Costs & quotes
What does decking cost, and where does the money actually go?
Most of the budget on a deck is under it, not on top of it.
The boards are the part you see and rarely the biggest part of the bill. The frame, the ground preparation and the height above ground drive the cost of a deck far more than the board choice does. A low deck laid over level, firm ground is straightforward. A raised deck with steps and a balustrade is a structure, and it is priced like one. Composite boards cost more than softwood to buy and less to look after, which is the trade you are really deciding on.
The cost drivers, in order
Change any of these and the price moves noticeably.
- Height above ground: low decks are simple, raised decks need posts, bracing, steps and balustrades.
- Ground conditions: a firm level base is quick, sloping or soft ground needs proper foundations.
- Frame material and spacing: composite boards need closer joist centres than softwood, so the frame costs more.
- Board choice: softwood, hardwood and composite sit at very different points.
- Shape: rectangles are efficient, curves, cut outs around trees and mitred edges are not.
- Extras: fascia boards, integrated lighting, steps, gates and balustrade infill.
Timber vs composite on cost over time
Softwood is the lowest cost to install and needs cleaning and re-treating to stay looking right. Hardwood costs more and lasts longer with oiling. Composite costs the most to buy, needs the strongest frame, and then asks for very little beyond washing.
If you plan to be in the house a long time and dislike garden maintenance, composite usually wins. If budget is the constraint or you enjoy the look of natural timber weathering, softwood is not the wrong answer.
The frame is where quality shows
Joist spacing, proper support at board ends, ventilation under the deck and correctly treated timber in ground contact are what decide whether a deck is still solid in ten years.
A quote that is much lower than the others often has wider joist centres or a lighter frame, which will show up as bounce and then as movement.
Planning, boundaries and neighbours
Low level decking is generally straightforward, but raised decks near a boundary can raise overlooking and planning questions. We will flag it if we think your project needs checking with the local authority before we build.
Questions we're asked about this
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