Composite
The low maintenance option. Won't fade much, won't rot, no annual oiling. Costs more than timber upfront but less over time. Trex and Millboard are the main brands I use.
Service · Decking
Decking in Teddington and SW London
Hardwood, softwood and composite decking built on a proper frame so it stays level for years.
- 10+ years in the trade, started solo in 2026
- 19 areas covered across SW London
- 4 services design, patios, decking, fencing
- Insured public liability cover, certificate on request
Decking is one of those jobs where the difference between a good job and a bad one is invisible until two winters in. Cheap decking sags, splits along the boards, and starts to rot at the joist contact points within a few years. Done properly, with a treated timber frame at the right joist spacing and the right fixings, it stays level and usable for a decade plus.
What you get with every job
- Site clearance and ground preparation
- Concrete pad foundations or post supports as required
- Pressure treated softwood frame at correct joist spacing
- Boards in your chosen material (softwood, hardwood, or composite)
- Stainless steel or coated decking screws (no nails)
- Edging, steps and balustrade where needed
- Skirting around the frame so the underside is hidden
Materials and approaches I work with
How the job runs
- 01
Site visit
I check ground levels, soil type, and whether the area drains. Decking on boggy ground needs extra prep.
- 02
Frame
Pressure treated C24 timber, joists at 400mm centres for softwood and 350mm for hardwood. Joist hangers and noggins where they need to be.
- 03
Boards
Boards laid with a 5mm to 8mm gap depending on material, screwed (never nailed) into every joist. Cuts sealed where they need to be.
- 04
Finish
Skirting fitted around the frame so you can't see the joists, and any steps or balustrade trimmed in. If softwood, a first coat of oil at the end.
What affects the price
Quotes are itemised, but here's what moves the number up or down.
- Board material (composite roughly twice the price of softwood)
- Deck size and complexity (raised decks with balustrade cost significantly more than ground-level decks)
- Ground conditions (soft or sloping ground needs more frame work)
- Steps, balustrade, and built-in seating
- Whether the existing surface needs removing
For honest indicative ranges, see the pricing guide.
How long it takes
A 15 to 20 square metre ground-level deck takes three to five working days. Raised decks with balustrade and steps run a week to ten days.
Looking after the finished job
Composite needs nothing more than a brush and a wash. Hardwood, leave it alone if you like the silvered look or oil annually if you want to keep the colour. Softwood needs cleaning and re-oiling every two to three years to stay looking good.
What clients say
Alfie laid a porcelain patio for us in March. Turned up when he said he would, kept the place tidy, and finished a day early. The patio looks great and we've had no issues with drainage even after a heavy weekend of rain.
We needed about 25 metres of fencing replacing after a storm took the old one out. Alfie quoted on the day, came back the following week and finished in two days. Concrete posts and gravel boards as standard, no shortcuts.
Brilliant from start to finish. Alfie listened to what we wanted, came back with a plan that was way better than anything we'd thought of, and built it over four weeks. The aftercare guide he left was really useful too.
Composite deck installed on a sloping garden. Alfie sorted out the levels properly and built a frame that feels rock solid. Communication was clear throughout and the price was fair.
Sandstone patio and a low retaining wall. Alfie was the only person who quoted who actually noticed the slope of our garden meant the patio would need a step in the middle. The detail in his work shows.
Ten metres of closeboard fencing along a tricky boundary with a tree. Alfie worked around the roots without damaging the tree and left the run dead straight. Tidy job.
Decking across SW London
I cover 19 towns. Browse all locations or pick the closest below.
Decking FAQs
Composite or timber?
Composite if you don't want to think about maintenance for fifteen years. Timber if you're happy to oil it once a year or like the way real wood weathers. Both look great when fitted properly.
How long does decking last?
Composite twenty years plus, hardwood twenty, treated softwood ten to fifteen if you maintain it. The frame underneath outlasts the boards if it's pressure treated and ventilated.
Will it get slippery in winter?
All decking gets slippery when wet, especially under shade. Composite tends to be marginally better than timber. Grooved boards help slightly. The real fix is a yearly clean to stop algae building up.
Do I need planning permission for decking?
If the deck is more than 300mm above ground level, or it covers more than half your garden, you might need permission. Most ground-level decks fall under permitted development. I'll flag anything borderline.
Can you put decking next to the house?
Yes, but the deck surface needs to sit at least 150mm below the damp proof course, with a gap behind it for ventilation. Otherwise you get damp issues against the wall.
Can you lay decking over an existing patio?
Sometimes yes, if the patio is structurally sound. The frame sits on rubber pads on the existing surface. It saves on demolition costs and protects the patio underneath.
Want a quote for decking?
Site visits are free, no pressure. Tell me what you have in mind and I'll come round at a time that suits.