DeckingInstallersinBournemouth&Poole
A deck that stays flat because the frame underneath is built properly, not laid on bare ground and hoped for.
- Frame set on concrete footings, not just laid on the grass
- Falls and drainage built in underneath, so water doesn't sit and rot the joists
- 2-year workmanship warranty on every deck we build
- 2 yearsWarranty on work
- Owner-ledOne team throughout
- In-houseBy our own team
- CSCS · SSSTS · NVQ 2Qualified team
What A Deck Actually Needs Underneath It
A deck is a raised timber or composite platform built on a frame of posts and joists, rather than laid straight onto the ground like a patio. That frame is what decides whether it stays flat, so ours goes down onto concrete footings with the joists spaced and levels checked before a single board is fixed. It suits a garden where a full dig-out is not practical: over roots, on a slope, or wherever the ground beneath needs to be left undisturbed.
How We Build A Deck, In Three Steps
From the first visit to the last board, the frame underneath gets the same attention groundworkers give a footing.
- 01
Visit and Design
We come out, look at the ground, and work out the frame, footings and drainage before a single board is ordered.
02Build the Frame
Footings and joists go in first. That is the part that decides whether the deck stays flat.
- 03
Board and Finish
Boards go down last, cut and fixed tight, then a walk-round before we leave.
15+
Years in groundworks and landscaping
35 miles
Working radius from our Bournemouth base
Fixed price
Itemised and agreed before anything is dug
Footings
Dug for the frame, not laid on bare ground
Decking Against The Alternatives
Decking, artificial grass and a real lawn all do a similar job in a garden, but they behave differently once they are in. Here is an honest comparison.
| Decking | Artificial Grass | Real Turf | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upkeep | Occasional cleaning and re-oiling or staining | None once it is laid | Regular mowing, feeding and edging |
| Works on uneven or sloped ground | Built up on footings, so slopes and drops are not a problem | Needs the ground graded flat first | Needs the ground graded flat first |
| Underfoot when it is wet | Can be slippery in the wrong boards if not cleaned | Sheds water fast and stays usable in the rain | Can get muddy through a wet winter |
| Digging into the existing garden | Minimal. Built on footings, not a full dig-out | A full sub-base dig-out, similar to a patio | None. Laid onto prepared soil |
Swipe to see every column
What Is Included As Standard
The detail that decides whether a deck stays flat, not just how it looks on day one.
Concrete Deck Footings
Posts set on concrete footings dug to depth, not bolted to a slab or bagged into loose soil.
Joists Set Level and Spaced Correctly
The frame is checked for level before a board goes down, so the deck does not bounce or dip later.
Fixed, Itemised Quote
One price agreed before work starts, with nothing added once the job is under way.
2-Year Workmanship Warranty
If anything settles or shifts in the first two years, we come back and put it right.
Pricing
What a Deck Costs
Priced by the frame, not the boards
Most of what a deck costs is the frame and what the frame sits on. Ground that slopes needs more posts and deeper footings. A raised deck needs more again. Board choice matters, but it is the smaller half of the figure. We look at the ground, then quote the whole build in writing.
- What moves it: deck size, height off the ground, footings and board choice
- Footings and frame priced in, because that is what keeps it flat
- Written and itemised before anything is dug
How A New Deck Gets Built
The same groundworks discipline as a footing, applied to a garden project.
Visit and Measure
We look at the ground, the levels and how the deck will be used, then measure up properly.
Fixed-Price Quote
An itemised quote for the whole job, agreed before anything starts.
Footings and Frame
Concrete footings and joists go in first, checked for level, because that is what the finish sits on.
Board, Finish and Walk-Round
Boards go down, the site is cleared and swept, then a walk-round before we leave. We come back if anything settles.
Decking We Have Built
A selection of finished decks. Real jobs, photographed as they were left.
What Our Garden Customers Say
Feedback from customers we have carried out garden and landscaping work for across Bournemouth and Poole.
