How to fit composite decking?

Fitting composite decking is similar to installing timber decking, but there are some small differences in terms of the gaps you need to leave between boards and the screws you use. We’ll go through a quick guide to show you the process involved in fitting composite decking so you can decide whether it’s something you want to do yourself. Prepare the area Prepare the area according to our instructions in the previous FAQs – or you can use an existing patio or concrete base if you have one. Measure and mark out the area using chalk (if using an existing base). Assemble the decking frame Build the outer frame as we show in our FAQs above; if the area you have planned is longer than your joists, you’ll need to join them together. When you’ve built the frame and it’s secure, ensure that it’s at the right level for water runoff and add risers, slabs or treated off-cuts of timber at 500mm intervals if you need to. Add joists The spacing of your joists will depend on the type of design you have chosen for your composite decking. If you’re laying arched boards horizontally, you’ll need to space the joists 300mm apart. Lay your composite decking boards If you’ve not got an overhang or it’s a fixed deck, fit starter clips along the outside edge of the frame and secure with screws provided with the composite decking. If you are working with an overhang, put the first board into position not exceeding 25mm. If you’re adding a fascia, put an off-cut of board under the overhang so you know it’ll be flush with the fascia. Pre-drill all fixing points, measuring in 30mm from the edge of the board. Secure the board to the joist below with composite decking screws. Slide a hidden fastener clip in so it sits within the groove of the deck board. It needs to be in the centre of the joist to keep the boards secure and ensure an expansion gap of 6mm. Tighten the clips until just tight, and repeat so there’s a clip at every joist. Add the next board, ensuring that the fastener clips sit within the groove – make sure you don’t force it. Repeat step 3. Continue steps 3 and 4 until you’re at the final board, which you should secure in the same way as you did the first. Add a fascia board If you’re adding a fascia, measure in 40mm from each end and add two guide marks: one at 40mm from the top and the other at 40mm from the bottom. Connect the marks, then mark at 300mm intervals down the board. Drill pilot holes, then put the fascia board into position. You need to make sure that there’s a 40mm ventilation gap between the bottom of the fascia and the ground. Ask someone to hold the board level until you’ve finished securing it with composite decking screws; you can get colour-matched ones so they don’t look unsightly at the end of your decking. Not so sure you want to carry out such a big project yourself? Get quotes from decking pros who will be able to fit composite decking much more quickly and easily.

How to make steps for a deck?

Unless you built a ground-level deck, you’re going to need steps to go with it. Check Building Regulations to see if you need to install handrails as well. It’s good practice to: Have a step tread width of 900mm – if you don’t want them that wide, they should be no less than 760mm Add a central step riser to stairs wider than 900mm to prevent them buckling Add a step depth (the vertical distance between each step) of between 150 and 180mm if building your own riser, so the steps are at a comfortable depth Getting started To build your steps for the deck, you’ll need: Step treads (the actual step themselves) Step risers Coach screws Deck screws Saw Drill Make the steps for your deck Make sure the ground where you want to put your steps is level and firm. If it’s not, consider laying concrete or paving slabs to provide a secure surface for your steps to sit so they don’t sink. Grab some joist off-cuts and cut them to the same width as your step treads. Attach them to the step risers at the top and bottom using countersunk coach screws. Place the steps against the sub-frame of the deck; if you’ve put slabs down for support, make sure the steps sit in the middle of them. The longest edge of the stair riser should be on the slabs, and the short edge against the deck. Drill pilot holes through the step and sub-frame joist, then screw the step to the sub-frame with more coach screws. After drilling pilot holes, screw the treads into the risers at each end with deck screws. If you don’t want gaps between each stair, you can add joist off-cuts or deck boards. Measure the height and depth of the gap, then screw the off-cut or board into the step riser with two screws at each end.

Wooden Decking in Armagh

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Wooden Decking in Armagh

Wooden decking is an increasingly fashionable choice for providing outdoor seating areas in gardens. Due to the natural beauty of wood, they can be very beautiful areas which you can use year round with the help of external heating and lighting. Wooden decking is typically fitted in locations in front of patio or French doors where they can create a smooth transition between interior and exterior spaces. Wooden decking is available in virtually any size or shape to accommodate any area. Curved designs or large areas linked by pathways can produce a stunning effect. Wooden decking is reasonably quick to install and causes little disruption, particularly when compared to alternate options like patio or paving. It could even be installed over the top of a pre-existing patio. It is critical however to be sure that your wooden decking is structurally sound and capable of taking the weight of any furniture or plants that you would like to use on the decking. There is a selection of types of wood that can be used in wooden decking. Usually decking is made of hardwood, but there are softwoods available that fulfil the durability requirements. As hardwood decking will demand maintenance, which usually entails annual cleaning and staining for weather proofing, composite woods have become popular for use in wooden decking as they are more robust and require much less maintenance.

Average Wooden decking cost in Armagh

The typical cost of Wooden decking is £1500. Costs can change based upon the materials and the firm hired. The upper price range can be as high as £1725. The material costs are commonly approximately £375

Average price per Wooden decking job in 2024

Avg. price low	Avg. price low £1,125
Avg. price	Avg. price £1,500
Avg. price high	Avg. price high £1,725

£1900

£1425

£950

£475

£0

Prices based on actual Wooden decking costs for Armagh, as reported by local LeadsDoWork members.

