Ipe is one of the densest and most durable hardwoods used for exterior decking. When it has been correctly specified, installed and maintained, it can provide a particularly attractive and long-lasting deck surface. White blotches on Ipe decking can be particularly alarming, especially where the deck is new, recently restored or has only just been … 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
The first Decking Day was created to do far more than fill a room with products, banners and familiar industry faces. It was created to start a conversation that the UK decking industry has needed for many years. From the moment people arrived at Horticulture House, it was clear that this was not going to … 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
Decking Day at horticulture House is the first of its kind hosted by The Decking Network. As a professional you are invited to join us on the 3rd of July 2026. From across the landscape, garden design and decking industry we invite you to register your interest in Decking Day at Horticulture House, Didcot, Oxfordshire. … Read more
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
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
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