Decking from Pallets?

[funstuie]

We currently rent and the house has a decent size garden but it is built in 3 sections with each section higher than the last. So there is a small patio outside the back door with steps up to a concrete section and then more steps up to a section with trees and lined with gravel.

It's not a very child friendly garden, I got our two year old a slide/climbing thing and I put down foam tiles on the second section which is fine but we can't let him go out there on his own as it's just dangerous. What I would like to do is deck the small patio and put up a gate to stop him going up into the upper sections of the garden. The patio section is pretty grim as the tiles have been down about 30 years plus there is a 6 inch drop from the back door so I want to make it a little nicer. As we rent I want to do this as cheaply as possible and obviously it would have to be removable (unless the landlord like it) when we leave.

The patio section is 490cm x 265cm and I was going to get some of the Ikea Platta wood decking tiles but I think I would need about 50 to deck this section (although maths was never my strong point so I may have worked that out wrong).

I then found this pallet wood deck which doesn't look too bad and I could probably find some palets but it looks a lot of work and I think drainage would be a problem in an enclosed patio.

So do you have any tips on cheap decking?

[NOG]

I made a deck at the allotment out of pallets but the main problem is getting them the same size with the wood the same wieth. Also the wood is crap and not plained.

What I would do is get a load of pallets and buy some lengths of beacking board and use the pallets to make the height then top them with decking boards....they would be smooth for the kids.

[RedThorn]

I'd be worried about a 2yr old walking over it...... It would take some sanding to get it relatively splinter free. The planks thickness also varies from pallet to pallet so you'd need to keep this in mind.

Definately not an impossible job if you were careful with which pallets you used and spent a fair time sanding... If you built it wit ha slight angle on it, say 3-5 degrees, you can get the water to run away from the house and the angle would be barely noticeable

[Glutton4...]

A garden doesn't need to be 'child-friendly' the child should be made 'garden-friendly' LOL


Ya can tell I haven't got kids hey!?

[Snadger]

Pallet boards are fairly rough and not as thick as decking boards. You would also be dealing with comparatively short lengths. I would think it would be very 'springy' and liable to splitting and cracking..........deffo wouldn't be walking on it in bare feet!

[funstuie]

What I would do is get a load of pallets and buy some lengths of beacking board and use the pallets to make the height then top them with decking boards....they would be smooth for the kids.

That is what I am leaning towards as I can't be arsed to go through all the hassle of dismantling all the wood. But decking plants and tiles are really expensive.

The thing is I don't want to spend any money at all as it's a rental property. I don't mind spending £30/40 on wood, screws and paint etc but I don't want to fork out hundreds for something that I will have to either leave or scrap when we move out.

[Paulottie]

If it is dangerous for your child. I'd suggest speaking to the landlord about your concerns and seeing if you could perhaps get him to contribute to the improvements to his property.

Unless the job is done properly. I can't see that this will improve the safety issues. It may well breach your tenancy and divert liability from your landlord if something bad should happen (God forbid).

[MaureenHall]

I needed some planks last week for a job I was finishing on my chicken coop. B&Q had decking planks on offer at around £2.98 each (or something like that, definitely less than £3). Have you had a look there? Also try Freecycle. Good luck

[Paulottie]

Thats a good idea Maureen (how long are they?).... got to be better than palletwood.

If you are going to pack the whole lot up with pallets for joists the bottoms of those shipping pallet (for stone/tiles etc) are normally hardwood rather than the quickly rotting stuff for trucking/warehouse use.

[funstuie]

If it is dangerous for your child. I'd suggest speaking to the landlord about your concerns and seeing if you could perhaps get him to contribute to the improvements to his property.

Unless the job is done properly. I can't see that this will improve the safety issues. It may well breach your tenancy and divert liability from your landlord if something bad should happen (God forbid).

The landlord has no interest in upgrading anything in the property. The cooker and washing machine need replacing (the oven only cooks on one side) but when we complain a handyman is sent round and does **** all.

It's actually in our contract that the upkeep of the garden is our problem. The garden is tidy but not really suitable for a child. Their attitude is "if you don't like it, find somewhere else".

He's a nice guy but he has no interest in spending anything on the property other than the minimum needed.

[Paulottie]

I am afraid that is very common with landlords...and handymen. Had to ask though.