Garden Decking in Southampton

Composite decking installation

If you have already decided on composite boards, our composite decking page explains how the frame, gaps and fascias are built to suit them.

Repairs to existing decks

Not every tired deck needs replacing. Where the frame underneath is still sound, soft or split boards can be swapped, loose screws refixed and a slippery surface cleaned so it drains properly. If the joists or posts have rotted, new boards on top will not last, and rebuilding the frame is the honest answer. Ashley checks the frame on the visit before suggesting either. Our guide to decking repair explains how to spot which situation your deck is in.

Timber decking, from frame to finish

Timber decking remains the most flexible way to create a level seating area, especially where the garden slopes. The frame is built from treated joists on posts or pedestals, set level regardless of what the ground does underneath, and the boards are fixed with gaps for drainage and expansion. Raised decking uses the same principles with taller supports and, where the height calls for it, balustrades and steps planned in from the start.

As decking fitters, the part we spend longest on is the frame, because it decides how the deck feels underfoot and how long it lasts. Joist spacing, ventilation beneath the boards and keeping timber clear of standing water matter more than the board pattern on top. If you are comparing materials, the composite decking page covers the low maintenance alternative.

Planning permission and treating timber decking

Most garden decks need no planning permission, but height is the key factor: a raised deck above a certain level, or one that overlooks neighbours, can need approval. The rules sit with your council, so check the Planning Portal or ask them before building anything high off the ground.

Timber decking does need treating to reach its full life. Boards and frame timbers are pressure treated before they arrive, and a decking oil or stain on the surface keeps water out and slows the greying that sun and rain cause. Cleaning the deck once a year and re-oiling when water stops beading on the surface is the routine that keeps it sound.

Decking cleaning and looking after the boards

A deck that has gone green is usually structurally fine. Algae sits on the surface and comes off with a stiff brush and a suitable cleaner, or a careful wash kept at a distance so the timber is not raised. Slippery decking in winter is almost always algae in a shaded spot, and cleaning rather than replacing is the answer.

Where boards have genuinely rotted or the frame has softened, individual boards and joists can be replaced without rebuilding the whole deck. Ashley will tell you on the visit which situation yours is in.