How do you use the Cladco weed control mat?

To use a weed mat effectively beneath your decking, follow these steps: Prepare the ground Remove any existing plants, weeds, roots, stones, or debris. Level the soil so the mat can sit flat. Lay the weed mat...

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Cladco Weed Mat Installation Guide

Installation Guide and FAQs

Printable installation guide

WHY USE A WEED MAT

The Cladco heavy-duty weed control mat is a durable solution for preventing weed growth beneath decking areas. This quick guide walks you through the simple steps needed to install your mat effectively for long-lasting protection.

Covering the weed mat material will elongate the lifespan of the fabric and should stop weeds in the area for years to come.

Weed Mat Installation

First, remove any plants, weeds, rocks, or debris from the surface that could obstruct your site. Use an edger to cut the turf or lawn, then lift it away with a shovel. Once cleared, level the ground before laying your weed mat.

Once the ground is completely level, cover the area with weed control fabric to prevent regrowth beneath your decking. To ensure full coverage, you may need to cut the mat to size. At this stage, you may want to pin it down using our 15cm long pins.

Finally, lay your Cladco weed mat on top of the prepared soil. If you need to overlap the mat in places, ensure you do this with enough coverage to prevent weeds from penetrating through. Cover the weed mat with your desired aggregate, such as chippings, bark or stones, so none of the weed mat material is exposed.

With the groundwork finished and the weed control layer fitted, you can progress to the next stage: building your decking substructure, ready to support your boards and bring your project to life.

CLADCO DECKING IS PERFECT FOR YOUR NEXT DECKING PROJECT

Transform your garden with Cladco decking, available in a range of materials and finishes to suit every outdoor space. Lay our decking over a Cladco weed mat to keep your subframe tidy and maintenance-free. With careful joist planning, you can create a stunning, durable deck that elevates your garden and provides years of enjoyment.

FAQs

The breathable polypropylene crossfibre material allows water and nutrients to get through the mat to the soil and is held in place with the Pins to stop weeds from being able to penetrate the surface.

Yes, if there is any existing debris such as stones or weeds, they will need to be removed before the mat is laid down. The area also needs to be forked lightly to ensure that the Weed Mat functions to the best of its ability.

To use a weed mat effectively beneath your decking, follow these steps:

Prepare the ground

Remove any existing plants, weeds, roots, stones, or debris. Level the soil so the mat can sit flat.
Lay the weed mat

Roll out the weed control fabric across the prepared area. Cut it to size if needed. Ensure you overlap any joins so there are no gaps where weeds could grow through. You can secure the mat with ground pins to keep it in place.
Cover the weed mat

Once laid, cover the membrane with your chosen material—such as gravel, chippings, bark, or stones. This protects the fabric from UV exposure and helps extend its lifespan.
Build your decking on top

With the weed mat installed and covered, you can begin constructing the decking subframe. The mat will help keep the base area tidy and reduce long‑term maintenance.

This will extend the lifespan of the weed mat and prevent weeds in the area for years to come.

Each peg has a set of three barbs along the edges which helps secure the peg in the ground and prevent the weed mmat from becoming loose.

A thin layer of sand can be put down under the membrane to protect the material, however, this is not necessary for weed membrane to work effectively.

If installed correctly, plants will not grow through heavy duty weed membrane. It’s important to effectively remove all plants and their roots before laying weed membrane down to prevent this.

We do not recommend installing weed membrane over existing weeds or plants, as this will not guarantee to stop them from growing and may possibly damage the fabric.

Yes. Cladco heavy duty weed membrane allows for water and nutrients to pass through to the soil underneath, while preventing natural daylight from entering.