DECKING SHEFFIELD

This is one of the questions we get asked most, and the honest answer is: it depends more on maintenance than the wood itself. A well-maintained softwood deck — treated with a quality decking oil or stain every two to three years — will typically give you around 15 years before you're looking at a full replacement. Hardwood options like Balau or Ipe last considerably longer, but the cost difference is significant and they're less commonly installed around Sheffield.

What tends to shorten that lifespan in our experience is the Sheffield climate specifically. We get a fair amount of rainfall and the ground-level moisture can be an issue, particularly in gardens that don't drain well or are heavily shaded. North-facing gardens in areas like Walkley or Crookes can see moss and algae build-up happen faster than you'd expect, which accelerates surface degradation if it's left untreated. Staying on top of that — a good scrub once a year and a fresh coat of treatment when needed — makes a noticeable difference to how long your deck looks and performs.

Ifs can be quite different depending on the composite decking selected and whether or not you are having a completely new matching composite decking frame - which is mostly aluminium. 

If we are simply replacing the boards on an existing timber frame the installation will be very similar to timber. For a number of composite decking systems special clips are used to attached the composite deck boards to the frame, which are much more discrete than screws so this is a very different installation process.

Not always, which is something a lot of people don't realise when they get in touch. The visual signs are the obvious starting point — boards that are visibly warped, cracked, or pulling away from fixings, balustrades that move when you lean on them, or significant gaps opening up between boards. Any of these warrant a closer look.

The part most people overlook is the structure underneath. Before any decking project we'll always lift a board or two to check the joists and posts. If the frame is solid, you might only need to replace the surface boards — that's a significantly cheaper job and one we do regularly across Sheffield. Where the subframe has softened through water ingress or ground contact, a full replacement is the safer route. There's no point fitting new boards over a frame that's going to give way in a couple of years.

One thing worth noting: if your existing timber frame is still sound but your boards are looking tired, switching to composite deck boards is actually a cost-effective way to move to a lower-maintenance surface without the full outlay of a complete rebuild.

We offer both — but with a caveat on the fit-only route that's worth being upfront about. As a rule, the jobs that run smoothest are supply and fit, where we take responsibility for sourcing the right materials, quantities, and fixings from the start. When there are material shortages or a specific board profile gets discontinued mid-project (which does happen with some composite ranges), we deal with that directly. You don't have to.

If you've already purchased boards and want fitting only, we're happy to quote for that. Just be aware that if there are shortages or compatibility issues with fixings and clips, that can affect the timeline and occasionally the finish. We'll always flag anything like that upfront rather than discover it halfway through an installation.

Decking costs in Sheffield vary quite a bit depending on the size, the material you choose, and what the ground conditions are like. As a rough guide, timber decking tends to start from around £100–£150 per square metre supply and fitted for standard softwood, while composite decking typically runs from £150–£250+ per square metre depending on the board profile and subframe requirements.

Those figures shift based on site-specific factors. A lot of Sheffield gardens — particularly the older terrace properties in areas like Heeley, Hillsborough, or Sharrow — have sloped or unlevelled ground that requires more work on the subframe to get a flat, stable surface. That groundwork adds time and materials. Accessibility also matters; some back yards in the city centre are genuinely awkward to get materials into, which affects the labour involved.

The most straightforward thing to do is send us some photos and measurements through the quote form — we can usually give a provisional figure within 24 hours without needing to visit first.

It's one of the main reasons we've seen demand for composite grow steadily over the past few years. Sheffield weather is genuinely variable — wet winters, occasional frost, and summers that can swing between dry spells and heavy rain within the same week. Composite decking handles that cycle better than timber in most cases.

The key properties are that good quality composite boards don't absorb water the way timber does, which means they're less susceptible to the swelling, splitting, and rot that tends to shorten a timber deck's lifespan. Most composite boards have a reasonable frost resistance, and the better-quality products come with anti-slip surfaces that maintain grip even when wet — which matters if you're using your decking through autumn and winter.

What composite doesn't do well is extreme prolonged sun exposure — some boards can fade slightly over time in very exposed south-facing positions, though most reputable brands now treat for UV as standard. If you're planning decking for a particularly sunny spot, it's worth discussing board choice with us, as some profiles hold their colour better than others over 10–15 years.

In most cases, no — but there are situations where you do, and it's worth being aware of them before you start. Generally, garden decking falls under permitted development rights, meaning you can install it without applying to Sheffield City Council as long as it doesn't exceed 30cm in height above the existing ground level.

Where it gets more complicated is if you're on a raised plot (fairly common on Sheffield's hillside streets), in a conservation area, or if your property is listed. Some areas around Ranmoor, Fulwood, and parts of the Upper Don Valley have additional planning restrictions that are easy to overlook. If your garden is at all elevated or your property has any listed building status, it's always better to check directly with the council before work begins.

We'd always rather spend five minutes flagging a potential issue early than have a customer find out after the fact. If there's any doubt, we'll advise you to check before we start.

They often get confused because both are marketed as low-maintenance alternatives to timber, but they're quite different in how they look and perform. Composite decking is made from a blend of wood fibre and recycled plastic — it has a more natural, wood-like appearance and tends to feel more substantial underfoot. UPVC decking is entirely plastic-based, which makes it genuinely maintenance-free but can look less natural and feel slightly hollow compared to composite.

For most Sheffield homeowners, composite is the more popular choice when the priority is appearance combined with low maintenance. UPVC tends to work well in very specific situations — narrow side passages, areas with poor drainage where even composite might struggle, or projects where absolute minimum maintenance is the overriding concern regardless of aesthetics.

The honest answer is that neither is universally better — it comes down to your garden, your budget, and what you're trying to achieve with the space. We install both and we'll tell you which we'd lean towards for your specific situation rather than just defaulting to whatever's on offer.

For a straightforward deck in the 20–40 square metre range — which covers the majority of back garden projects we do around Sheffield — you're typically looking at two to three days on site. That accounts for groundwork, the subframe, and fitting the boards and any finishing details like balustrades or fascia boards.

More complex jobs — split-level decking, raised structures with steps, or anything that involves significant groundwork on a sloped garden — can run to four or five days. Sheffield gardens aren't always the most straightforward in terms of levels and access, and we'd rather build in enough time to do the job properly than rush the groundwork to hit a shorter schedule.

We'll always give you a clear timeline when we quote. If the job runs ahead of schedule, great — but we won't underquote the time just to win the work and then overrun.