Have Tight Budget? Get Cheap Decking Ideas For Your Gardens

Budget Garden Decking Ideas

Adding decking to your outdoor space can enhance the area drastically without having to break the bank. There are many different decking options available on the market to choose from, at different price points and with different qualities. Adding decking to your home can still be done on a budget but without having to compromise on quality and aesthetics. Throughout this article, we will look at the various ways you can save some money along the process when installing decking in your garden.

Choose a Simple Design

A factor to consider that will affect the cost of your decking project is the size and design. If you want to build decking on a budget, you need to select a decking design that will meet your budget. Choosing complicated and complex designs will require more material and more wastage and even be more expensive when hiring a professional fitter to complete the job as it will of course take longer. Curved decking, herringbone designs and multi-level decking are all popular designs but might not be the right choice for you if you are aiming to keep the cost as low as possible for your project. It is always recommended to check any dimensions or calculations with both a professional fitter and your supplier to avoid an excessive amount of wastage and in turn utilise your materials as best as possible.

Choose Affordable Decking Materials

There are many different materials available on the market to choose from ranging from various upfront costs which can become overwhelming for buyers. However, it is important to not just take into consideration the upfront cost as usually the cheaper options will cost you more in the long run due to maintenance costs.

Therefore, the quality of the material is just as important to consider as opting for a low upfront cost can create more payments down the line. Wood, for example, seems like the most cost-effective material on first look. However, wood requires extensive maintenance annually, not only requiring you to cough up more money but also your time with cleaning, sanding, oiling, staining and/or painting.

Additionally, the lifespan of wood is estimated at 10 years when properly maintained which means it will need replacing fully every several years which is costly. Composite and plastic decking requires little maintenance and cleaning regularly and will last for a long time, estimated at 10 – 30 years, depending upon the quality.

Of these two materials, plastic decking is more expensive than composite. If you want to build decking, select a material like composite that will last longer and is easy to maintain, which might have a slightly higher upfront cost but will save you money down the line.

Install your Decking Yourself

Installing your decking yourself will reduce the cost of labour, as you won’t have to hire someone to do the job. This option is highly effective as labour costs can account for up to a third of your project’s overall cost. Decking installation can be an easy task with basic carpentry skills. If you are looking at installing the deck yourself, make sure you watch or read the installation guide for the product you have purchased and also check the warranty prior to installation. The warranty will outline important installation requirements, like expansion gaps for composite decking and the gradient required. If you are unable to complete your installation process yourself for any reason, make sure to shop around and if possible, go for recommendations.

Build In Off-season

If you can’t install your decking yourself, take advantage of the off-season. Constructing a decking in summer and spring can be quite expensive as it is the busiest time of the year, as many people build their decking during this period, thereby leading to an increase in demand for labour. During winter, many decking builders offer discounts on decking supplies and installations. You can take advantage of this season and use it to build your decking without spending much money.

Sales and discontinued stock

If you purchase your material out of season, in Autumn, or Winter, you may find that some suppliers have a sale on discontinued items. During this time of year, it is also worth asking the supplier if they have a sale coming up or if they can offer any discount at all. There is no harm in asking. Now you know you’ve got the best deal you can. You can also ask if they have any damaged boards if you will not use the full length, and some boards have chips at the end. This would work best if you were able to see the damaged boards and can decide if they will work with your project, and you will be happy with the end result.

Conclusion

It’s possible to build decking on a budget. Ensure you choose a simple decking design, install it yourself if you are able and choose a decking board you can afford. Don’t forget to ask for the best price and any sales.

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