Cost guide
Decking prices in Cheshire — an honest 2026 cost guide
Most decking companies will not publish prices, which makes it very hard to know whether a quote is fair. We would rather be upfront. The figures below are the ranges we actually work within across Cheshire, including materials, labour, foundations and waste removal. They are ranges rather than fixed numbers because the cost of a deck is driven as much by what is under it as by what is on top.
What drives the price of a deck
Four things move a quote significantly. First, level change: a deck on flat ground needs far less structure than one holding a level platform over a metre of fall. Second, groundworks: breaking out an old concrete patio, digging through made ground, or installing a land drain all add real cost. Third, access: a city-centre terrace with no side gate means every board and bag of aggregate is carried through the house, which adds labour hours. Fourth, extras — steps, balustrade, lighting, screens and hot tub bays are where budgets typically grow.
| Item | Typical installed cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated softwood, ground level | £110 – £140 per m² | Best value; annual clean and treat needed |
| Thermally modified timber | £170 – £220 per m² | Very stable, natural material, low movement |
| Hardwood (balau / oak) | £200 – £300 per m² | 25+ year lifespan, premium finish |
| Capped composite, ground level | £180 – £260 per m² | 20–25 year board warranty, minimal upkeep |
| Raised composite deck with balustrade | £230 – £330 per m² | Includes posts, bracing, guarding, steps |
| Hot tub reinforced bay | £600 – £1,400 | Independent pads, doubled joists, service panels |
| Step run (per flight) | £350 – £900 | Depends on width, rise and material |
| Balustrade (per linear metre) | £90 – £320 | Slatted, wire or frameless glass |
| Low-voltage deck lighting | £280 – £750 | Recessed tread and deck lights, wired in build |
| Old patio or deck removal | £25 – £55 per m² | Break out, load and licensed disposal |
Worked examples from recent Cheshire projects
Small softwood deck, 16m², Winsford
Level garden, existing lawn, no removal required, two-tread step and a boundary screen. Foundations dug to firm bearing, treated frame at 400mm centres, kiln-dried redwood boards. Around £2,400 including waste removal and a full clean-down.
Family composite deck, 28m², Warrington
Old crazy paving broken out and removed, 300mm level change resolved with a wide full-width step, capped composite boards, slatted skirt and recessed step lighting. Around £7,600 all in.
Raised deck with balustrade, 30m², Macclesfield
Sloping garden with a 900mm fall, posted substructure with bracing, 1100mm slatted balustrade, a five-tread flight down to lawn, under-deck storage and drainage channels. Around £11,800.
Ways to keep costs sensible
Keep the shape simple — rectangles cost less than complex outlines. Choose one level rather than three unless the garden genuinely needs it. Spend on the substructure before you spend on the boards, because the frame determines lifespan. And if budget is tight, a well-built softwood deck on proper foundations beats a composite deck on inadequate ones every time. Compare composite and timber, or request a fixed written quote.
Want an exact figure for your garden?
Estimates are useful; a survey is accurate. Book a free site visit and we'll send a fixed, itemised written quotation.