Raised Concrete Base with Paving finish

Lex Luthor

My deck has seen better days, so I think its time to move it on for the skip and replace it with something with less maintenance.

I like the idea of the height it provides when stepping out of the house, so I was thinking of looking into a raised concrete base roughly the same area as where the deck takes up and then finishing it off on top with a nice stone or paving or maybe a stamped cobble block...(I'm open to all suggestions)

Is this a feasible idea? What kind of price is acubic meter of concrete these days?

Thanks in advance for any advice..!!

paddy147

What about composite decking?


Available in a few different colours.

All it needs is a quick power wash every year or so.

Lex Luthor

paddy147 wrote: »

What about composite decking?


Available in a few different colours.

All it needs is a quick power wash every year or so.

What are the boards size like? Any local suppliers I could see them?

gctest50

http://elitedrivewayscd.co.uk/drivewaysbolton.htm

I'm don't know the lifespan of the tinted stuff

Bit of exposed aggregate maybe ?

http://www.decorativestonesolutions.com/photo.php?PICID=18

paddy147

Lex Luthor wrote: »

What are the boards size like? Any local suppliers I could see them?

Chadwicks,Heiton Buckleys,Wogans.

paddy147

Some pics.

Either side can be used as your surface,and it comes in 4 different colours/shades.


This is brown fleck.


Might not be your cuppa tea,but just thought Id give you a different/alternative idea.

Lex Luthor

thanks for all suggestions

The composite decking is something I never heard of before. Is it just screwed down like any other board? If the boards were of similar size to my existing boards I could just start replacing them as I go on. So do they come pre-coloured? No need for annual stanining/oiling etc?

Obviously the patterened concrete long term is much less maintenance but it comes at a price but no harm in asking anyway

paddy147

Lex Luthor wrote: »

thanks for all suggestions

The composite decking is something I never heard of before. Is it just screwed down like any other board? If the boards were of similar size to my existing boards I could just start replacing them as I go on. So do they come pre-coloured? No need for annual stanining/oiling etc?

Obviously the patterened concrete long term is much less maintenance but it comes at a price but no harm in asking anyway

12 feet long and 6 inches wide.

They slot into specual plastic clips,and the clips get screwed down.

Its like a form of secret screws,you dont see the screws,just the decking.:)



Just a whack of a pressure washer each year and some detergent/sudsey water,and thats about it

Lex Luthor

paddy147 wrote: »

12 feet long and 6 inches wide.

They slot into specual plastic clips,and the clips get screwed down.

Its like a form of secret screws,you dont see the screws,just the decking.:)



Just a whack of a pressure washer each year and some detergent/sudsey water,and thats about it

Thanks P147. Must try get up to my local Chadwicks soon and get an idea of pricing. Any idea yourself what the boards cost you mentioned just so I have a ball park figure of what I'm looking at?

Also anyone know where you can get the smooth boards? These are what I have at the moment but they were installed by a decking installer. I have yet to see them in any main stream decking supplier. All they stock is the ribbed boards. Ones I have are 37mm thick and 145mm wide. 3.6m lengths would be ideal
Thanks

North West

Hi Lex
What height are you talking about to lift deck?
NW

Lex Luthor

North West wrote: »

Hi Lex
What height are you talking about to lift deck?
NW

Not actually tring to lift deck. Considering replacing it with a concrete option. Current deck is approx 22-23cm high

North West

Hi Lex
What about a block and T beam system. Google and see what you think.Basically you will need row of blocks round deck. Then the t beam spaced to put in blocks. Then you can concrete or really do what you want with it.
NW

Lex Luthor

somebody just said to me, why dont I just replace the rotten boards...easier said than done
They are not your typical deck board...actually when I went googling they are called D-rails (like this http://www.darmodyfencing.ie/products/domestic-fencing/timber-post-and-rail/darmody-fencing/timber-rails)
Only thing is I measured them and they seem to be an odd size
They are 5 3/4 " wide and 1.5" thick
Everything I have come across now online seems to be all in metric sizes, so they are either slightly too wide or slightly too thin

tred

paddy147 wrote: »

12 feet long and 6 inches wide.

They slot into specual plastic clips,and the clips get screwed down.

Its like a form of secret screws,you dont see the screws,just the decking.:)



Just a whack of a pressure washer each year and some detergent/sudsey water,and thats about it

Paddy, ball park what are in price? a length

paddy147

tred wrote: »

Paddy, ball park what are in price? a length

I think its around 19-20 euro a length.