Decks for the way Middlesbrough gardens actually are
Walk round the back of most houses in Marton, Nunthorpe or Ormesby and you'll find the garden isn't level. It falls away from the house, rises to a back fence, or drops in a step where an old rockery used to be. That's normal here, and it's the reason a lot of people put off doing anything with the garden at all.
A well-designed deck solves it. We start at your back door, because that's where you'll use the deck most, and work out how to give you a level space at a comfortable height. Sometimes that's one generous platform with a couple of steps down to the lawn. Sometimes it's two or three smaller levels that follow the ground. We've written more about it in our guide to decking for sloping gardens.
In Linthorpe and Acklam the challenge is usually different: Edwardian and 1930s semis with long, fairly narrow gardens, mature trees and plenty of shade. There we focus on boards that don't turn green, and on fitting a deck that feels in proportion to the house.
Why we usually suggest composite
Teesside gets plenty of wet, grey days, and timber left in the shade of a fence soon grows a slippery green film. Capped composite boards don't. They don't need staining either, so the deck looks much the same in year five as it did in week one. That's why most of our customers choose composite decking, and why we'd steer you towards it unless you have a good reason to want real wood. If you do, we build good timber and hardwood decks too.
Clay, drainage and what's under the boards
Much of Middlesbrough sits on heavy boulder clay. It holds water in winter and shrinks in a dry summer, so a frame that's simply laid on the ground can move. We set posts on proper concrete pads, keep timber off the soil, lay membrane and gravel underneath and leave a clear path for water to run away from the house. Nobody sees this part once the boards are down, but it decides how long the deck lasts.
Steps, guarding and light
As soon as a deck gets higher than a step or two, the details matter: steps you can walk down with a tray of drinks, guarding on any real drop, and lighting so you can see where you're going at night. We price these with the deck rather than as extras afterwards. Have a look at balustrades, steps and lighting.
Your questions
Can a deck be built on clay soil?
Yes. Clay is fine as long as the posts sit on concrete pads at a sensible depth and the ground underneath can drain. We look at the soil at the visit and allow for it in the price.
Will a deck work in a north-facing garden?
It will, and composite is the better choice there, because it doesn't stay damp and green like timber does in the shade. We often put the deck where the sun reaches longest rather than right against the house.
Can you build a deck next to a conservatory?
Usually, yes. We keep the deck below the conservatory's floor level and away from its base and any airbricks, and we make sure water runs away from the walls.
