Rutland Driveways & Landscaping 07312 132517 Site visit
Grey composite deck with LED step lights and steps down to a lawn behind a red-brick house
Rutland · Stamford · Oakham

Composite & timber decking

Composite and timber decks in Rutland, Stamford and the villages around them, built on a braced frame with the ground prepared properly underneath.

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8 yearsTrading in Rutland

Composite decking typically costs £200–£250 per m² supplied and fitted, and softwood timber decking £110–£140 per m². A 15–20m² composite deck is usually £3,000–£5,000; raised decks with balustrades and steps cost more. Decking in a rear garden is normally permitted development if no part of it is more than 30cm above the ground and, with other outbuildings and platforms, it covers no more than half the garden.

Composite, fitted
£200–£250 per m²
Planning
Not needed under 30cm high
Guarantee
5 years, in writing

Guide prices from 2026 online price guides, at the higher end. Your fixed price comes in writing after the site visit.

Composite & timber decking

What it is

We build composite and timber decks on a properly braced frame: posts or pads set on firm ground, a treated or aluminium sub-frame at the right joist spacing for the boards, and a weed membrane and drainage underneath so the frame stays dry.

Composite & timber decking

Built from the frame up

Most decks that bounce, rot or sag were built on a weak frame: joists too far apart, posts sitting on soil, or no drainage underneath. We build the frame to the board maker's spacing, set posts or pads on firm ground and keep water moving underneath.

Composite boards are the low-maintenance choice; pressure-treated softwood is cheaper but needs looking after. We bring samples of both.

Composite & timber decking

Raised decks

On sloping gardens a raised deck gives you a level space at house height. Anything over 30cm high needs planning permission, and it needs a balustrade and steps, so we draw it up and handle the application with you.

Composite & timber decking

Planning

Decking in a rear garden is normally permitted development if no part of it is more than 30cm above the ground and, with other outbuildings and platforms, it covers no more than half the garden. A raised deck over 30cm needs planning permission, and a listed house needs consent. Planning Portal: decking

Our standard

What you get

  • Composite boards that will not rot, splinter or need staining, or pressure-treated softwood
  • Frame built to the board maker's joist spacing, so boards do not bounce or bow
  • Picture-frame edges, hidden fixings and LED step lights where you want them
  • Steps, balustrades and glass panels for raised decks

The specification

  • Ground levelled, weed membrane and drainage gravel laid
  • Posts or pads on firm ground, set in concrete
  • Treated softwood or aluminium sub-frame, braced and level
  • Boards fixed to the manufacturer's spacing and fixings
  • Edges, fascias, steps and lighting finished
  • Five year workmanship guarantee in writing
Grey composite deck with LED step lights and steps down to a lawn behind a red-brick house
The finish

The kind of finish we build

Grey composite deck with LED step lights and steps down to a lawn behind a red-brick house
Grey composite deck with LED step lights and steps down to a lawn behind a red-brick house
A grey composite deck with picture-frame edging and two steps down to a lawn behind a limestone cottage, planters, outdoor table
A grey composite deck with picture-frame edging and two steps down to a lawn behind a limestone cottage
Raised timber deck with glass balustrade and wide steps over a sloping garden at a stone house
Raised timber deck with glass balustrade and wide steps over a sloping garden at a stone house
★★★★★

Rated 5.0 from 37 Google reviews

“Had them round to do some decking at my grandparents house. Work was finished inc2 days as agreed, price was competitive and quality was good. Thanks again”

Lewis · Decking — Google review

“Lewis and his colleagues were very professional, friendly, hardworking and good value. They worked hard to get the job done efficiently, offered advice and were very knowledgeable. They even worked during the rain to complete our fence, decking and lawn. …”

