Guarding that suits the house
Glass panels on slim posts keep the view open, which is lovely on a raised deck looking towards the Eston Hills or Roseberry Topping. Aluminium spindles in black or anthracite suit modern homes and need almost no attention. Timber or composite balustrades with square spindles look at home on older houses and lower decks.
Whatever you choose, it has to be strong. We fix posts through into the frame rather than onto the boards, and we build guarding to the height in Building Regulations guidance wherever there's a real drop.
Steps you'll be happy to use
The difference between a good deck and an awkward one is often the steps. We make them wide, with every riser the same height, and we add a handrail where it helps. On a sloping garden we sometimes use a landing halfway, or turn the steps to follow the boundary.
Composite step treads come with a bullnose or a contrasting edge, so each step is easy to see. For timber steps we often add a grooved or contrasting nosing.
Lighting
Small LEDs make a deck usable after dark and much safer on steps. We set lights into risers, into the tops of balustrade posts or along the fascia, with a low-voltage cable run to a transformer on an outdoor socket. Warm white is our usual choice: it's softer on the eye and the neighbours.
If you don't have an outdoor socket, a qualified electrician fits one before the lights go in. We plan the cable route while the frame is open, so it's tidy and hidden.
Adding to an existing deck
If you already have a deck that's sound, we can often add new balustrades, rebuild awkward steps or fit lighting without starting again. If the frame is past its best, we'll tell you, and look at deck replacement instead.
Your questions
Is glass balustrading safe?
Yes, when it's toughened safety glass fixed in a proper channel or clamps to strong posts. We only fit glass made for balustrades.
Can lights be added to a deck later?
Often, but it's easier and neater to plan them in while the frame is open. If you think you might want them, we can lay the cable now and fit lights later.
