Decking and rats?

[julieann]

Hi I'm thinking of getting some decking in the garden. A friend has kind of put me off as she says someone told her it attracts rats as they love to nest under it. Has anyone else heard or experienced this problem?

[wendy]

I have a large deck at the end of the garden, where the sun is.
We don't get rats under there. But it is covered underneath with that plastic stuff that stops weeds from growing through. Perhaps that is the reason.

[MissEllie]

Same as Wendy, we've never had any problems and have the black base sheet. Sitting out there in the summer - when we have one! is lovely

[Totally Scrambled]

Rats do like to make a nest under something that gives them protection and cover from the elements. Under decking and sheds is a good place as the centre is almost always dry. It doesn't mean they'll pick your decking to nest under though.
Dom

[Orfy]

This is a bit like putting the horse before the cart.

If you have rats I'm sure they'd love to nest there.
If you have no rats to nest then you have no rats.

[wendy]

That figures Orfy

[julieann]

Thanks everyone. I think my friend just panicked me. We had rats a couple of years ago and they were coming in the house! (pre chickens). We found that kitchen fitters had left gaps in the floor behind the cupboards. These were blocked and the cats did their job bless them and we haven't seen one since....that was said with fingers crossed so i don't tempt fate! I've spoken to a few people who have no probs. I think it makes sense that the membrane you put under decking isn't exactly cosy and I have a shed and no probs plus chickens. I've talked myself into it.......with some advice/reassurance from yourselves

[ock]

do it , just think of the hours you`ll spend in the summer sat out there sipping wine in the sunshine

[MissEllie]

I love mine, especially in the summer with a vino in my hand good call Ock.

What do folk with decking use to treat it? I've always used a wood stain rather than wood paint but it never lasts long thanks to the driving Scottish rain 11 months of the year!

[wendy]

I love mine too, the sun always stays there the longest.
It is surrounded by conifers, so the neighbours can't see us.
Great to have friends round and a spend pleasant evening there......when we get them of course.
I don't know what we use. But will find out when himself gets in.

[julieann]

Hi I like a glass of myself.......well a bottle sometimes especially in the sunshine. Where I'd like the decking is where the sun lasts well into the evening, heaven after work with a few chooks clucking around

[tanyauk00]

i have decking without the weed free sheets under it and i have several rat holes leading under it that have only apperared in the last 3 wks, my neighbour was quick to point out one of the tunnels leads into her garden i havent actually seen the rat and it hasnt caused any nusience either but definately been 1 there.
it doesnt put me off sitting out on it though

[YVONNE]

I had a Gardener of 42 in the poroffesion and he warned me even before he started to measure up, if was my hom, never would he put decking. When i ask why, he explained, that evry home hes been to repair any decking, is full of rat tunnels under, due to warmth and food from BBQ ect.
This has put me off, he said no problem , he will do the work for me, but beware of this problem, its getting we are having more problem with rats in UK now due to decking. See....
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... lague.html

You may not have rats or mice now, as they dont want you cold gardens, but make a nice warm place for them, and they will move in rent free it seems.
Somebody said, if you dont have rats now you wont then, thats rubbish, if you dont have mice, rats now, and then provide a warm place outside, like a shed, decking, most likely you will get these vistitors.
I am now worried and just need to explaine to hubby about thsi problem, the man of 42 years experiance of gardnes and garden work, i think knows what he is talking about, and fair play to him for mentioning it to me, as i may now not have the work done,m and he would have lost a job that would have cost me about £1500

He hates rats witha vengance, as sees many in his line of work. He said get new slabs, have them laid nicely, he does not even do slabbing.

YVONNE

[sandy]

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[sandy]

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