Decking and slabs together - good idea ?

[Tony McC]

The only sensible way to lay this crazy combination is to lay the lot on a mortar screed. I'd much rather use the decking to build a decent bonfire to keep the chill off and possibly cook a handful of spuds for the dinner, but of the client insists on using it as a paving, then it should be suitable for laying onto a 10:1~6:1 semi-dry or moist mortar, and then using well-concealed masonry nails or crocodiles to lock the planks into the mortar while it's fresh.

You'd need to leave a 3-5mm gap between plank and flag, as the thermal expansion (and sopping-wet expansion of timber) has to be accommodated. Of course, this can be filled with KD sand or a polymeric.

[matt h]

The decking could be laid out in long lengths and the tiles laid over ensuring that the slabs are supported at either end and the middle. there would still be the problem of levelling the area first, but with the decking runners underneath at least the slabs would be at uniform depth and drainage wouldnt be a problem. Only trouble how long would the decking last?:)

[James.Q]

in the post today corporate brochure from m & m timber in worcestershire page one is this decking they call it combi-deck : a grooved pressure treated deck board mitre framed which is battend on the base to accept a standard paving stone of your choice. combi deck is simple to lay and requires no mortar.;
it also seems the flags are not stuck down so you can easily transform the look of your patio by replacing the flags

[matt h]

easy to lay and will look good for awhile. but timber needs to be treated annually to preserve it.stone will last much longer of course... tried explaining about battening before but obviously not as astute ..I think its a nice thing to have to pretty the little garden, but cant see the value in it asa long term investment.. to each their own

[Tony McC]

IIRC, it was M&M Timber that showed off this design at Glee last September.