Decking in Margate, done to the coastal spec.

What's included

• UC4-pressure-treated softwood decking or WPC composite decking to spec
• Softwood joist frame on UC4-treated timber, on either concrete pad footings or adjustable pedestals for a raised deck
• Anti-slip grooved or smooth deck boards (grooved recommended for any Margate seafront deck - salt-wet timber gets slick)
• Skirt boards to close the deck edge
• Handrail or balustrade where the deck height triggers Building Regulations (over 600mm above ground)
• Sub-frame airflow so the deck ventilates and does not rot from below

Timing

A standard 4m x 3m deck: 2-3 working days including sub-frame. Larger raised decks with balustrade: 3-5 days.

Margate-specific notes

Softwood vs composite on the Thanet coast. Softwood UC4 gives 8-12 years on a Cliftonville seafront deck before board replacement. Composite (WPC) gives 20+ years but colour-fades in salt-UV faster than the manufacturer literature suggests. Composite is the honest answer for holiday lets where zero maintenance matters; softwood is the honest answer for owner-occupied gardens where a re-oil every 2 years is acceptable.

Grooved vs smooth boards. On any Margate deck - especially north-facing seafront balconies at Palm Bay and Cliftonville - use grooved anti-slip boards. Smooth softwood decks in Thanet salt-wet get dangerous.

Building Regulations trigger. Decks under 30m² and less than 300mm above ground are permitted development. Over 600mm above ground you need a Building Regs-compliant balustrade (1.1m high, 100mm gap max between spindles).

Pricing

Standard softwood UC4 deck at ground level: £140-190 per m² installed. Raised softwood deck with balustrade: £190-260 per m². Composite (WPC) decking at ground level: £220-320 per m². Composite raised with balustrade: £280-400 per m².