Will · Fence, decking and lawn — Google review
Read the reviews
Questions

Things people ask us

How much does a deck cost?
Composite decking typically costs £200–£250 per m² supplied and fitted, and softwood timber decking £110–£140 per m². A 15–20m² composite deck is usually £3,000–£5,000; raised decks with balustrades and steps cost more.
Is composite or timber decking better?
Composite costs more at the start but does not rot, splinter or need staining, and most boards carry a long manufacturer warranty. Softwood is cheaper but needs treating every year or two to stay looking good.
Do I need planning permission for decking?
Not usually for a deck in a rear garden that stays under 30cm high. Anything higher, or any deck at a listed house, needs permission first.
Does composite decking get hot in the sun?
Yes, composite decking can get hot in direct summer sun, and dark grey or brown boards can become too hot to walk on comfortably barefoot on a hot afternoon. Lighter colours stay noticeably cooler, and some capped boards are made to absorb less heat. Timber stays a little cooler than composite of a similar colour. On a south-facing deck, a lighter board or some shade overhead makes the biggest difference.
Is composite decking slippery when wet?
Good capped composite boards with a textured or grooved surface usually grip better when wet than timber, which grows algae and turns slippery in shade. No deck is slip-proof: wet leaves, algae and frost make any surface treacherous, so decks in damp, shaded spots need sweeping and an occasional wash. Where grip matters most, on steps or for older users, ask for a board with a published slip-resistance rating.
How long does decking last?
A composite deck on a well-built frame typically lasts 25 years or more, and many boards carry a manufacturer warranty of 10 to 25 years. Pressure-treated softwood usually lasts 10 to 15 years with regular cleaning and treatment, and less if it stays wet. The frame often fails first: posts sitting on soil and joists without airflow rot long before the boards wear out, so how the frame is built matters as much as the boards.
Does a raised deck need a balustrade?
Yes. A garden deck does not normally need Building Regulations approval, but industry guidance is to fit a balustrade wherever the deck is more than about 600mm above the ground, usually 1.1m high, with gaps small enough that a 100mm sphere cannot pass through so a child cannot slip between them. Remember that any deck more than 30cm high also needs planning permission, so a raised deck is designed and approved before it is built.
Can decking be laid over an existing patio or concrete?
Yes, a deck can sit on a sound patio or concrete slab using a low-profile frame on bearers or adjustable pads, which saves digging. The slab must be stable and water must still drain away underneath, so bearers run with the fall rather than across it. The finished deck has to stay at least 150mm below the house damp-proof course and leave air bricks clear, which can rule it out where the patio is already high.
How close to the house can decking be built?
Decking can run right up to the house wall, but the top of the boards should be at least 150mm below the damp-proof course so rain splashing off the deck cannot bridge it and cause damp. Air bricks must be left clear, or ducted through, so under-floor ventilation keeps working, and a small gap at the wall lets water drain. A deck fixed to the house needs a properly fixed and flashed ledger, which is why freestanding frames are often simpler.
How do you stop weeds growing under decking?
Level the ground, lay a weed membrane over it and cover that with a layer of gravel before the frame goes on, which blocks light and holds the membrane in place. The gravel also lets water drain away so the frame does not sit wet. Leaving the correct gaps between boards and some open edge for airflow helps the frame dry out, and leaves that blow underneath are worth clearing every year or two.
How long does it take to build a deck?
A straightforward low-level deck of 15–20m² usually takes two to four days, including clearing and levelling the ground, setting posts or pads and building the frame before the boards go on. Raised decks with steps, balustrades or glass panels take longer, as do curves, picture-frame edges and step lights. Concrete around posts needs time to go off before heavy framing goes on, so ground conditions and weather affect the programme.
Can decking be built over a manhole or drain cover?
Yes, but the cover must stay reachable, so the deck is built with a removable hatch above it, framed separately and boarded to match so it is barely noticeable. Blocking access to an inspection chamber causes problems when drains need clearing, and can come up when you sell. Building over a shared or public sewer may need the water company's agreement, and gullies and downpipes under the deck must still drain freely.
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Composite & timber decking near you

Patios and gardens

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Prices

What composite & timber decking cost

Our composite & timber decking cost guide breaks the price down: what is included, what changes it and what to check in any quote.

Request a site visit

We measure up, check levels and drainage, and send a written proposal with the build-up, the programme and one whole price. No pressure and no follow-up sales calls.

Request a site visit Call 07312 132517
☎Call 07312 132517 Site visit