Question

I would love a seating area in my garden to have decking but my neighbour had it and said rats lived underneath? This has obviously put me off , I’m confused as lots of people have decking so does it just depend on where you live if you have this problem?  

Answer 1

I mean, there isn't like a Zoopla for rats. They don't arrive because there's decking.  As others say, just take the same precautions you would anywhere else - minimise food waste/spillage and seal gaps.  

Answer 2

Our decking is sat on paving slabs and there’s no gaps to get under. We had a dog that would of gone nuts barking if he could smell rats under it. Xx never ever seen any or had any problems with ours.  

Comments

@kelter I hear what your saying but to buying paving then decking in double the cost! X

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@kelter try getting used paving slabs from market place as it doesn’t matter what they look like and you can generally get them for free. Even now with social distance etc

Answer 3

You get rats wherever you are, just luckily you dont get to see them, so you dont know thet are there. Go for it.  

Comments

@parsaye60 well my neighbour had them under hers and they chewed through all the wood! X

Answer 4

Ive a large deckin area with a massive field at the bk of me, they are no more a pest in my garden than anyone elses Xx

Answer 5

They’ll go under there if there’s a way for them to get there. But most rats go to where the food is. so if food is being dropped all the time, they’ll be in that area. Everyone I know with decking has never had any issues x

Answer 6

Make sure it’s blocked in around the edges. You can fill the gaps between the supports with stones if you are concerned even leave poison under there just in case. I have 2 decks & only had a problem once but I do have chickens. It didn’t take long to get rid of them.  

Answer 7

Someone living in my street has this problem apparently. They are in denial so will not do anything about it but it’s driving their immediate neighbours mad.  

Answer 8

Iv had decking years , , just be careful that food doesn’t go down the deck, , never a problem in 16 years x

Comments

@kujawa but do you live anywhere near feilds? X

Answer 9

Sealed all the open edges on mine. Rat free thank you. Don't know about the rest of the garden.  

Answer 10

Maybe but I've always had cats so nothing moves I'm my garden lol

Answer 11

Rats and mice are in most gardens to be fair. X

Answer 12

It would put me off sitting there if I thought they were under I just couldn’t see them! X

Answer 13

People have bbq's on decking and food spillage can go underneath.  

Answer 14

I have decking but 3 cats and a lot of neighbours cats use it as a sort of crossing so don't think I should hopefully have a problem!  

Answer 15

If there's minimal food waste getting through then rats and mice won't bother you. They only come to seek food. If you have a cat it helps lol. I've had decking for 10 years or so. Never seen a rat or evidence of one in my garden.  

Answer 16

I had decking at my last house, never had a problem with rats, but to be honest wouldn't have it again. It was so slippery, especially in winter and after the first couple of years didn't really look that good even though we used decking paint every year.  

Answer 17

Our next door neighbour used to have decking and they had loads of rats under it. they burrowed from there under the concrete slab of our garage next to it and we used to be sat in out garden and see mud bending pushed up by them in the gap between the concrete and our tarmac path! totally freaked we out so we got pest control in and had bait boxes put all over our garden and house - even after 3 yrs they still kept coming back but pest guy said it was because the neighbours threw food out for the birds which attracted them as well as a safe place to live under their decking

Comments

@magbie49236 yes my neighbour said they were drawn to it cos it’s like a shelter underneath warm and dry x

Answer 18

We have mice under ours. they haven’t damaged it but rats would. You can drop poisoned grain down the gaps easily.  

Answer 19

I have had mine for years and no problem with rats or mice x

Answer 20

Ive had decking im my garden for years ive never seen a rat yet. But it dont matter how much you try and make sure theres no gabs they will get in if they want in. They are vermon and will scavage for anything they think they can eat. Just keep some rat poison around incase it happens.  

Answer 21

When building it put loads of broken glass under they won’t go under

Answer 22

I have decking 15 years, never had one but we have always had small dogs and neighbours each side have a cat.  

Answer 23

I think like others have said, the more u are out there the less chance mice/rats will be around, aslong as there isn't any food waste left around and if u have a dog that will scare them, or borrow someone's dog to sent ur garden to scare them off, good luck  xx

Answer 24

If you do decide to put decking down make underneath a playground for a couple of ferrets who make very good pets.  

Answer 25

I've never heard of this. Your neighbours need to get some rat poison.  

Answer 26

Maybe do not leave any type of food around so they have no reason to visit  If you have birdseed do not leave where they can get to it  My friend puts food out for all animals especially  so may have a word if I see a rat .  

Answer 27

I have heard of rats, but I had mice living under mine