How We Build a Garden Deck
A deck is only as good as the frame underneath it. We start with a level, properly supported substructure, with bearers and joists at the right spacing for the deck boards going on top. The frame sits on either concrete pads or sub-bases for larger or raised decks (more on that below). Joist tape goes on top of every joist before the boards go down, which stops water sitting in the gap between the board and the joist and rotting the frame from above.
The boards themselves we fix with stainless or coated screws rather than nails, with a consistent gap between boards for drainage and movement. Edges are returned cleanly with a fascia board, and any steps, balustrades, or features are framed in during the same build rather than added on afterwards. The goal is a deck that feels solid underfoot from day one and stays that way.
Raised Planters, Sleepers, and Garden Carpentry
A lot of decking jobs come with carpentry work attached. Raised planters built into the deck edge, sleeper retaining walls where the garden steps up or down, fixed bench seating along a deck line. We build these as part of a decking project or as standalone garden carpentry jobs.
Railway sleepers are a popular choice for retaining walls, raised beds, and garden steps because they look natural, age well, and handle the loads involved. We work with both new and reclaimed sleepers depending on the look you're after, and we anchor them properly so the wall actually retains what it's meant to retain. A sleeper wall built without proper anchoring shifts the first time the ground behind it gets saturated.
How Long Does Garden Decking Last?
A timber deck built properly will give you fifteen to twenty years of solid use, often more with regular maintenance. The variables are the timber grade (we use treated structural timber for frames and quality decking boards on top), the substructure (a deck on a wet, unventilated base ages faster), and how much annual care you give it. An oil or stain every year or two extends the life considerably and keeps the colour even.
Composite decking lasts longer in terms of the boards: a good composite deck can give you twenty-five years or more without needing recoating, because there's nothing to recoat. The frame underneath is still timber, so the lifespan question becomes how long the substructure lasts rather than the surface. Keep the frame ventilated and dry and the answer is decades.
Garden Decking Across West London
We build garden decking across Uxbridge, West London, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, and Hertfordshire, including Ealing, Chiswick, Hammersmith, Holland Park, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, and the surrounding areas.
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Composite Decking or Timber — Which Is Right for Your Garden?
Timber decking is the more affordable upfront option and gives you a natural, warm look that ages and weathers over time. The trade-off is the maintenance: an annual or biennial oil or stain to keep it looking sharp, and the boards will eventually need replacing once they've had their decade or two. For customers who like the look of natural wood and don't mind the upkeep, timber is hard to beat.
Composite decking costs more per square metre but takes the maintenance off the list. The boards don't need oiling, don't fade significantly, don't splinter or crack, and don't get slippery in wet weather the way some timber does. For families with children using the deck heavily or anyone who'd rather not re-stain a deck every year, composite is usually the right call. We'll bring samples on the visit so you can see the options against your house and garden.
Bases, Substructures, and the Wider Garden
For ground-level decks the substructure usually sits on concrete pads or a hardcore sub-base. For raised decks, hot tub decks, or anything carrying serious load, we install a proper concrete base before the frame goes on top. Concrete bases for decks, sheds, log cabins, and pergolas all sit alongside our wider groundworks: see our groundworks page for how that side of the work fits in.
If your decking project is part of a bigger garden makeover, the deck usually sits inside a wider plan that includes fencing, paving, planting, and ground level changes. Our landscaping page covers how we approach full-garden builds where the deck is one piece of a larger transformation.
Get a Decking Quote
Tell us roughly what you're picturing and we'll come and see the garden. Decking samples come with us, we'll talk through timber versus composite for your space, and you'll get a written quote that covers framing, boards, and any planters or steps that are part of the build.
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