10 TIPS when planning a deck or patio

If you don’t have a nice eating and entertaining area in your garden, now’s the time to create one.

Here are our 10 top tips to help you make the big decisions. 1. Where your garden gets the sun at different times of the day could make a big difference to how much you’ll use your new deck or patio. The usual place to put it is near the house, so it’s convenient for alfresco dining and entertaining, but there might be a sunny corner elsewhere.

2. While most of us want a sunny deck or patio, some people prefer one with shade, which might mean putting it at the opposite end of the garden to the house.

3. When deciding on the location of your patio or deck, think about things like drainage (the manhole, or at least a rodding point, still needs to be accessible), where the doors to the garden are, and if the patio or deck will be overlooked. Also consider traffic noise, if any, and what you’ll be looking out on when you sit and relax.

4. Decking is a good way to make sloping gardens usable, as an alternative to creating tiers. By extending the deck out from the house to cover the whole garden, you’ve solved the problem of an awkward, hard-to-use and even potentially dangerous (if you have small children) outside space. 5. Decking can also be the best way to cover something that’s already there, such as concrete or a dated patio, because you can go over the top of it.

6. With small, courtyard gardens, decking or paving the whole space makes sense if they’re too small for a lawn.

7. Have a patio or deck in proportion to the size of house, and to use colours and materials that work with the building – unless you want a deliberate contrast.

8. While it should be in keeping, your design can also be creative. Decking can be constructed on several levels, with things like built-in benches and planters that make it more practical and interesting. You can do a similar thing with paving – an easy way to add interest is to incorporate a circle or other design into your patio using a paving kit.

9. Before you start building your patio or deck, check if any permissions are required. You might need planning permission.

10. Take your time and think carefully. Go out on a sunny day and sit in the place where you want your patio to go. Is it too close to that bit of the hedge that always seems to have spider webs? Is it under a tree where birds roost and might leave droppings? Will the spot catch the sun all day, or only part of the day? Will you put plants in permanent shade? Which way does the prevailing wind blow? Will the water run-off cause a problem? Will you be in the way of smoke from your neighbour’s barbecue? And even... do you get a good phone signal? You have to consider everything!