Re-board or rebuild
We test joists and posts. If they're sound, new boards on the old frame save money. If not, we rebuild it.
Holiday cottages
We'll plan work around your bookings to keep downtime to a minimum.
Signs it's time
Most people call us when a deck has started to feel wrong underfoot. Boards that bounce or flex, green and slippery patches that never seem to dry, screws lifting, and railings that move when you lean on them are all signs worth acting on. In country gardens, decks are often older than the people who own them now, built by a previous owner and never quite looked after.
What we check
At the visit we lift a board or two where we can and look underneath. We push a blade into the joists and posts to find soft timber, look at how posts meet the ground, and check the fixings. We also look at drainage, because water sitting under a deck is the most common reason frames fail early. Then we tell you plainly what we've found.
Re-boarding a sound frame
If the frame is solid, new boards are the simplest fix. Composite boards need joists closer together than many old timber decks had, so we may add extra joists before boarding. Timber boards can usually go straight onto the existing frame.
Rebuilding
Where posts have rotted at ground level or joists have gone soft, patching rarely lasts. We take the old deck away, set new posts on footings, build a fresh frame with airflow underneath and finish with new boards, steps and railings. We take the old timber away too.
Changing the design
A replacement is a chance to rethink. Some people make the deck bigger, move it to catch the evening sun or face the view, or swap a high deck for a lower one with broad steps. We'll talk it through.
Questions people ask
Can you reuse our old frame?
If it's sound, yes. We'll check it carefully at the visit.
Can you work between holiday bookings?
Yes. Tell us your dates and we'll plan around them.