In terms of upfront costs, a patio may be slightly more expensive, especially if you are doing a particularly large area of a patio. However, it is not just upfront costs that need to be considered. You should also take into consideration the cost of any labor and the cost of upkeep.
A patio can be installed by most people, provided you follow instructions carefully.
However, if you do not have the tools needed such as cement mixers and the like, then the cost of renting or buying these tools may need to be factored in. or, of course, the cost of labor for a professional to fit your patio.
Decking can be fitted by the homeowner, too, but because it is made with wood, it is more common for people to enlist the help of professional carpenters.
This means extra cost. That being said, if you did decide to fit the decking yourself, the tools needed may be tools you already have or may at least be cheaper to rent or buy than cement mixers, etc.
As well as upfront and labor costs, upkeep is also important to consider. A patio is far cheaper to upkeep than a wooden decked area, and a patio is also designed to last much longer than a decking. As such, in terms of longevity and upkeep, a patio will be a better value for money.
However, even with all this in mind, the only thing that matters is what you want, and whilst the patio may be cheaper in the long run, it may mean a bigger upfront cost.
Decking, on the other hand, may be cheaper initially but may incur more costs over the years and will need to be replaced sooner.
Is a patio or deck better?
The answer to whether a patio or a deck is better depends on a number of factors such as your personal preferences, what you want to use them for, the landscape of your garden, and how much upkeep you want to do.
What we mean by this is that decking may be best suited for some types of gardens and a patio for others, and it will depend on how flat your garden is, if it is uneven at all, and what you want to achieve with your deck or patio.
For example, you may find that a flatter garden may be best suited to a patio, whereas an uneven garden or one on different levels may be best suited to some wooden deck. This is because a wooden deck can be built up, even if your garden is extremely uneven.
This will allow you to have some even ground for furniture and will allow you to place raised flower beds and plant pots if you wish.
On the other hand, a patio is best laid down on a garden that is mostly even and flat. Of course, you may need to do some evening out of the ground first, but in general, a patio is not ideal for very bumpy gardens.
Laying a patio is a little simpler in comparison to decking which may need a carpenter to fit. It allows you to have a flat area for furniture, decor, and plants, and you can even do a partially patioed garden and have some grass on the other part of the garden.
In terms of upkeep, a patio will need regular cleaning and sweeping to keep it looking good. Over time you may have to deal with things such as sunken slabs but these are typically easy to solve.
You may also need to fill cracks and gaps over the years. In general, though, a patio is easy to upkeep.
Decking is a little trickier in the sense that it is not built to last forever. You may get 10 to 15 years out of your decking, provided you look after it properly. You may need to treat it regularly as wood can be susceptible to rotting.
Wood rot can ruin whole deckings, and so if you find one patch of wood rot you will need to act quickly.
Certainly, there are pros and cons to both patio and decking and it is hard to say one is better than the other. It will be down to your needs and preferences, but both are great choices!
Is a deck or patio better for resale?
In terms of resale value, we are happy to report that both decking and a patio are great assets to add to your garden. They both provide attractive, outdoor seating areas and can be a great base for buyers to design their gardens around.
It also acts as an incentive for buyers who list a garden as an important quality in a new home, as they will not have to pay to have a decking or patio put in themselves!
In terms of what is best, however, the patio does marginally win this round, since they can last much longer than a deck and they do not incur as many upkeep costs. That said, a brand new decking is very attractive to new buyers, since they may be able to get 10 to 15 years out of it.
In truth, having either decking or a patio (or both if you really want to) can each add value to your home and will be great investments for you to make if you did ever plan to resell. Consider the costs of installing both a patio and a deck first.
We actually explore the costs related to them both in more detail earlier in this article. You should also keep in mind the expected upkeep costs of each and bear in mind how long they are designed to last.
Make your decision based on all of these factors and keep in mind that either of them will be a great choice!
Just make sure both your decking and your patio are kept in pristine condition to make them even more attractive to potential buyers!