Wooden decking installation cost in Armagh 2024

	Labour cost	£1,050
	Material cost	£375
	Waste removal	£75

Time frame: 1-4 days

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Armagh

Armagh is the county town of County Armagh in Northern Ireland. It is the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland-- the seat of the Archbishops of Armagh, the Primates of All Ireland for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland. In the early period, the town and its neighbouring Navan Fort, Eamhain Mhacha, was among the famous royal capitals of pagan Gaelic Ireland. Despite being categorised as a medium-sized town, Armagh was bestowed city status in 1994 and Lord Mayoralty status in 2012, both by Queen Elizabeth II. As per the permanent resident population of 14,749 individuals recorded at the time of the 2011 Census, it is the least populated city in Northern Ireland and also the fourth smallest in the UK. Armagh has long been a centre of learning, and is often described as 'the city of saints and scholars'. The academic custom continued over the centuries, with the establishment of the Royal School in 1608 and the Armagh Observatory in 1790 as vivid signs of this well-known reputation. To deal with the problem of a decreasing city centre and to deal with the issues of local individuals, Armagh City and District Council chose to upgrade the surfaces and overall visual appeal of the primary shopping locations. It will restore the centre of Armagh, transforming it into a high-quality pedestrianised environment. In addition to new street layouts, the look of the city centre is intended to be complemented by updated lighting, paving, seating, bins and greenery. For all of your house renovations, make sure to work with trustworthy experts in Armagh to make certain of quality.

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FAQs

Fitting composite decking is similar to installing timber decking, but there are some small differences in terms of the gaps you need to leave between boards and the screws you use. We’ll go through a quick guide to show you the process involved in fitting composite decking so you can decide whether it’s something you want to do yourself. Prepare the area Prepare the area according to our instructions in the previous FAQs – or you can use an existing patio or concrete base if you have one. Measure and mark out the area using chalk (if using an existing base). Assemble the decking frame Build the outer frame as we show in our FAQs above; if the area you have planned is longer than your joists, you’ll need to join them together. When you’ve built the frame and it’s secure, ensure that it’s at the right level for water runoff and add risers, slabs or treated off-cuts of timber at 500mm intervals if you need to. Add joists The spacing of your joists will depend on the type of design you have chosen for your composite decking. If you’re laying arched boards horizontally, you’ll need to space the joists 300mm apart. Lay your composite decking boards

If you’ve not got an overhang or it’s a fixed deck, fit starter clips along the outside edge of the frame and secure with screws provided with the composite decking. If you are working with an overhang, put the first board into position not exceeding 25mm. If you’re adding a fascia, put an off-cut of board under the overhang so you know it’ll be flush with the fascia.
Pre-drill all fixing points, measuring in 30mm from the edge of the board. Secure the board to the joist below with composite decking screws.
Slide a hidden fastener clip in so it sits within the groove of the deck board. It needs to be in the centre of the joist to keep the boards secure and ensure an expansion gap of 6mm. Tighten the clips until just tight, and repeat so there’s a clip at every joist.
Add the next board, ensuring that the fastener clips sit within the groove – make sure you don’t force it. Repeat step 3.
Continue steps 3 and 4 until you’re at the final board, which you should secure in the same way as you did the first.

Add a fascia board If you’re adding a fascia, measure in 40mm from each end and add two guide marks: one at 40mm from the top and the other at 40mm from the bottom. Connect the marks, then mark at 300mm intervals down the board. Drill pilot holes, then put the fascia board into position. You need to make sure that there’s a 40mm ventilation gap between the bottom of the fascia and the ground. Ask someone to hold the board level until you’ve finished securing it with composite decking screws; you can get colour-matched ones so they don’t look unsightly at the end of your decking. Not so sure you want to carry out such a big project yourself? Get quotes from decking pros who will be able to fit composite decking much more quickly and easily.

If your deck isn’t going to be flat to the ground, it’s a good idea to have some kind of balustrade to avoid any tripping. If the gap between the deck and the ground is less than 600mm, use a 900mm balustrade. If it’s higher than 600mm, the balustrade should be 1100mm tall.

Unless you built a ground-level deck, you’re going to need steps to go with it. Check Building Regulations to see if you need to install handrails as well. It’s good practice to:

Have a step tread width of 900mm – if you don’t want them that wide, they should be no less than 760mm
Add a central step riser to stairs wider than 900mm to prevent them buckling
Add a step depth (the vertical distance between each step) of between 150 and 180mm if building your own riser, so the steps are at a comfortable depth

Getting started To build your steps for the deck, you’ll need:

Step treads (the actual step themselves)
Step risers
Coach screws
Deck screws
Saw
Drill

Make the steps for your deck

Make sure the ground where you want to put your steps is level and firm. If it’s not, consider laying concrete or paving slabs to provide a secure surface for your steps to sit so they don’t sink.
Grab some joist off-cuts and cut them to the same width as your step treads. Attach them to the step risers at the top and bottom using countersunk coach screws.
Place the steps against the sub-frame of the deck; if you’ve put slabs down for support, make sure the steps sit in the middle of them. The longest edge of the stair riser should be on the slabs, and the short edge against the deck. Drill pilot holes through the step and sub-frame joist, then screw the step to the sub-frame with more coach screws.
After drilling pilot holes, screw the treads into the risers at each end with deck screws.
If you don’t want gaps between each stair, you can add joist off-cuts or deck boards. Measure the height and depth of the gap, then screw the off-cut or board into the step riser with two screws at each end.

Usually, slipperiness is caused by algae or dirt on top of the deck or terrace. A full cleaning treatment should restore the natural grip of the wood or stone. If slipperiness is a persistent problem, consider installing grip mats in high traffic areas of the deck.

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Armagh Wooden decking installers are rated 5 out of 5 based on 1 reviews of 8 pros.

The LeadsDoWork rating and review is an overall rating based on verified reviews and feedback from the customers with Wooden decking projects that have been connected with Wooden decking pros to help them. All Wooden decking contractors All Armagh Wooden decking contractors

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