Turn a rough decking idea into prices you can compare
Tell us what is happening in your garden: boards that need attention, a deck you want removed, or a space ready for a new platform. Your single enquiry can be matched with up to four independent decking specialists. Quotes depend on suitable businesses covering your address and having capacity, so four are not guaranteed.
Homeowners pay nothing to send an enquiry and are free to decline the quotations. Garden Decking UK does not carry out the work or employ the specialists. You agree the actual job with the contractor you appoint.
Give the installer a starting point
- Approximate length and width, including any separate platform or stair area.
- The greatest visible drop to the ground and whether the deck will meet a doorway.
- What occupies the footprint now: soil, paving, an old deck or a mixture.
- Any preferred board range, or a request to price timber and composite separately.
- Extra details such as a perimeter border, inspection hatch, handrail or cable route.
- The route for long boards and waste: a side passage, a flight of steps or access through the house.
- For an existing deck, its approximate age, the affected area and any coating you can identify.
Photographs are useful if you can take them safely from a path or sound ground. Include the whole deck and a closer view of the problem. Leave suspect boards in place until the contractor can inspect them; opening the structure is not part of making an enquiry.
Indicative UK decking prices
These are broad budgeting allowances for the services listed on this site, not guaranteed prices or measured local averages. Installation and replacement figures refer to domestic projects including labour and the agreed materials, rather than board supply alone. The scope column explains why jobs within a service can vary so much.
| Service or extra | Guide price | Scope to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Composite Decking Installation | £2,800–£8,500 | New composite surface and supporting frame; board range and footprint to be agreed |
| Timber Decking Installation | £1,500–£4,500 | Domestic softwood deck; larger areas and premium hardwood can cost more |
| Raised Decking Installation | £4,000–£15,000 | Elevated structure with supports, steps and guarding; complex designs can exceed the range |
| Decking Replacement | £2,000–£7,500 | Old deck removal and an agreed rebuild; hidden ground or frame problems can add cost |
| Decking Repairs and Board Replacement | £150–£1,200 | Localised boards, fixings or support repairs on a deck worth retaining |
| Decking Cleaning and Restoration | £150–£650 | Cleaning and agreed preparation or finishing of a modest deck; extensive stripping costs more |
| Old deck removal and disposal only | £150–£400 | Small, accessible timber deck; large structures, concrete and difficult access cost more |
| Short, simple timber step flight | £150–£500 | Basic steps added to a suitable low deck; extensive stairs and guarding are separate |
| Basic timber balustrade | £40–£120 per linear metre | Straight run within a larger job; glass, metal systems and structural alterations cost more |
The extra rows are separate allowances only when that work is not already included. Do not add removal to a replacement quote twice. Confirm the final total including any VAT, delivery, disposal, groundwork and design fees. A small repair may have a minimum visit charge; a high or unusually large deck can exceed the full-project ranges.
The allowances have been checked against published contractor cost guidance, including Fantastic Services’ decking installation and extras guide. They remain starting figures for discussion: a measured quotation for your chosen specification takes priority.
Why two gardens of the same size get different prices
A flat, accessible patch may need little preparation. A sloping site can need deeper foundations, longer posts and more work carrying materials. A picture-frame border consumes extra board lengths and needs support below its joints. Premium board ranges, narrow side passages, regional labour rates and removing an old frame can all change the total without changing the deck area.
Repairs depend on how far the fault travels once boards are lifted. Restoration depends on the existing finish as much as the square metres: cleaning dirt is different from stripping a failing coating. Ask for any uncertain work to be identified, with a process for approving additional costs before it proceeds.
Read the construction detail as well as the total
- Supports: footing type, post and beam arrangement, and what ground preparation is allowed for.
- Timber: strength specification and preservative treatment for structural parts, plus treatment of site-cut ends where required.
- Surface: named boards, layout, fixing system and the manufacturer’s installation requirements.
- House junction: how the design preserves damp protection, ventilation and access to inspection covers.
- Edges: fascia, step dimensions, handrail and guarding details, including what is omitted.
- Handover: removal of offcuts, making good the access route, maintenance instructions and separate material and workmanship terms.
Allow for the stages before and after fitting
New deck construction usually follows a visit and material ordering. Raised work may need drawings and permission checks before a date can be agreed. Cleaning and oiling may require separate visits because the timber must dry between stages. Ask for the expected working days and the likely elapsed time, including delivery and drying periods.
Businesses joining the network are asked for relevant insurance details and references. Request current evidence before booking, and agree deposits, stage payments and changes in writing. A free homeowner enquiry does not mean separately commissioned design work is free; establish any visit or drawing fee in advance.
Questions worth asking
Can I submit an enquiry before choosing a board colour?
Yes. Give the intended size and use of the deck, then say whether you need material options. Ask the installer to identify the range behind each price so a later colour or board change can be assessed.
Can an installer price hidden joist damage from a photograph?
A photograph may help explain the problem, but it cannot confirm the condition of concealed supports. A repair quotation may need an inspection or a clearly stated allowance for investigation.
Will the lowest price include removing my old deck?
Only if the quotation says so. Check dismantling, carrying waste out, disposal and any making good as separate parts of the agreed scope, even when the work is described as replacement.
What if none of the quotations suits my budget?
You can decline them. If you still want to proceed, ask whether a smaller footprint, simpler edge detail or different board range would change the price while retaining an appropriate structure.