At first glance, Trade Experience can mean Expert Witness work can look like a sensible next step for an experienced landscaper. The work appears less physical, while the fees can look attractive. Many in the trade assume that years on the tools are enough to carry someone into reporting for disputes. That assumption often causes … Read more
A decking dispute rarely begins with one dramatic failure. Do you need decking dispute advice? More often, it starts quietly. A homeowner notices movement underfoot. Rainwater sits where it should run away. Board gaps look inconsistent. Steps feel awkward. A balustrade moves more than it should. The installer insists the work is acceptable. The client … Read more
Questions to ask before you deck As the decking season gets going again, it is worth revisiting a few of the rules that still catch people out. The same questions come up every year. Does it need planning permission? Does it need a balustrade? Can a homeowner sign that requirement away? Is the frame timber … Read more
Garden decking can transform a space. It can add function, structure, and style to a garden. However, when it is designed badly or built poorly, it can also become the source of serious decking court disputes. Over the years, I have seen this pattern time and again. Since the mid 2000s, I have consulted on … Read more
IT is best to avoid a decking dispute. A decking dispute rarely begins on the day the argument starts. More often, it begins much earlier. It begins when assumptions replace detail, when price replaces planning, and when nobody writes down what is actually being built. That is the real problem. Too many garden decking projects … Read more
What are you framing your deck with? In decking, some phrases get used far too casually. “Pressure treated.” “Suitable for outside.” “UC4 timber for framing”, “It will be fine.” Those words sound reassuring. However, they often hide a lack of detail. Many installers still buy structural timber on trust alone. That is where problems start. … Read more
Decking knowledge quietly changes the way good businesses operate If you work in landscaping or garden design, you already know that decking has changed. Clients no longer want “just a deck”. They want reassurance, longevity, and confidence that the structure will still perform years from now. Because of that shift, the difference between a good … Read more
The decking ban at a glance There’s no blanket UK ban on fake grass or other synthetic landscaping materials and certainly not a ban on composite decking. Some professional bodies urge caution or campaign against plastic grass. I support evidence-led, site-specific choices: permeable, nature-positive first; synthetics only where they solve a real problem and meet durability, drainage … Read more
What’s the best decking surface Smooth decking vs grooved decking is “The” most common question when choosing the right deck surface for your garden. Grooved, ribbed or smooth decking? All styles have their champions, but they serve very different purposes. Let’s explore the differences, advantages, and drawbacks. We’ll look at slip resistance, aesthetics, maintenance, installation, … Read more
Independent Expert for Decking This is what you need to do if you think your garden landscaping or decking project hasn’t been installed correctly. “My garden floods, my patio holds water, my wall is not level, the render is coming off the wall, the gaps in my decking are massive, my deck moves when I … Read more