When we moved in to our renovation project six years ago, we promised our friends and family we’d have the garden sorted in no time and have a BBQ to celebrate. The plan was to lay decking across the rear of the house...but then another child came along and renovating the inside of the house consumed all of our time and budget.
We soon realised the bifold doors we’d had installed at the back of the house had a nasty 50cm drop down to the uneven concrete patio below and were a health hazard for everyone, from the kids to my great grandad. In fact, our two-year-old took a nasty tumble down the drop and the bi-fold doors have been closed pretty much ever since.
Fast-forward six years, and with the inside of the house finally complete, we turned our attention to what to do with the garden. We considered raising the patio to the level of the back doors but the costs were astronomical, so instead we decided to build a ‘floating’ deck. This would give us a level threshold with the house and create the indoor-outdoor flow we wanted. Heck, we might even be able to have people over for that BBQ at last.
How we built the floating deck
To deal with the differences in height between the original patio and the bi-fold patio door thresholds we created a floating deck, which is suspended between the back of the house and two new raised planters. Much of it is suspended on a timber frame that was constructed on top of the old patio.
1. Digging out to create raised beds
The first step was to dig down and build the two raised beds. These were made of breeze blocks and filled with MOT to halfway, before being topped with topsoil and compost. They were rendered with monocouche render, to match the house. Because the coloured pigment runs through this type of render it shouldn't need painting, which was a big plus for us.
2. Building the sub-frame
Next, we needed to construct the sub-frame, which was done with timber and following Trex's installation guidelines. It's crucial to get the spacings and supports right or you invalidate your warranty on the decking itself, so this is the stage that took the longest. It's also important to get the levels correct, so it was definitely a case of measure twice and cut once to prevent wastage.
To stop weeds coming through in the future, we covered the old patio in weed-proof membrane and laid down pea gravel.
3. Protecting the frame
Once the sub-frame had been constructed, we used this waterproof decking tape from Trex on all of the top surfaces. This is a self-adhesive black tape, which protects the wood from rotting and moisture damage. Again, it took a while but was well worth it to know the deck would be sitting on a sturdy, well-protected base.
4. Setting out the decking pattern
We drew out a laying pattern for the deck before laying it to ensure there would be minimal joins. I wanted as many long, un-cut plants to really make the space look considered and well thought out. We decided to divide the deck into three zones, divided by two planks laid in a different direction. This has helped to visually create separate spaces for sitting, dining and for our girls to play.
Why composite decking?
One of the reasons we chose this particular range of Trex decking is because we wanted hidden screws. The screws are located between the planks, so there are hardly any screw holes on show on the surface, giving a really seamless finish.
We also spent a long time costing up different decking materials, weighing up the initial costs, sustainability of the materials and long-term maintenance.
We chose Trex composite decking as it was a sustainable, long-lasting alternative to real wood. It’s made with 95% reclaimed and recycled materials and comes with a 50-year warranty, so felt like a much sounder investment than real wood. Yes, the initial decking cost is more for composite decking, but over time we felt we'd save on upkeep and maintenance.
We had to have our house rendered as the brickwork had been badly damaged by a plant, but I really dislike how cold it looks, so I knew I wanted a warm colour to warm the back of the house. We ordered lots of samples and used the online deck visualiser to decided on the Lineage range in Jasper colourway, which is similar to the cedar cladding we have at the front of the house.
It’s also super simple to look after composite decking – a quick brush and mop with soapy water. I keep a special mop head for outdoor use, and give the surface a wipe every couple of weeks.
Trex guarantees its decking to be stain-resistant and fade-resistant, which was also crucial for our south-facing garden.
FAQs
Should you install composite decking yourself?
The short answer is, no! It’s taken us nearly four months to complete the sub-frame and final installation of this composite deck. My husband, as much as I hate to admit it, must be in the top 1% of DIY-ers in the country when it comes to his skillset, tool stash and attention to detail, and even he has wanted to throw the circular saw in at times.
The reason is, there’s no room for error with a deck – every angle needs to be cut correctly, every space perfect, every join butted together neatly. If you do think you're up to the challenge, the Trex composite planks are actually very similar to cut to real wood, but without the worry of splinters, warping or cracks.
However, if I were to do it again, I'd absolutely recommend using a local TrexPro installer. Using one ensures your warranty is valid, and also promises a quicker, less painful installation process. I’m delighted with our deck now it’s in; it looks and feels like beautiful real wood and won’t need any upkeep, but I absolutely wouldn’t install it myself again. Sometimes even us hardcore DIY-ers need to know when to call in the professionals!
Keen to learn more about decking for your garden design plans? Find out how to calculate how many decking boards you need to ensure you don't run out, and make sure you steer clear of these common decking mistakes when laying yours.
