Walk into a builders’ merchant and you will find rows of joist hangers that look reassuringly familiar. They are folded from metal, punched with fixing holes and often described as galvanised. Some listings even mention decking but not all joist hangers are for outdoor decking.It would be easy to pick the size that fits your … Read more
Free UK Installer Days | Autumn 2026 Excursion is going on the road. Four cities. One seriously practical day. Decking, fixings, subframes and railing brought together for installers who want to build better decks. Reserve a free place Explore Excursion Decking Network News The UK decking industry does not need another day spent watching polished … Read more
Decking can work in almost any garden, but the same decking design will not work everywhere. A level garden beside a modern extension requires a different response from a steep site, a shaded courtyard or a garden surrounded by mature trees. Each may suit decking exceptionally well, provided the design responds to the conditions. Choosing … Read more
Before you buy composite decking, it is worth looking beyond the colour, price and headline warranty. Manufacturers and suppliers often make strong claims about British production, low maintenance, fading, durability and long-term protection. These claims may be accurate; they may not be! Homeowners should still ask what published information supports them. Where is the decking … Read more
Pro’s Say NO to junk decking Bad decking damages good decking because clients judge the whole category by the failures they experience. That may sound uncomfortable, although most people in the industry know it already. Proper decking has never offered more to garden design, landscape construction and outdoor living. Yet poor products, weak specification and … Read more
Decking business overhead costs are much more than you can possibly imagine. Until you calculate them thoroughy that is. Many decking contractors know the price of boards, subframes, screws, and labour. Far fewer know the true cost of keeping the business alive. That is where problems begin. A company can stay busy, turn over respectable … Read more
Most decking businesses do not fail because the installer lacks skill. More often, they lose direction because the business itself lacks structure. The work keeps coming in, the phone still rings, and the diary stays busy. However, the company drifts. It reacts instead of leading. It takes jobs without a clear standard. It grows without … Read more
Why Most Decks Fail Early (and How to Prevent It) Timber decking does not fail by accident. It fails through neglect, poor preparation, or the wrong products applied at the wrong time. That may sound blunt. However, it reflects what experienced contractors see repeatedly across the UK. Homeowners invest thousands in a deck, yet they … Read more
Running a decking business is not the same as being good at building decks. That may sound blunt. However, it is true. Many installers work hard, stay busy, and still feel under pressure. Usually, the weakness is not on site. More often, it sits behind the tools. Pricing lacks structure, overheads remain unclear, staffing becomes … 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