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I think I've mentioned this to you before, if not to someone with a similar problem. Possibly in an overly brusque manner, if so apologies.
You are better off forgetting taking the screws out if the decking has been in for more than a year. The chances of you managing to remove more than 3 in 5 screws are slim to none.
The big question is are you trying to save the frame of the deck?
If not then cut the whole thing up with a reciprocating saw the one I've linked to is good quality for a cheap tool and will come in useful for other things.
If you're trying to save the frame I'd probably still use the recip. Cut between the joists to remove the bulk of the decking then slide a metal blade between the joist and the decking to cut the screws flush (you may need to loosen the decking a bit first with a hammer or a pry bar).
Bobbo-
Heh, no problem.
I could saw it up but I've got time on my side and I want to dispose of it nicely. That means separating wood from metal (screws). Smashing/sawing it would make it harder to dispose of at the local tip as they're pretty picky about rejecting wood if it's filled with screws/nails, it just goes in the 'general waste' bin instead. It's 15' x 20' so a fair amount.
Initial attempts at getting the screws out shows I shouldn't have much of a problem. In the 50 or so I've taken out already there was only one that I stripped the head, and I was choosing some of the nastiest looking ones too, the vast majority will be very simple. I did the first 30 odd by hand with a screwdriver with a square head bit, then 20 with the drill before the battery died. The decking was here when we moved in 13 years ago and it's rotting in various places (and I've never powerwashed it) enough that I've put my foot through a couple of times.
The frame might be a different story as it is nailed together from what I've uncovered so far, but if those nails are just at the ends of the main runners/joists then I can deal with those bits separately with a saw or a big fucking hammer.
I was more surprised that there doesn't seem to be a concept of a corded screwdriver. I get that cordless is great for most applications but I guess 800+ screws is a bit niche and any battery solution is going to struggle with that. I also don't want to spend £100 on a cordless solution where a £25 corded solution will work fine. I don't need to use this as a starting point for acquiring a large good quality power tool selection.
Greenbank
I have ~800 decking screws to remove in a few weeks. The battery in my ancient B&D cordless drill lasts about 20 screws before it's dead (which is no great surprise, it's probably 15 years old and rarely used). Similar for my cordless screwdriver.
Was hoping there was such a thing as a cheap corded electric screwdriver but all of them I can find are cordless. Any form of a drill seems to be overkill with the extra handle.
Do I just get the cheapest corded drill I can find (Screwfix do one for £25) and be done with it? I've lasted 15 years here without the need for a higher quality drill (e.g. SDS) and I could probably borrow one from a neighbour should I need something better. I don't want to borrow a heavy duty thing for the decking screws as the extra weight would be an arse for over an hour of decking screw removal.