Teesside decking FAQs
The questions Teesside homeowners actually ask before building a deck: what it costs per square metre, which material suits a shaded garden, when planning rules bite, and why the frame matters more than the boards.
Straight answers on garden decking across Teesside. If your question is not here, ask us directly.
Prices & sizing
What does decking cost per square metre in Teesside?
Composite £120 to £180 installed, pressure-treated timber £80 to £120, raised or multi-level £150 to £220. Balustrade runs £60 to £120 per linear metre on top.
What does a typical back-garden deck come to?
A flat 20m² deck runs roughly £1,700 to £2,400 in softwood or £2,600 to £3,500 in composite. Add steps, balustrade or a fall in the ground and it climbs from there.
What pushes a quote up the most?
Height off the ground, because posts, bracing and balustrade all follow it. After that: wheelbarrow-only access, ground that needs digging out, diagonal or picture-frame board layouts, and hardwood.
How big should the deck be?
Allow 2.5m depth for a table and four chairs, 3.5m for a table plus a seating area. Under-sizing to save two square metres is the most common regret, and it is the cheapest part of the build.
Materials & maintenance
Is composite worth the extra?
Over 20 to 25 years, usually yes: no annual oiling and no board replacement offsets the higher build cost. Over five years, timber wins on cash. The comparison guide runs both.
Is composite really maintenance free?
No. It is low maintenance. Two washes a year keeps it decent, and a shaded garden needs more than that or it films over with algae like anything else.
Which timber lasts on Teesside?
Pressure-treated softwood at Use Class 4 for anything in ground contact, with every cut end re-treated on site. Hardwoods such as balau last longer and cost roughly double, and they need oiling to hold colour.
Will my boards fade?
Some. Capped composite settles slightly in the first season and then holds its colour for years. Uncapped budget boards keep drifting. Timber greys within a year unless it is oiled.
Build standards & rules
Why does the subframe matter so much?
Because that is where cheap decks die. Joists laid on wet clay with untaped tops and no perimeter airflow rot from above within about five years, whatever the boards cost.
What joist spacing should the quote say?
400mm centres for composite as standard, and 300mm where boards run diagonally. Timber tolerates 400 to 600mm. If spacing is not stated in the quote, ask before comparing prices.
Do I need planning permission or building regulations?
Decks under 300mm high with reasonable garden coverage are normally permitted development. Raised decks, balustrades guarding a drop and any listed or conservation-area property need checking, and raised structures can bring building regulations and party-wall considerations into play.
How long should a deck last?
A properly framed and ventilated softwood deck: 15 to 20 years, with board replacement along the way. Composite on the same frame: 25 years plus, and the frame becomes the limiting factor, which is exactly why it is specified in writing.