Michele Peters-Phillips
What a transformation Jack did to my back garden! I love it, and I couldn't be happier! 😊 All the old decking (that had gone rotten) was ripped up and removed, and replaced with new beautiful porcelain slabs with black edging bricks and railway sleepers. I spoke to Jack about what I needed and he has 100% delivered. There were some awkward bits we came across during the job, but I went with Jack's expert advice. I now have a garden that is not only safe for me and my dog, but is absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to spend time some time out there now 😊. Jack is so polite, friendly, professional and helpful; nothing is too much trouble! I would recommend Jack and Four Groundworks and Landscaping to everyone! I've even got Jack booked in to do some more work for me in the future. Thank you Jack for all your hard work! 😊
Deck Builds Around Bournemouth and Poole
A look at the kind of decking work we take on. More projects are added as they are completed.
What People Ask Before They Book
The practical worries that come up before work starts, answered plainly.
Will digging the footings wreck the lawn?
Footing holes are small, and we make good around them before we leave. It is nothing like the dig-out a patio needs.
How long is the garden out of use?
We agree a timescale at the visit, based on the size of the deck and the ground it is going on, and stick to it.
What if it moves or the boards start to gap?
Everything we build is covered by a two-year workmanship warranty. If it settles or shifts, we come back and put it right.
Decking, Planning and What Affects the Price
Most garden decking in England counts as permitted development and does not need planning permission, as long as it stays under the height limit and does not cover too much of the garden. The exceptions are real: decking close to a boundary is treated differently, and a listed building or a conservation area changes the picture. If in doubt, check before ordering materials, not after.
What a deck costs is driven by its size, how high it sits off the ground, the state of the existing garden, and whether it needs steps, a balustrade or built-in drainage. A raised deck on a slope takes more work in footings and joists than a low deck on level ground, and that is before boards are chosen. Every job here is priced after a look at the actual ground, not from a generic decking cost per square metre, because the ground is rarely generic.
The ground a deck sits on is not always what it looks like from the surface. A garden that seems level can have soft patches, old roots or made-up ground underneath, and that is exactly the layer a set of footings needs to get right. It is also why we look at the ground before quoting a price, rather than after.
Decking Questions, Answered
What we get asked most before a deck goes in.
How much does garden decking cost in Bournemouth?
It depends on the size, height and access of the job, and whether steps or a balustrade are needed. We price every deck after a look at the site rather than from a generic rate. Get in touch for a fixed, itemised quote.
Do I need planning permission for decking?
Most standard garden decking counts as permitted development and does not need planning permission, provided it stays under the height limit and does not cover too much of the garden. Boundaries, listed buildings and conservation areas can change that, so it is worth checking before ordering materials.
Will my deck sink or start to wobble?
Not if the frame underneath is built properly. Ours goes down on concrete footings with the joists checked for level, which is the part that decides whether a deck stays flat.
How long does a new deck take to build?
It depends on the size of the deck and the ground it is going on. We confirm the timescale at the visit and agree it before work starts.
Do you do the groundwork as well as build the deck?
Yes. Footings, levels and drainage are done by the same team that builds and finishes the deck, rather than being subbed out to someone else.
Are you on Checkatrade and Google?
Yes. We are an approved Checkatrade member and hold Google Guaranteed status. Behind that are over 15 years in groundworks and landscaping and the trade cards to go with it: CSCS, Street Works, SSSTS and NVQ Level 2.
Looking For Something Else For The Garden?
Decking is not the only way to finish a garden. Here is what else we build.
01Turf and Lawns
New turf laid on prepared ground, for a lawn that establishes properly.
Learn more
02Artificial Grass
A low-maintenance alternative to turf, laid on a proper sub-base so it actually drains.
Learn more
03Fencing and Gates
Boundary and garden fencing, set on posts that are actually set properly.
Learn more
Decking Installers Across Bournemouth and Poole
Based in Bournemouth, working across Dorset and Hampshire within reach.
Poole
Gardens backing onto the harbour and inland estates alike, where a raised deck often has to work with the view rather than against it.
Poole coverageChristchurch
Riverside plots and new-build gardens, where getting the footings level matters as much as the finish.
Christchurch coverageBroadstone
Established gardens with mature planting, where a deck usually has to fit around what is already there.
Broadstone coverageFerndown
Larger plots on the edge of town, where a bigger deck often goes in alongside other garden work.
Ferndown coverageGet a free quote
Tell us what you need and we'll come back with a price. No pressure, no hard sell.
Prefer to talk? Call Four Groundworks & Landscaping on 07886 075828
Decks as they come off site
Joist spacing and the fall away from the house decide how a deck ages. We post each one to our Instagram as it finishes.
See more on Instagram