Hardwood and softwood timber decking across Cheshire

There is nothing quite like real timber underfoot. It is warmer than composite in the morning, it has grain and character that no manufactured board fully replicates, and it ages into something that looks like it belongs in a garden rather than something that was delivered to one. For period properties in Knutsford, Nantwich and Chester, and for gardens where planting is the star of the show, timber is often the right answer.

It is also the material most commonly built badly. A timber deck lives or dies by three details: whether the frame is kept out of ground contact, whether the void beneath can breathe, and whether every cut end was sealed before it went down. Ignore those and even expensive hardwood will disappoint. Get them right and a timber deck will serve for well over a decade in the Cheshire climate.

Pressure-treated softwood decking

High-grade, kiln-dried redwood treated to the correct use class is the value option, and built properly it performs well. We insist on kiln-dried stock rather than the wet, freshly treated timber that many merchants supply, because wet boards shrink and twist within weeks of installation and leave you with cupped boards and widening gaps. Every cut, notch and drilled hole is re-treated with end-grain preservative on site — a step that is skipped constantly and is one of the most common causes of early rot.

Hardwood decking

Dense tropical hardwoods such as balau and ipe, and European options like oak, offer extraordinary durability, natural resistance to insect and fungal attack, and a surface that resists wear far better than softwood. They are heavier to work, require pre-drilling for every fixing, and cost considerably more — but on a deck that will be walked on daily for twenty-five years, the maths often works. We source FSC-certified stock only.

Thermally modified timber

Thermal modification heats timber in a low-oxygen kiln, changing its cell structure so it absorbs far less moisture. The result is a board with hardwood-like stability and durability from a sustainable European species, at a price between softwood and tropical hardwood. It is our usual recommendation where a client wants natural timber around large bi-fold openings, because it barely moves and the flush threshold detail stays crisp.

How we build a timber deck

Foundations first: pads dug to firm bearing and sized to the load, with membrane and clean aggregate to break the capillary path from wet soil. Then a pressure-treated frame at 400mm joist centres, every joist taped along the top edge, all bearers held clear of ground contact, and the whole structure levelled and checked in both directions. Boards are fixed with stainless screws — pre-drilled in hardwood — at consistent gaps for drainage and movement, with the perimeter finished in a solid fascia and mitred corners rather than exposed end grain.

Ventilation is not optional

The single biggest difference between a fifteen-year timber deck and a six-year one is airflow. Boxing a deck in solid, laying it directly onto soil, or building it tight against a wall traps moisture and guarantees rot. We keep the void open on at least two sides, use slatted skirts rather than solid ones, keep a ventilation gap at wall junctions, and hold the finished surface at least 150mm below the damp proof course.

Maintaining a timber deck in Cheshire

Timber decks need an annual routine, and we are upfront about that before you commit. In autumn, clear leaves from the surface and from the void beneath — decomposing leaf litter holds moisture directly against the frame. In spring, wash the boards with a proper deck cleaner rather than a harsh pressure washer that can raise the grain, allow several dry days, then oil or treat. If you would rather not do that each year, composite decking is the honest alternative, or we can take it on through our annual maintenance service.

Timber decking costs

Installed softwood decking generally starts around £110–£140 per m², thermally modified timber sits around £170–£220 per m², and hardwood typically runs £200–£300 per m² depending on species and complexity. Groundworks, steps, balustrade and lighting are priced separately and itemised. See the full price guide or request a fixed quote. For sloping gardens, also read about raised decking, and check areas we cover for your town.