Firstly, I’d like to say something from my own perspective.
As a business owner, and a single parent, my time is valuable — just like yours is.
So before you start contacting several companies, it’s worth taking a little time to think about what you actually want to achieve.
Would you invest your time in someone who hasn’t really considered what they want, what they’re prepared to spend, or what they expect from the finished project?
The more information you can give a potential installer, the easier it becomes for everyone.
Start with the project — not the installer
Before you even start looking for a decking company, ask yourself:
Is decking actually the best solution?
A patio might be more suitable for your garden, or simply more affordable. If that’s the case, speaking to a decking specialist might not be the right starting point.
Then consider how long you intend to stay in the property.
Is this your forever home?
If it is, you may want to maximise every aspect of the project and invest in materials and construction that you’ll be happy with for many years.
Or are you expecting to move in a few years?
In that situation, a more cost-conscious solution might make more sense.
There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer. It’s about finding the right solution for your circumstances.
What do you actually want from the deck?
Think about how you’re going to use it.
Perhaps you just want a small area at the bottom of the garden where you can sit after work, have a drink and relax.
Small, simple and stylish.
Or perhaps you want a large, split-level deck running the length of your house, with enough room for a dining table and chairs, balustrades for safety, and stairs leading down into the garden.
These are completely different projects.
Having a basic idea of what you want — even a rough drawing with measurements — can be incredibly useful.
You don’t need to be an architect.
A simple sketch showing the house, proposed deck area, approximate dimensions, steps and anything else you already know you want can save a lot of time during the initial conversation.
Get some inspiration
Once you have an idea of what you want, start looking at examples.
Search for things like:
“Large split-level decking”
“Raised composite deck with glass balustrade”
“Small garden decking ideas”
You’ll quickly start seeing what is possible.
You can work with a professional designer, design something yourself, or even use tools such as ChatGPT to help develop ideas.
The important thing is that you start understanding what you’re trying to accomplish.
Start thinking about materials
Once you have a rough design, start looking at the materials you like.
But remember:
Not everything that looks good is necessarily suitable for your project.
Different decking materials have different advantages and disadvantages.
If you see a product you like, look into it.
What is its reputation?
What warranty does it have?
How does it perform in real-world conditions?
What maintenance does it require?
And importantly, does it suit your particular project?
For example, a cheaper hollow, uncapped composite board isn’t going to perform or age in exactly the same way as a premium solid, capped board.
Likewise, colour matters.
A darker decking board sitting in direct sunlight can become significantly hotter than a lighter-coloured alternative.
That might not matter to some people, but if you have young children, pets, or like walking around the garden barefoot, it’s something worth considering.
Don’t simply choose what looks best in a photograph.
Choose what works best for your garden and your lifestyle.
Don’t forget the subframe
One of the biggest things people overlook is what’s underneath the decking.
The subframe is the structure everything else depends on.
Different materials have different applications.
You wouldn’t necessarily want to use timber in an unsuitable below-ground application, and equally, recycled plastic isn’t automatically the best choice for every high-level raised deck.
The correct substructure depends on the environment, height, loading, ventilation, ground conditions and the decking system being installed.
So ask your installer:
“Why have you recommended this subframe for my project?”
A good installer should be able to explain the reasoning.
Steps, balustrades and lighting
The decking boards are only part of the project.
You may also need:
- Steps
- Balustrades
- Handrails
- Lighting
- Fascia
- Skirting
- Access points
- Additional structural supports
And these can add considerably to the overall cost.
For example, a properly constructed set of steps can take surprisingly long to build.
They aren’t simply a few boards screwed together.
The framing needs to be correctly designed and supported, particularly if you’re incorporating a balustrade or handrail system.
Then there are different styles of balustrade.
Glass can look fantastic, particularly when you’ve got a view you don’t want to obstruct.
But it will generally cost more than a simpler timber spindle system.
Lighting is another feature that’s easy to overlook.
Well-positioned lighting can really define the design of a deck while also making steps and changes in level much safer to navigate at night.
So don’t just budget for the decking boards.
Budget for the complete project.
Now start looking for your installer
Once you have:
- A rough idea of what you want
- Some measurements
- Inspiration images
- An idea of the materials you like
- A realistic budget
- A list of features you want
You’re in a much better position to start looking for the right installer.
A basic Google search for local decking installers is an obvious place to start.
Look through their portfolio.
Read their reviews.
Look at their website and social media.
And most importantly, ask yourself:
Have they actually built the type of project I’m looking for?
If you’re looking for a substantial raised deck and their entire portfolio consists of small, low-level timber decks, they might not be the right person for your project.
That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a bad installer.
It simply means their experience might not match what you need.
Recommendations can be useful — but check them
Personal recommendations can be one of the best ways of finding a good contractor.
