Decking across Ayrshire — composite and timber decks built to last

For most Ayrshire gardens, composite is John’s default recommendation — and the reason is straightforward. The west coast of Scotland has significantly higher annual rainfall than most of the UK, regular overcast conditions that reduce drying time, and relatively mild winters that keep the ground moist for much of the year. Timber decking in those conditions requires annual cleaning, treating and oiling to stay looking reasonable and to maintain board integrity. Most homeowners do this once or twice after installation and then stop — and within 5-8 years the boards are grey, cracking and beginning to rot. Composite boards don’t need treating, don’t rot, don’t split and require no maintenance beyond an occasional brush or wash. The colour stays consistent and the boards perform the same in 15 years as on the day they went in. The upfront cost is higher than treated softwood, but over the lifetime of the deck it’s consistently better value in the Ayrshire climate. That said, John will not push composite if a customer genuinely wants real timber and is committed to maintaining it. For sheltered, lower-exposure gardens where the customer is prepared to maintain, treated softwood is a reasonable choice. For elevated, coastal-facing or high-exposure decks, he’ll strongly recommend against untreated softwood regardless of budget.

For most domestic decking in Scotland, planning permission is not required under Householder Permitted Development Rights — but there are conditions. The deck must not be raised more than 300mm above ground level, and the total area covered by decking and other outbuildings or extensions must not exceed 50% of the curtilage of the house. For raised decks over 300mm in height that are within 20m of a boundary, planning permission is required. In conservation areas, listed buildings and some new-build estates with article 4 directions, additional restrictions may apply. Building regulations (as distinct from planning permission) apply where a deck is more than 600mm above ground level — at that point, balustrade requirements become mandatory: minimum height, load-bearing specification and gap dimensions are all prescribed. John checks planning and building regulations requirements at the site visit for every raised deck. If planning permission is needed, he’ll tell you before any work is quoted so you can decide how to proceed — he won’t start a job that hasn’t been properly checked first.

Build time depends on size and complexity. A straightforward composite deck of 20-30m² on flat or near-flat ground typically takes 2-3 days. A raised deck with steps, balustrade and a more complex subframe would be 3-5 days. Larger projects involving significant ground preparation, drainage work or split-level designs can run to a week or more. John will give you a realistic timeline with the quote — he won’t quote a short timeframe and then extend once work has started. For longevity: composite decking properly installed on a treated subframe will typically last 25-30 years with no significant maintenance. The subframe is the lifespan-limiting component — John uses pre-treated structural timber and correct joist spacing to the board manufacturer’s specification, which is what protects it long-term. Treated softwood boards have a shorter lifespan (15-20 years with good maintenance, 8-12 without), but the subframe can be repaired without removing all the boards if caught early. The two factors that determine how long any deck lasts are correct foundation specification and correct ventilation under the boards — both of which John treats as non-negotiable.