Decking in Guildford

Parklane Landscaping builds composite and timber decking across the Guildford borough from our base in Dorking. Decking is usually the right answer where a garden drops away from the house or holds water, because the frame sits on posts above the ground and needs none of the excavation and retaining a raised patio would. Structural work carries a five-year guarantee, and the survey is free. Call 01306 735362.

Why decking suits gardens on this side of Surrey

Decking solves a problem paving cannot solve cheaply, and the plots around Gomshall and Peaslake throw that problem up more than most. Ground here runs from the chalk of the North Downs down into the greensand, and many gardens fall away from the house. You get a drop between the back door and the lawn, and ground that stays wet at the bottom. A deck bridges that drop.

The frame sits on posts, so it carries you out level from the house over falling ground. As our own service page puts it, decking requires none of the groundwork patios does. On a wet, shaded corner it is often the only thing that makes the space usable at all.

Composite or timber

Both work. Which is right depends on what you want from it. Composite is the low-maintenance option. It doesn’t need staining or oiling; it holds its colour and handles damp and shade better than softwood. It costs more up front but requires less effort afterwards. If the deck is going somewhere that stays wet or shaded, or you do not want a job every spring, composite is usually the answer.

Timber costs less up front and gives a warmer, more natural finish that suits older properties and rural plots. Softwood needs treating to keep it looking right. On one Reigate job, the customer specifically wanted to keep costs down, so a new softwood deck and lawn with a few other tweaks hit the budget exactly. Materials come from suppliers we trust, and we will tell you which board we would use on your garden and why, with samples in hand at the survey.

Decking questions, answered properly.

These are the questions people actually search alongside decking. Most contractor websites either skip them or answer them from a supplier’s brochure.

What is the 30cm rule for decking?

For residential composite decking, joist centres should not exceed 300mm. For a commercial deck taking heavier footfall, or where boards are laid diagonally at 45 degrees, that reduces to 250mm. Traditional timber decking in the UK is commonly built at 400mm centres. This is the single most common reason a composite deck flexes underfoot: composite boards laid onto a frame designed for timber. If someone is quoting composite over an existing subframe, ask what the joist centres are before you agree.

What is the 3-4-5 rule for decking?

It is how you square a deck frame without a large set square, and it comes straight from Pythagoras. Measure 3 units along one edge from the corner. Measure 4 units along the adjoining edge. The diagonal between those two points should measure exactly 5. If it does, the corner is square. On a larger deck, use 6, 8 and 10 for better accuracy over the longer run. A deck that is out of square shows up later in boards that taper against a wall and a balustrade that will not line up, which is why the frame gets checked before a single board goes down.

Can you build a deck over a sloping garden?

That is one of the main reasons to choose a deck. The frame is built off posts set at different heights, so the finished surface comes out level even where the ground beneath it is not. It avoids the retaining walls and excavation a raised patio would need on the same slope.

Will a deck work on ground that gets waterlogged?

Usually better than paving will. The deck sits above the ground rather than on it, so water drains beneath and air moves under the boards. Our Cranleigh job replaced exactly that sort of weedy, damp corner. Where waterlogging is severe, we will say so and address the drainage as part of the works rather than decking over the problem.

How long does a deck take to build, and how far ahead should I book?

Build time depends more on the frame than the boards. A simple deck on level ground goes quickly once materials are on site. A raised deck over falling ground needs the posts and frame set properly first, and screening, steps, plus lighting add to it. The survey gives you a real date, not a guess.

We stay busy with recommendations and repeat work, so an early conversation gives you more say over when the deck gets built.

Do you do repairs, or only new decks?

Both. One of our Reigate projects was a tired old deck brought back with a new softwood surface and a reworked garden area on a tight budget.

What decking costs

Before we quote, here’s where the cost sits. On a flat, accessible garden, the boards are the main expense. On a sloping plot, the posts and frame beneath can cost more than the surface, because the structure has to be right before you lay anything. Composite costs more per square metre than softwood and less to own. Which works out better depends on how long you intend to keep the garden. The survey is free and requires no commitment.

What a Parklane deck includes

The frame and the ground preparation matter more than the boards, and they are where cheap decks fail. We set the posts properly, build the frame to take the span and the board type, and get the falls right so water runs off rather than sitting on the boards. Beyond the deck itself, we build the screening that goes with it, which is often the point of the job.

One of our Cranleigh customers had a useless area of garden, weedy and damp, taken out and replaced with a new entertaining deck with screens to modernise it. Steps, balustrades, integrated lighting, and pergolas can all be built into the identical structure where the design calls for it. Every project starts with a large, detailed drawing produced by our own designers, and every team member holds a valid CSCS card.

A deck built to a deadline

The customer came to us on a recommendation and made clear at the first consultation that the work had to be finished for a 40th birthday party. Dan was upfront: it was achievable, but only by completing the work in stages. They agreed, and it was finished on time.

In their words: “As promised, the work was completed on time, and the finished product is amazing. The team that completed the work were friendly, neat and professional. I even caught one of them washing the front of the house after mixing some mortar, which was not expected and shows their pride.”

Their advice to anyone reading this was to consult early, because we book up.

Where we build decks

Our recent work in the Guildford borough includes retaining walls and parking at Gomshall and a block paved driveway at Peaslake, both in Shere parish between Guildford and Dorking. We also offer decking across the rest of our Surrey patch, including Cobham, Esher, Epsom, Reigate, and Dorking itself.

Book a free decking survey

A photograph of the space and a rough size is enough to start. At the survey, you get measurements, board samples to handle and a written quote, with no obligation attached.

Call 01306 735362 or 07768 026770, or email enquiries@parklane-landscaping.co.uk.

February 4, 2021

We chose Parklane following a recommendation and during the initial consultation, we stressed that we needed the work completed by a set date due to a very important 40th Birthday party we had planned, no pressure!!! The owner, Dan was honest with us and promised he would complete the job on time but this would require them completing the work in stages which we were happy with and also completely understood due to us leaving the request to the last minute, top tip as they are a busy company, consult with them early as they are in demand!!! As promised the work was completed on time and the finished product is amazing. The team that completed the work were friendly, neat and professional. I even caught one of them washing the front of the house after mixing some mortar which was not expected and shows their pride. The end product rendered us speechless, we were so pleased with the result and the reactions from our party guests were as expected, everyone wanted Parklanes number… I would fully recommend Parklane and we are completely satisfied with their work.

Paul

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