Couple Turn Rotting Decking Into Stunning Pergola With £3.99 Ebay Bargains
- Emma and Leigh wanted to replace their decking, which was ‘tired and rotten’
- They sourced decor which fit in with the ‘moody Maximalism vibes’ of their home
- Bargains include £3.99 fabric from eBay and £40 chairs from Facebook Marketplace
Realising you have rotting decking often means needing to pay out for a professional to fit a replacement - which can easily cost hundreds of pounds you don’t have. However, one savvy couple has saved money by doing the job themselves, and adding some unique twists to create an outdoor space like no other.
Emma Grant, who is from Camberley and works as a tattoo artist, decided to embark on a DIY garden project with her husband Leigh. She told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘We had very tired, rotten decking. Leigh decided he wanted black composite decking, so once that was decided I was filled with ideas.
‘Most of my inspiration came from Instagram. We’re really into the moody Maximalism vibes, with a twist of Victorian and boho. We love thrifting - 90% of our furniture inside and out is second hand and full of character.’
While Leigh sourced supplies for composite decking and a pergola, Emma got the rest of the decor - and lots of it came from Facebook Marketplace at bargain prices.’I was thrilled to find a wicker chair set on Marketplace for just £40! The colour wasn’t to our taste so I primed it in white before painting and spraying them black. The table was also a Marketplace find, at £90.
‘I then picked up a metre of waterproof fabric from eBay for £3.99 to recover the cushions, changing them from a floral pattern to plain white so it contrasted nicely with the black. I also used some fabric I already had and created leopard print star cushions, as I create crafts on my Instagram account sew_dita.
‘I decided to pick up some faux ivy for £15 while I was on eBay, and I also got a 6 foot Mandala rug from there for £68. The mirror came from Yateley Cobblers & Curios for £160, and the disco balls cost £99 and £75 from an online store called Mirror-Balls.
‘My next stop was Amazon, where I picked up copper wire warm lighting and a solar panel for £12. At this point I had all the essentials. I added in some pieces I already had at home, such as candles, further chairs and hanging baskets.
‘Leigh built our composite decking and pergola himself as he’s a carpenter by trade. As we’re south facing we decided to put willow up for shade. The composite decking was from Specialised Roofing Supplies in Hampshire at £50pm. The timbers were from Selco, £350 for all. The pergola is 6m x 3.2m.
‘The project has very much been a lockdown labour of love to be honest. It wasn’t done overnight - more like a good 6 months in the making. However we are now thrilled with the results and it’s a great place to relax during the evenings and weekends.’
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘Emma and Leigh have the kind of garden dreams are made of! If you want to build decking or a pergola, it definitely helps if you’re a carpenter already - but more and more people are taking on projects like this themselves and saving lots of money in the process.
‘Composite decking is popular among those who want a strong alternative to wood that will last longer and doesn’t require much regular maintenance. Plus there is no need to sand down or stain wood during the building process.
‘Here are my top tips for creating a garden with composite decking in your home.
- Consider factors such as shade, privacy and wind when deciding on a location for your decking. If you’re going to be sitting outside shivering in a breeze, or on display for all of the neighbours to watch you, perhaps you need to move it somewhere else.
- If you’re going to build decking next to your house, make sure that air bricks aren’t covered. These are important to keep ventilation levels up and ensure the chances of serious rot and dampness is kept to a minimum.
- Mark out pilot holes during the drilling process to ensure that the wood won’t be at risk of splintering. Pilot holes also prevent screws from stripping or breaking off.
- Be safe at all times. Wear protective gloves when appropriate and wear safety goggles and a dust mask if you’re using a jigsaw.
- Don’t burn composite decking if you have any leftover supplies. These need to be disposed of safely, so contact your local recycling centre for advice if necessary.'