Decking is perfect for creating usable outdoor space in your garden all year round.
In particular, wood is an extremely flexible material and there are great options to be creative with seated areas, planters, built in lighting and much more.
All installations are quoted inclusively and as standard:
Decking is available in softwood, hardwood or a composite material. See further down the page to get more information about the pros and cons of each.
Get in touch to get help with your decking project.
Softwood and hardwood are defined by the type of tree they come from, not the actual hardness of the wood.
Softwood comes from coniferous trees that are usually fast growing as the keep their leaves all year round. Because of this, they grow quicker and therefor are more efficient and subsequently cheaper. Properly looked after you can expect 15 years of use which can reduce to under 10 if not.
Hardwood comes from broad leafed, slow growing and typically deciduous trees (leaf dropping). This decking can last up to 35 years or longer if properly treated and maintained, however, it is not as easy to work with as a softwood. It also ages better and can actually improve in appearance over time. The main downside is cost, but that when factoring in the extra life it can be a worthwhile investment (if you are aware that it requires maintenance).
After initially struggling to take a foothold, more recently composite decking has improved to offer a durable and safe product.
Expect a composite deck to last 25-30 years, although it is a more expensive material. But in the pro's column, it requires less maintenance than wood decking (e.g. cleaning with a detergent).
In direct sunlight, composite decking can get very warm but lighter colours suffer less.
Lastly, it is not a natural product if you like to weigh up the environmental benefits, whereas pretty much all wood is now sustainably sourced.
Small decking job completed along with concrete base extension ready for a shed install. 😎👊💯
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This really is a decision driven by 3 factors:
Softwood is a clear winner here, but it will be outlasted by hardwood and composite decking. So a case could be made for all three options in the long run.
Composite decking requires the least maintenance. Both softwood and hardwood decking will require regular treatment to extend their lifespans.
A subjective question, but in our opinion a hardwood deck looks really nice and ages well. Softwood can be treated to improve appearance and composite decks offer more choice than ever before if you don't mind the non-wood look.
Keeping on top of the cleaning of the decking with a good sweeping is the best way.
However, over time there will be an inevitable build up of dirt and grime. In this case a pressure washing is a good option although proceed with caution. Start at a low setting if possible and do not place the lance too close to the wood.
Then there is the old fashioned scrubbing brush and a suitable cleaning solution. It will take some elbow grease, but the results can be pleasing.
When there are changes in humidity or temperature it is perfectly normal for small amounts of resin to appear. This typically happens in the first year of installation and is perfectly normal.
To remove these patches follow these steps:
The space underneath your decking is generally speaking an inhospitable area for several reasons: