Replacing an Old Timber Deck with Porcelain

Timber decking can look fantastic when it's first installed, but after years of exposure to the British weather, many homeowners find themselves facing the same problems.

Boards become slippery, timber starts to deteriorate, fixings work loose and regular cleaning, staining or treatment becomes part of the maintenance routine.

It's therefore no surprise that one of the questions we're increasingly asked at Garden Ezee is:

“Can we replace our old timber decking with porcelain?”

The answer is usually yes.

But there's an important consideration – what's underneath the decking?

Why Replacing Decking with Porcelain Isn't Always Straightforward

Timber decking and porcelain patios are traditionally constructed very differently.

A timber deck is normally supported on a framework above the ground. This means the finished decking level may be hundreds of millimetres higher than the ground underneath.

Remove the decking and you're often left with a large void.

If you then want to install porcelain using traditional paving methods, that difference in height needs to be dealt with.

Depending on the garden, this could mean:

• Excavation and preparation

• Retaining walls

• Large quantities of hardcore

• Compaction

• Concrete or mortar

• Drainage work

• New steps

• Significant movement of materials

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What initially sounded like simply changing the surface can quickly become a substantial landscaping project.

Do You Actually Need to Fill the Space?

This is the question we ask when looking at old decking.

If the existing deck was already successfully creating a raised outdoor area, why fill the entire space underneath simply because you want porcelain instead of timber?

There is another option.

At Garden Ezee, we install the iGarden iFrame system – a precision-engineered galvanised steel framework that allows us to create raised patios and terraces without needing a traditional solid construction underneath the entire area.

We can remove the old timber decking and replace the principle of a raised timber structure with an engineered steel one.

The difference is that we can then finish it with porcelain.

From Timber Frame to Steel Frame

One of the main weaknesses of traditional timber decking is often the substructure rather than the surface itself.

Timber joists spend their lives outside in a damp environment. Over time, moisture can contribute to deterioration, movement and eventually decay.

The iFrame takes a different approach.

The supporting structure is manufactured from galvanised steel and designed specifically for outdoor applications.

The framework creates the finished patio level, while adjustable supports allow us to accommodate variations in the ground beneath.

Porcelain can then be dry laid onto the structure.

You end up with a completely different outdoor surface without necessarily having to completely reconstruct the ground beneath it.

Why Porcelain?

Porcelain has become incredibly popular in modern garden design, and for good reason.

It offers a clean, contemporary appearance and is available in a huge range of colours, textures and formats.

For homeowners coming from timber decking, one of the biggest attractions is maintenance.

There's no annual staining or oiling.

There's no timber surface to sand.

And you don't have to continually treat the patio to maintain its original appearance.

A quality external porcelain tile provides a hard-wearing surface that is relatively straightforward to keep clean.

Keeping the Same Patio Height

Another major advantage when replacing decking is the ability to retain the existing outdoor level.

Many decks were originally constructed at their height for a reason.

They might meet patio doors, bifold doors or an extension.

They may bridge a significant change between the house and garden.

Simply removing the deck and installing a patio at ground level could leave a large step down immediately outside the property.

Using a framed porcelain system allows us to recreate the required height rather than automatically dropping the patio down to the ground below.

This can maintain a much stronger connection between the house and garden.

Creating a Flush Indoor-Outdoor Feel

Modern homes increasingly use large bifold and sliding doors to connect indoor living areas with the garden.

A raised porcelain terrace can continue that visual connection outside.

Where the property and drainage details allow, the finished patio can be carefully designed around the door threshold to create a clean transition from inside to outside while respecting the building's damp-proofing and drainage requirements.

Large-format porcelain can make this particularly effective.

When the doors are open, the terrace feels much more like an extension of the living space rather than a separate part of the garden.

What Happens to the Water?

One concern homeowner’s sometimes have when they first see dry-laid porcelain is drainage.

The porcelain tiles are installed with small, consistent gaps between them.

Rainwater can pass through these joints to the area underneath, where the installation is designed to manage drainage appropriately.

Unlike a traditionally pointed patio, the gaps aren't filled with conventional jointing material.

This also gives the finished patio the distinctive shadow-line appearance associated with the system.

What About Drains and Services Under the Old Deck?

Old decking often hides a surprising amount underneath it.

Drainage pipes, inspection chambers, services and manholes may all have been concealed when the original deck was constructed.

This is another area where a framed porcelain patio can be particularly useful.

Rather than permanently covering everything with a solid construction, we can design the framework around existing services where appropriate.

Because the porcelain isn't permanently bonded to a mortar bed, individual tiles can also be lifted using suitable equipment if access is required in the future.

That's something we consider during the design rather than waiting until there's a problem.

Can We Incorporate New Steps?

Absolutely.

Replacing an old deck is also an opportunity to rethink how the patio connects with the rest of the garden.

Instead of simply copying the original timber steps, we can look at the overall layout.

Steps might be made wider.

They could be repositioned.

They can become a feature of the garden rather than simply a way of getting from one level to another.

With the iFrame system, steel step frames can be incorporated into the main structure and finished in porcelain to match the terrace.

What About Composite Decking?

Porcelain isn't necessarily the right choice for everyone.

Some homeowners love the warmer appearance of decking but don't want the maintenance associated with timber.

In these situations, quality composite decking can be another excellent option.

The important point is that the supporting structure and the finished surface don't have to be treated as the same thing.

An engineered framework gives us greater flexibility when deciding what the finished garden should look like.

Depending on the project, porcelain, composite decking or a combination of materials can be incorporated into the overall design.

Less Excavation Can Mean Less Disruption

Replacing decking can become particularly difficult when access to the garden is restricted.

If the only route to the garden is through the house, removing large quantities of excavated material and bringing tonnes of hardcore back through the property isn't particularly appealing.

Because an engineered raised structure can reduce the need for bulk infill, it can provide a useful alternative on difficult-access properties.

The modular frame components can be carried into the garden and assembled on site.

For some projects, that can transform what's practical.

Should You Repair the Deck or Replace It?

If only a few decking boards are damaged and the supporting structure remains in excellent condition, repairing the existing deck may be the most sensible solution.

But if you're continually replacing boards, treating the timber or discovering deterioration underneath, it's worth considering the longer-term options.

Before simply installing another timber deck, ask yourself what you actually want from the space over the next 10 or 20 years.

For many homeowners, that's where porcelain becomes attractive.

Garden Ezee: Landscaping Has Evolved

Garden Ezee has been involved in landscaping for more than 25 years.

We've built traditional patios, timber decks, retaining walls, steps and complete garden transformations.

That experience is important because we don't believe every garden should be built in the same way.

The development of the iGarden iFrame system has simply given us another way of solving problems.

Instead of automatically excavating, filling and concreting an area because that's how patios have traditionally been constructed, we can look at what already exists and decide on the most appropriate solution.

Sometimes traditional construction is right.

Sometimes an engineered steel structure makes far more sense.

Thinking About Replacing Your Old Decking?

If your timber decking is reaching the end of its life and you're considering replacing it with porcelain, don't assume you need to completely rebuild everything from the ground up.

Send Garden Ezee a few photographs of the existing decking, including pictures underneath it if possible, along with some approximate measurements and the height from the decking to the ground.

We can take an initial look at the project and discuss whether a steel-framed porcelain patio could work for your garden.

Old decking doesn't necessarily need to be replaced with more decking.

It could be the opportunity to completely change the way you use your outdoor space.