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The average cost of decking in the UK ranges from £70 to £200 per m², depending on the material, size, and complexity.
The average cost of decking in the UK ranges from £70 to £200 per square metre, including materials and installation. Softwood decking is more affordable, starting at around £70/m², while composite or hardwood decking can cost up to £200/m².
Decking in the outdoor environment can make it much more useful and make it look nicer. Be it a smooth composite terrace or a lovely wooden deck that becomes part of a natural garden, it is highly necessary to know the full cost implications. This guide will show you how much it will cost you to deck in the UK, materials, labour, maintenance and extras so that you can budget with confidence to carry out your project.
The prices of decking in the UK may be cheap or expensive, depending mostly on the nature of the material that you want to use, the area size, the design complexity, and the area labour cost. Let us assess the average prices so that you can manage your budget well:
Softwood Decking: £15 – £25
The least expensive type of decking available is softwood, which is just what you need in case you want the natural beauty combined with a classic look but without a huge budget.
Hardwood Decking: £40 – £70
As compared to the softwood, the hardwood decking is more expensive but also more resilient to wear and weathering, and it has a rich colour. It is appropriate for expensive garden renovations or in high-traffic parks.
Composite Decking: £70 – £120
The blend of plastic and wood fibres is used to produce a composite that has a modern appearance and an excellent resistance to fading, warping, and rot. It is quite expensive when it comes to upfront costs, but the resulting saving on the maintenance costs makes it appealing in the long run.
The cost of labour is dependent on whether the job is simple or is located in a remote area, and also depends on the experience of the contractor. The average price you will pay is:
Flat surfaces with simple and ground-level decks will be easier and less costly to construct, whereas platforms designed at height, steps, and in-built features, such as seats or balustrades, will be more time-consuming in respect to installation, and costly.
To provide a better idea about the total expenditures, the following is a rough estimate of the decking projects of different sizes:
Small Deck (Approx. 10m²): £500 – £1,500
It is suitable for a small patio or a smaller sitting place. It would normally be simple timber or inexpensive composite decking that does not require much design detail.
Medium Deck (Approx. 20m²): £1,200 – £3,000
It fits an average garden where you may need some area to relax with furniture, planters, or a barbecue. At these costs, there is an option between mid-range softwood and composite, depending on the layout.
Large Deck (30m² or more): £2,000 – £5,000+
With a bigger space, there are possibilities of zones, built-in seating, light and raised platforms. This is a size that surely implies more expensive compound or hardwood decking and more elaborate construction.
As much as material and installation costs will be the most important elements to your decking budget, there are a few other parameters that can have a lot of implications on what you end up spending. Learning the variables now will assist you in expectations and better decision-making when planning your outdoor project.
Deck Size:
The size of the decking area is one of the most evident factors of cost. A bigger deck means the use of a greater amount of timber/composite boards, additional structural reinforcement, besides substantially more time in terms of installation. Labour will usually be charged per square metre, and therefore the larger the space, the more one will be required to part with. Even saving a couple of square metres, in case you are operating on a tight budget, will result in a cut on material and labour costs as well.
Site Preparation
Not every garden can be decked up. If your site is levelled or slanted or has turf or concrete or ancient decking on it, there must be some degree of groundwork before the installation commences. This preparatory work is time-consuming, not to mention that additional materials or specialised equipment may be needed, and this will result in a higher bill on your part.
Basic ground clearance: £150 – £300
This includes taking away grass, weeds, small garden ornaments or light rubble.
Ground levelling or minor excavation: £200 – £800
Apart from a gently sloping or non-flat garden, there will be some levelling to be done so that the decking can be structurally sound. This may include uplifting of the soil, the addition of hardcore or the uplift of the sub-frame.
Location
The location of your residence in the UK is also a crucial factor in determining the amount of cost you will pay. Homeowners based in London or any other location in the South East and other high-cost metropolitan regions are expected to pay more for trained tradespeople.
Design Complexity
By keeping the deck clutter-free, featuring clean lines and lacking extras, such a simple deck can always be less expensive than those having multi-level platforms, built-in seating, custom joinery and the like. The more detailed the design, the more time it will take to construct it and the more you will pay for labour and materials.
A DIY or a professional, that is the big question in the installation of decking. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, especially in terms of cost, quality, and the time that will be consumed.
A DIY decking job can be a very worthwhile project, and anyone handy around the house will find the task reasonably simple as long as you feel confident doing some basic carpentry and are up to date with the latest UK building regulations. Even a basic rectangle-shaped softwood deck is a possibility with a bit of online guidance and pre-treated timber boards.
Potential savings:
DIY can reduce your overall spend considerably, eliminating labour charges that typically range from £500 to £1,500, depending on the size and complexity of the job.
Things to take into consideration before choosing to DIY:
DIY is only appropriate for small gardens on flat planes and simple designs. Very complicated plans or hilly land can soon be beyond the means of the average homeowner.
When you decide to pick a professional decking contractor, you will get the confidence that your structure will be sound, levelled, and durable. The majority of tradespeople in the UK are well versed in the art of timber treatment, weatherproof and good design practice, etc, and it would provide a quality finish.
An average rate of daily labour:
Projected time:
Though contracting a professional may raise hiring expenditures, such employment may prove to be beneficial in the long term due to the decreased risk of mistakes and noncompliance with neighbourhood planning or building regulations.
Regardless of which type of installation you take, you will need to care for and maintain your decks to ensure that your investment is preserved and your deck will be the brightest. All materials require different care materials and thus their costs, so it would be prudent to assign these costs to your budget in the long run.
Softwood is a common low-cost item in the UK; however, softwood should be maintained regularly against rotting, fading and weathering.
A little time will also be required by the majority of homeowners in terms of scrubbing or pressure washing, particularly during or after winter.
Decks can be made of hardwood, like those that are iron or balau and are more resistant to decay naturally and are harder. They also grow old more gracefully as compared to softwood.
Composite decking is recycled wood fibre and plastic and is sold based on low maintenance, albeit justifiably so. It does not require sealing or sanding; it is not attacked by moisture or insects, or mould.
Besides the cost of the deck structure, you might have to incur additional costs in the course of your project:
The cost of decking at the end of the day is subject to numerous factors; however, with proper planning and decking professionals, an eye-catching working deck can be built without going overboard in terms of finances. Whichever you choose to invest in, affordable softwood or smooth composite finish, decking has been a very popular and handy modification in British gardens.
Remember to obtain at least three quotes when considering an installation of a decking project in your area, and ask the companies to give detailed bills to know how each cost is allocated. Get word of mouth or inquire about reviews. Make sure all is covered down in a written agreement, including materials and workmanship guarantee, timescale and payment terms.
Costs of various services and materials in this cost guide should be taken as estimates. These depend on location, preference and demands in the market.