of both decking and patio is their sheer customisability and array of design options.

Let’s look at decking first. Beginning with material, you can choose between timber and composite boards, both of which provide different aesthetics and level of maintenance required (more on that last bit later). Once you have the decking material down, you can then opt for patterns and colours: something strictly traditional, or how about something a bit more colourful and contemporary? When that’s chosen, you can enhance the vibe with accessories like steps, decorative balustrades and fencing.

And patio? There’s just as many options: the industrial charm of brick, modest concrete or the natural appeal of stone. You can even select pavers that mimic the look of wood, so if you’re struggling to get on board with the upkeep required of timber this might be just the ticket!

Aesthetics

With many colours, patterns and design options to choose from, this duo of materials excel in looks. Decking has that timeless appeal, whether traditional wood or modern composite, while patio looks wonderful as both a modest back garden seating area and a flashy contemporary drive idea. Rest assured that there will be plenty of possibilities to complement the appearance of your home exterior among other elements of the garden.

Maintenance requirements

Maintaining patio typically comes down to sweeping, jet washing or a simple rinse in most scenarios. Sometimes, a bit of fixing might be in order if the slabs become scratched, chipped or more severely broken.

Decking maintenance, however, is a little trickier – particularly if it is made of timber. You’ll need to keep it clean, moss-free and steer clear from mould. Usually, this entails more jet washing or scrubbing, but you might also want to enhance its weather resistance by applying an effective wood treatment. These steps ensure the deck is safe for everyone who traverses it.

Lifespan

The lifespans of both decking and patio are decent – more than decent, in fact. Depending on your choice of material, you’ll see that patio slabs can last for 10-30 years. Then decking, this fab material can stay looking good and performing well for 10-15 years if timber and then 20+ years for composite decks. Thanks to the wonders of the tanalising process, the boards have great longevity, gifted extra strength and resistance to anything the outdoor world has to throw at it.

Durability

Another factor that should stay top-of-mind is the durability of the material. Of course, patio slabs can be scratched, chipped or otherwise discoloured over time and if any accidents happen, but it’s good to know that most varieties are very hardy and resistant to damage by bumps and the changing British weather. Keep up the maintenance and care and this won’t be a problem!

Decking is pretty durable too! Prized by many families due to its powerful ability to withstand heavy loads – people, garden furniture and BBQs included – it’s built to last. What about variance between materials? Well, it has to be said that composite decking is rot and insect-resistant. Timber too has a great level of durability, particularly cedar and redwood species as these are naturally rot-resistant.

Installation

A patio is perhaps one of the easiest ground landscaping features to do yourself. You get hold of the materials, clear and level the area, lay a subbase, and then lay your slabs according to your design preference. Decking takes a bit more effort as the boards can be heftier. Similarly, you need to measure out your dimensions, level the garden and build a subbase. However, taking into account all of the work to fix each board together, it can take longer and require a bit more skill. This said, laying decking on grass is definitely something that a competent DIYer can achieve with the right level of care.

Planning permission

A consideration that is easy to overlook in the garden improvement space is planning permission. Luckily, you don’t need to let this worry you – patio seldom needs approval and decking only requires planning permission in the instance that it measures more than 30cm above the ground and/or covers more than 50% of your garden.

Environmental impact

This final consideration can get quite complex if you factor in long supply chains, manufacturing processes and material extraction, and – of course – it’s quite subjective.

Things you might want to think about when considering a patio could be the use of concrete as it’s a high-impact material – other choices like local stone might be a better option if travel and manufacturing emissions are a concern. With decking, you might find yourself weighing up timber and wood – the former is a less-impactful material, but it decays over time so boards might need to be replaced in future. However, it doesn’t contain plastics like composite.

It’s a bit of a minefield, but by thinking through some of the above issues, you might come to a conclusion on what’s better for your requirements, patio or deck and then the subcategory of material.

Breaking down the pros and cons of patio & decking

With all of the main considerations out of the way, it’s time to get ranking them. Are there any particular pros and cons to look out for when it comes to these materials?

Decking pros and cons

With decking, as you may expect, the pros and cons vary with each material. But, on the whole, deck owners enjoy the following benefits:

• You can procure anti-slip boards or anti-slip strips to enhance the safety of the structure along with railings and steps.
• You can make your garden feel more private by creating a sunken seating area or otherwise zoning the decking with decking screens.
• Has a stunning appearance that lasts over time with the proper maintenance.
• Cost-effective when you factor in the lifespan and versatility of the deck.

Cons to be aware of are typically as follows:

• High up-front cost (but this is mitigated by the performance of the product).
• May require refinishing/treatment/repairs if timber.
• Timber decking can fade due to UV exposure, so proper maintenance is key.
• Installation is pretty labour-intensive and costs more.
• Has a considerable environmental impact, but you can reduce this by opting for options that are more sustainably sourced and produced.

Patio pros and cons

Similarly, patios have their upsides and downsides. Beginning with the former, here are the general benefits:

• Less expensive than building a deck.
• Maintenance is easier than that of decking.
• Many types of patio slabs have a longer lifespan than timber and composite decking.
• Usually, no permits are necessary for this type of project.
• Easy to plan for all types of garden, allowing for an overall cohesive scheme.

Now, on to some of those downsides we just mentioned:

• If your garden is sloped or wonky, you will have to level it beforehand.
• Can sometimes crack with abrupt temperature changes.
• The surface can become very slippery in wet or icy conditions.
• The installation can sometimes take longer than decking, depending on the ground conditions and the specifics of the project.
• Can pose issues with drainage and groundwater as well as having a moderate environmental impact if concrete.

So, what’s better patio or a deck?

Back to the question that started it all – what’s better patio or a deck? Well, the truth is that in a side-by-side comparison neither one comes out on top overall. Both choices have a lot to offer in the aesthetics departments and their functionality can suit different types of gardens. What we’re really saying here is that it’s ultimately a matter of personal preference.

So make sure to consult our list of considerations above and weigh up the pros and cons for your specific circumstances. The one that most closely aligns to your needs will be your sure winner.

Time to make your decision

Lovely! You’ve made it to the end of our landscaping materials head-to-head. We hope at this stage it will be much easier to determine your next garden project – simply make a list of your pros and cons and see if they match patio or decking more closely. Good luck with it!