Decking tips and tricks

We are by no means experts at DIY. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the opposite is true! But as you may have seen on my previous post here, we have done our DIY decking project. And just in case you are thinking of doing the same, here are my Decking Tips and Tricks!

• Prepare the ground properly.
• Do a plan!
• Measure and then re-measure to make sure you know you are ordering the correct amount
• shop around for deals
• Have the basic equipment at a minimum
• Ask for help if you need it!
• enjoy your new decking!

Now that’s the list here is the detail of what we did and didn’t do.

Prepare the ground properly

This one I think is probably one of the most important Decking Tips and Tricks.

Last time we did the decking we decided not to dig it all out level, and actually the decking was on two levels. It worked as we had the table on one level and everything else (BBQ etc) on the other. But it wasn’t really ideal, so this time we decided to level it. It was hard work (poor Eddie and Ewan) as the ground was a mixture of rubble and clay soil

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As you can see we have a nice drain manhole right in the middle of where the decking was going. This was hidden when it was raised but not anymore! The builders were rubbish as it isn’t even level!

We didn’t bother with the membrane. We didn’t use it last time and had few weeds under the old decking (mainly spiders – yuk!!). I think we are lucky that the soil is so bad and this area does not get loads of light so it obviously just isn’t an area where weeds thrive. If in doubt, use membrane as you wouldn’t want to spend all that and then have to take it up again if weeds start to grow through.

Eddie spent ages laying bricks that we were given by my Mum and Dad to be able to stand the decking on, it helps to keep it level and keep the wood off the soil. He put Bricks on the corners and where the cross planks were attached to the outer frame.

Plan Plan Plan!!

Eddie was eyeballing and guestimating how much decking we would need, but I insisted that we sketch a plan – this doesn’t have to be a full technical blueprint!! just a rough piece of paper with a drawing and measurements on it. Then you can write out exactly how many of each size you need.

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Shop around for best deals

We looked at the usual DIY places, but we also went to the Cattle Market in Nottingham and the timber guy there was cheaper and offered free delivery. He also advertises on Facebook Marketplace, so worth a look on there and gumtree just in case someone has a deal or someone has bought for a project and changed their mind!

We saved around £75 by buying wood this way!!

Get the basic equipment

We didn’t bother to order the wood precut, so when it arrived it became apparent that it would take years sawing by hand. I knew there had been some tools on offer at Aldi and Lidl, but I had just missed them. But I had noticed a circular/mitre saw in B & Q and it was on £52 so I bought it. It saved so much time it was brilliant.

I also bought a little mouse sander on Amazon a few months ago as I fancied doing a charity shop renovation project. It came in so handy and was again on offer when I bought it.

My advice is to shop around for the basics, parents and friends are also worth a try. We borrowed a wheelbarrow, pick and shovel from my dad so saved money by not having to buy them. My boss also said he had tools we could have borrowed.

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Ask for help if needed

We picked a hot week for doing the work and Eddie did loads of it on his own, but ask people for help. There were certain bits like pulling up the decking that Eddie couldn’t have done on his own. Plus it’s fun 🙂

Pics of the DIY Decking project

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It’s a good idea to attach the first board and then lay the rest and space them before attaching so you can get the spacing right (you don’t want a gap on the opposite edge).

I am so pleased with the end result. The decking is much better on one level. Some of the old decking wood that wasn’t rotten was used to make raised beds.

I have alpines and stones in the bottom one, autumn bedding plants in the middle and a herb/veggie beg at the top.

I even like the little manhole cover – we have a lavender plant on it at the moment, but also thought we may get a fire pit to go over it.

The plants were from Derby Garden Centre, but I personally would shop around – I saw some lovely plants that were cheap at The Range the other day.

Shop for some of the tools

Hope you like this DIY decking tips and tricks post and that some of it re-assures you that you could try a project like this of your own.

Have you tried a DIY project? How did it go? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Diy’ing!!

Julie x

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