Take It Outside: How Sheddies Are Making Decking Part of the Build

Your shed is your escape. Now it’s time to share the love — and build a space the whole family will want to gather in all summer long.

You’ve done it. You’ve poured weekends, sweat, and no small amount of stubbornness into turning your garden shed into your ultimate personal sanctuary. It’s a workshop, a pub, a haven of peace, or maybe a music studio. It’s your favourite spot — your escape hatch from the chaos of the house.

But now that the sun is shining and the garden is calling, there’s a question worth asking: what if you could extend that blissful feeling outwards? What if the spirit of the shed could spill beyond its four walls and become somewhere the whole family – mates included – genuinely wants to be? The answer is decking.

Decking is more than an outdoor floor. It’s an invitation. It transforms unused garden space into a multi-functional social area: the perfect spot to host a summer barbecue, enjoy a long sunny evening, or simply sit quietly with a brew and watch the world go by. We’ve seen sheddies use it brilliantly — Pete Hogan designed the front of his “Stag’s Head” to open fully onto a deck, creating a fully operational social space, while Craig Paterson added a decking area complete with a small water feature outside his “Ticking Tappet” shed, perfect for unwinding to the gentle sound of running water. Whether you’re attaching it right outside your shed doors or building a standalone entertaining area elsewhere in the garden, now is the moment to start. Build it in spring and you’ll enjoy it all summer.

Getting Your Project Off the Ground

Great decking begins with smart preparation — which, as any seasoned sheddie knows, is half the battle. A little planning now will save you headaches later and deliver a sturdier, better-looking result you’ll be proud of for years.

1. Choose your spot wisely. Consider how the sun moves through your garden. Sunny spots are ideal for relaxing, but bear in mind that constant exposure can fade timber over time. Heavily shaded or damp areas will demand more maintenance. Think about purpose too: if you’re extending from your shed, place the deck directly outside the doors. If you’re building a dedicated entertaining zone, find a position that complements your existing structures and creates a natural flow from the house.

2. Map out your design. Before you buy a single plank, sketch your layout to minimise cutting waste and costly mistakes. Plan for 5–8mm gaps between boards to allow for natural expansion and drainage. Crucially, ensure your deck sits at least 150mm below the damp-proof course of any adjacent building, and never cover air bricks.

3. Prepare your base properly. The base is everything when it comes to longevity. If possible, build over an existing concrete slab, patio, or paved area. If you’re laying over grass, dig out approximately 50mm, lay landscaping fabric to suppress weeds, and bed in a layer of gravel to stabilise the ground. Don’t skip this stage — a poor base is the number-one reason decks fail prematurely.

Sheddie tip: One community member who built a bar area found cold draughts rising through the boards come autumn. His fix? Insulating the floor and laying laminate to close it in for winter. Plan for all seasons from the start and you’ll thank yourself come November.

Choosing Your Materials

Before you head to the timber merchant, it’s worth knowing your options. According to the Wickes Decking Materials Buying Guide, there are two main routes to consider, each with distinct advantages.

Timber is the classic choice. Pressure-treated boards have a timeless natural look, are straightforward to cut and install, and tend to be the more budget-friendly option. They’re reversible for versatile installation and can be painted to blend with the rest of your outdoor space. The trade-off is maintenance — timber needs treating or sealing regularly to protect against rot and weathering, so factor that into your plans from the start.

Composite decking is worth serious consideration if you’d rather spend your weekends relaxing on the deck than maintaining it. Made from a mixture of recycled wood fibres and plastic, composite boards are resistant to fading, staining, scratching and warping, and need nothing more than an occasional clean with soap and water. They tend to cost more upfront, but many boards come with long-term guarantees of up to 25 years. They also represent an environmentally friendlier option, with many products made from up to 95% recycled materials.

For a sheddie building a social space, the honest answer is that either works well — timber gives you that warm, organic feel that suits a pub or workshop shed beautifully, while composite suits anyone who wants a sleek, low-effort finish that looks great year after year.

Finishing Touches and Keeping It Looking Its Best

Once your deck is built, regular care will protect your investment and keep it looking sharp season after season — and the good news is it’s genuinely simple.

A full clean twice a year is all it takes: once in spring to prepare for summer use, and again in autumn to see it through winter. Pick a dry day, clear the deck completely, and sweep it thoroughly. Apply a dedicated decking cleaner, scrub well, and leave it to work for 15–20 minutes. Rinse with clean water, working with the grain, then allow at least 24 hours to dry before applying any protective stain or oil.

Beyond maintenance, it’s the finishing touches that truly transform a deck from a flat surface into an outdoor destination. Subtle solar lighting strung along the shed eaves, a couple of well-chosen planters, a weatherproof rug to define the space — these small additions create the warmth and atmosphere that will draw people outside on even a slightly chilly evening. Craig’s water feature is a lovely example of that thinking: a small detail that adds an entirely different sensory dimension to the space.

By adding a deck, you’re not merely building a new garden feature — you’re extending the spirit of your shed outwards, creating a year-round destination for family, friends, and the kind of evenings that go on just a little longer than planned.

Support us via Paypal or Buy me a Coffee