New Decking Built Properly, Quoted After a Proper Survey in Kenilworth

Decking that disappoints almost always disappoints because of shortcuts taken before the boards went down: undersized frames, posts set in unsuitable ground, no thought to drainage or falls, or timber chosen for price rather than suitability. We build decks the other way round — survey first, quote second, build third.

The survey comes first

Before quoting anything we look at the ground: level or sloping, what the soil is like, where water goes after rain, how much sun the spot gets and how the deck will be accessed from the house. We discuss what the deck is for — dining, lounging, steps down to the garden, balustrades if it is raised — and agree the size, height and layout with you. Only then do we quote, as a full project price based on the agreed design, for your approval before anything starts.

Groundwork done safely

Before any digging for posts or foundations, we locate underground services carefully and use detectors where appropriate — but no scan guarantees what is below, so utilities' plans and a safe dig approach remain your responsibility to provide and confirm. We state that boundary plainly rather than pretend certainty we do not have. Posts and foundations are set to suit the ground, with correct support and spacing so the frame cannot bounce or move.

The build itself

The frame is built from appropriately treated timber, sized and spaced for the spans, levelled with deliberate falls so water escapes rather than pools. Boards are fixed with proper exterior screws, spaced correctly for expansion, with neat edges and steps built to the same standard. Raised decks get balustrades and sound structure; low decks get the same care. Working days are agreed in the plan — the visit estimate covers a defined working day on the agreed scope, and multi-day builds are staged so each stage is left safe and weatherproof overnight.

Weather and scheduling

Deck construction is outdoor work and needs suitable conditions — timber laying and any concrete work will not be rushed through rain or frost. We schedule around the forecast and will tell you plainly when weather must move a stage; decking is built to be in the weather, but it is not built in it.

Permissions and honesty

Planning permission and boundary matters are the customer's responsibility — if your deck may need permission, particularly if raised, we will suggest you check with your local authority, but we do not promise compliance status either way. And we make no guarantees against settlement, weathering or timber movement: a deck is timber outdoors, and it will weather and move a little with the seasons no matter how well it is built. Good construction minimises it; nothing abolishes it.

Aftercare

We will tell you how to keep the deck draining and dry — clearing gaps, seasonal cleaning and periodic oiling — because a little maintenance each year is what keeps a good deck good.

Design choices that matter

During the survey we will talk through the choices that decide how your deck ages: timber species and treatment suited to its position, board direction and spacing for drainage, height and steps that work with the garden's levels, and under-deck airflow that keeps the frame dry. Where your ground is heavy clay or the site stays damp, we will adapt the foundations and ventilation accordingly rather than build a standard deck into unsuitable ground. Good design decisions at survey stage are what separate a deck that looks fine on day one from one that is still fine in year ten.

How to book

Start with a survey via maintenance-men.com or by phone. The booking fee is paid when you book the survey visit; the full project cost is quoted after the survey and approved before work starts, with materials itemised separately.