Wooden decking or paving: which suits your garden space

Which one costs less to build

A simple ground-level deck on treated pine joists and boards is usually the cheaper option per square metre, especially on ground that is already reasonably flat. Material costs less than paving stone, and the work goes faster because there is no excavation for a proper base, just posts or ground screws set at the right depth.

Paving costs more up front because it needs a proper sub-base: excavated soil, compacted gravel, a levelling layer of sand or grit, then the paving stone or slabs itself. On uneven ground the excavation alone can take a full day before a single slab goes down, which pushes the price up further.

A composite or hardwood deck narrows the gap, since better boards cost more than pine, sometimes more than a mid-range paving stone per square metre. For a straightforward job we quote from 90 € for decking and terrace work; a paved patio of similar size, done properly with a compacted base, generally comes out higher once groundwork is included.

How each copes with Estonian frost and damp

Estonian winters put both surfaces through repeated freeze-thaw cycles, and each responds differently. A timber deck sits above ground level on posts or screw piles, so water drains away underneath and frost heave in the soil does not lift the structure directly. The boards themselves need to be able to dry out, which is why gaps between boards and airflow underneath matter more here than in a drier climate.

Paving is more exposed to frost damage if the base underneath was not built properly. Water that gets trapped under a slab and then freezes will lift and crack it, and a base laid without enough compacted gravel is the single most common reason a patio starts to look uneven after a couple of winters.

Done correctly, both surfaces handle Estonian conditions fine over many years. The deciding factor is less the material and more whether the groundwork or the foundation was built for frost in the first place, which is where a rushed DIY job usually falls short.

What works on a sloped or uneven garden

A sloped or uneven plot is where decking has a clear practical advantage. Posts or ground screws can be set at different heights to create a level platform over a slope, a slope down to a lower part of the garden, or ground with roots and rocks close to the surface that make digging awkward.

Paving needs the ground itself brought level first, which on a real slope means retaining walls, terracing, or a lot of extra fill and compaction. That is achievable, but it turns a patio into a bigger groundworks project rather than a weekend job, and the cost rises accordingly.

If your garden already steps down toward a fence line or a boundary, it is worth thinking about the two together: a raised deck often pairs naturally with fence work along the same edge, and we quote fence repair and installation from 45 € per hour if that is part of the plan.

• Sloped plot with more than a slight fall: decking is usually simpler and cheaper overall
• Flat, well-drained ground: either option works, so cost and looks decide it
• Ground with tree roots or rock close to the surface: decking on screw piles avoids digging
• Small level area next to the house: paving often looks more finished for a dining space

Which needs more upkeep over the years

Timber decking needs regular attention: a wash down each spring, a check for boards that have started to cup or split, and re-oiling or re-staining every few years depending on the wood and how much sun and rain it gets. Skipped maintenance shows within a couple of seasons, particularly on the south-facing side of a house.

Paving is lower maintenance in the sense that the material itself does not rot or need refinishing. Weeds between joints and moss on shaded areas are the main recurring jobs, along with an occasional re-sand of the joints if they wash out over time.

Over a ten-year span the two roughly even out in effort, just distributed differently: decking asks for small, regular attention, paving asks for very little most years but occasionally needs a slab re-set if the base has settled.

What we would build for a typical Tallinn garden

For a flat or gently sloping plot with reasonable drainage, we lean toward paving for a small patio close to the house, since it needs less ongoing care and suits a dining table well. For anything with a real slope, poor drainage, or ground you would rather not excavate, decking is usually the more sensible and often cheaper build.

A lot of gardens in Harju county are not flat in the way they first appear, so before deciding it is worth walking the site with a spirit level or simply watching where water sits after rain. That single check often settles the decision faster than comparing materials on paper.