But be careful with recommendations on local Facebook groups.
If someone recommends an installer because they’ve personally used them and had a great experience, that’s useful information.
If five or six people who have actually used the same contractor all say they’re excellent, that’s even more useful.
But still do your own research.
Look at their website.
Look at their previous projects.
Check their reviews.
Make sure the type and quality of work they’re showing matches what you’re looking for.
What about the companies at the top of Google?
You’ll also come across companies appearing at the top of Google through paid advertising.
That isn’t automatically a bad thing.
A company paying for advertising doesn’t mean they’re good or bad.
It simply means they’re investing money into generating enquiries.
Likewise, a large company with lots of employees and a recognisable name isn’t automatically better than a smaller two-person business.
Larger companies can have more overheads, sales teams, advertising costs and multiple installation teams.
That can work very well for some customers.
But it can also mean the person who sells you the project isn’t the person who actually builds it.
That may or may not matter to you.
Personally, I prefer a more hands-on approach.
I look at my projects myself, and I’m the person who is involved in building them.
That means there isn’t a situation where a customer says:
“But the salesman promised me this.”
It’s me from start to finish.
For me, that creates a much more personal experience and allows me to make sure the project is built properly and the details are dealt with as we go.
Manufacturer-approved installers
Some decking manufacturers operate approved installer schemes.
These can be a useful way of finding installers who have received training or accreditation for that particular product.
But don’t assume that being approved automatically makes someone the best installer for your project.
Look at their portfolio.
Read their customer reviews.
Look at the projects they’ve completed.
And search beyond the manufacturer’s website to see what their own business and previous work looks like.
There are some excellent approved installers with years of experience.
There are also installers who may have only recently joined a scheme.
The badge is useful. The experience is more important.
And you should expect to pay more for genuine experience and specialist knowledge than you might pay a general landscaping company that occasionally installs decking.
Look at what they specialise in
This is an important one.
Ask yourself:
Can they actually build the type of deck I need?
Do they build:
- Raised decks?
- Multi-level decks?
- Complex staircases?
- Balustrades?
- Large structural frames?
- Aluminium subframes?
- Plastic substructures?
- Composite decking systems?
Or do they mainly install simple, low-level decks?
There’s nothing wrong with specialising in simple installations.
But if your project is technically complicated, you want someone with experience in that type of construction.
I specialise in raised decking projects.
That doesn’t necessarily make me better than someone else.
It simply means that’s the type of work I spend a lot of my time doing.
And that’s the kind of experience I’d want you to look for when choosing an installer.
Did they actually listen to you?
This might be one of the biggest tests of all.
When someone comes to look at your project, do they simply measure the area, give you one price and leave?
Or do they actually ask questions?
Do they explain the different options?
Do they discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different materials?
Do they give you a choice of products at different quality and price levels?
Do they explain why they’ve recommended a particular subframe?
Do they discuss maintenance?
Do they explain how the product should be cleaned and looked after?
And most importantly:
Did they listen to what you wanted?
A good installer shouldn’t simply sell you the product they make the most money from.
They should be trying to find the right solution for your project.
A few red flags to think about
There are some things I’d personally investigate further.
“We can start next week.”
This isn’t automatically a red flag.
They may have had a cancellation or simply have a gap between projects.
But if you’re looking for a specialist installer and they always have immediate availability, I’d want to understand why.
A good contractor can be busy without being impossible to book.
One price, one product, no explanation.
If someone measures your garden, gives you a price and tells you nothing about what you’re actually buying, I’d ask more questions.
What is the board?
What’s underneath it?
Why has that subframe been chosen?
What warranty does the product have?
What maintenance is required?
What alternatives are available?
They only recommend one product.
Ask whether there are alternatives.
A good installer should be able to explain why one product may be better suited to your project than another.
They don’t ask what you want.
If the conversation is entirely about what they sell rather than what you want to achieve, that’s worth paying attention to.
Their portfolio doesn’t match your project.
If you’re looking for a large raised composite deck with complicated stairs and structural requirements, but they’ve never shown anything remotely similar, ask about their experience.
Ultimately, you’re not just buying decking
You’re buying someone’s knowledge, experience and ability to turn your idea into something that works.
The decking board is only one part of the finished project.
The quality of the design, subframe, installation, detailing, drainage, fixings, steps, balustrades and finishing can have just as much impact on the final result.
So don’t simply ask:
“How much is a deck?”
Ask:
“Who is the right person to build this particular deck?”
Take your time.
Do your research.
Ask questions.
And don’t be afraid to challenge the installer if you don’t understand something.
A good installer shouldn’t be annoyed by questions.
They should be happy to explain.
Because ultimately, the best decking project isn’t necessarily the cheapest one.
It’s the one that’s properly designed, correctly built and suited to the people who are going to use it.