Decking & Jetties

Decking that lasts

Decking, done well, is one of the most useful additions you can make to a garden. It bridges levels, extends the house outward, and creates a finished surface that’s warmer underfoot than stone and gentler on the eye than concrete. Done badly, it warps, splits, lifts and gathers algae within a few seasons.

We install decking across Bury St Edmunds and the wider Suffolk area in hardwood, softwood and composite — chosen to suit the budget, the look, and the practical realities of the site (shade, footfall, proximity to water).

Materials

• Hardwood (iroko, balau, ipé) — beautiful, dense, long-lived. Weathers to a soft silver-grey if left untreated, or holds a warm colour with regular oiling. Our usual recommendation for premium projects.
• Composite (woven and capped) — modern composites are excellent — low maintenance, splinter-free, won’t warp or rot. Best for high-traffic family gardens where maintenance time is short.
• Treated softwood — economical, practical, perfect for many gardens. Will need re-treating periodically.

Structure and fixings

The frame matters more than the boards. We use pressure-treated joists at proper centres, supported by concreted posts or laid bearers depending on the site. Boards are fixed with concealed fixings where we can — no exposed screw heads, no stains running down the timber, nothing to catch a bare foot.

For waterside decking and jetties we use marine-grade fixings throughout, with structural members specified for the loadings they’ll see. Our recent Lakeside Jetty project is a good example — a cantilevered hardwood deck over a freshly-dug pond, designed to weather to silver and hold its line for decades.

Decking near water — jetties and pond decking

Decking beside or over water is its own discipline. We’ve built jetties, pond walkways and lakeside platforms across Suffolk, including the Lakeside Sauna pathways project where stone-tiled paths cross stepping stones into the woodland beyond.

Waterside structures need careful attention to ground conditions, water levels (current and seasonal), and the gradual movement that all timber structures undergo. We allow for this in the design and the joinery.