Carpenters in Crawley, West Sussex
Decking in Crawley: a garden you can sit out in
A level deck off the back door, steps down to the lawn, or a tired fence replaced. Give the rough size and a local carpenter will call you back with a free quote.
- Softwood, hardwood and composite decking
- Built on a solid frame with drainage thought through
- Steps, handrails, fence panels and garden gates
- Free to ask, with typical UK prices on this page
A garden you look at more than you use
The lawn by the back door is a bog from October to April. The patio slabs have sunk and rock underfoot. There is nowhere flat to put a table, so the garden furniture stays in the shed.
A British summer is short. If the garden is not ready when the sun comes out, you lose the few good weekends you get.
A well-built deck gives you a dry, level floor outside. You can step onto it in your socks. The barbecue has a place and so do the chairs.
Three steps to a price
Say what needs doing
Put your name, number and area in the form, then describe the job in your own words. Rough sizes help, such as how many doors or how wide the alcove is.
Take a call from a local carpenter
A carpenter who works in your part of Crawley rings you at the time you picked. They ask a few questions and, for most jobs, arrange to come and measure up.
Decide in your own time
You get a price for the work. Ask for it in writing, compare it if you like, and only go ahead if you are happy. There is no charge for asking.
What goes into a deck that lasts
The boards are the part you see. The frame underneath decides how long the deck stays flat and firm.
A carpenter sets posts on concrete or on pads, then builds a frame of treated joists on top. The joists are spaced closely enough that the boards do not bounce. Boards are laid with a small gap between them so rain drains through, and the whole deck is given a slight fall away from the house.
Where a deck meets the house it should sit below the damp proof course, and air must be able to move under the frame. Timber that stays wet rots. Timber that can dry out lasts for many years.
Much of Crawley is built on heavy Wealden clay, which drains slowly. On clay it is worth asking how water will get away from under the deck, and what the posts will stand on.
Softwood, hardwood or composite boards
Treated softwood is the usual choice and the lowest in price. It needs cleaning each spring and a coat of oil or stain now and then.
Hardwood is denser and longer lasting, with a richer look. It costs more and is harder to work.
Composite boards are made from wood fibre and plastic. They do not need oiling and do not splinter, which suits bare feet. They cost more to buy.
MyJobQuote's decking guide gives installed prices of £40 to £73 a square metre for softwood, £62 to £110 for hardwood and £90 to £135 for composite. Our guide to hardwood and softwood explains the difference in more depth.
Typical decking and fencing prices
Tap a job to see the usual UK price range and the published guide it comes from.
These are typical UK guide prices from the published guides named, not a quote. What you pay depends on your home: the sizes, the timber and fittings you choose, and what the carpenter finds once work begins.
Every guide price in one table
| Job | UK guide price |
|---|---|
| Garden deckingBuilding a garden deck. The low figure is a small softwood deck and the high figure a larger hardwood one. The typical figure is the guide's average for composite boards. | £1,350 to £6,600typical about £3,000 |
| Wooden fence panelsFitting wooden fence panels along a 36 foot run. The low figure is for 4 foot panels and the high figure for 6 foot panels. | £1,450 to £1,850 |
These are typical UK guide prices from the published guides named, not a quote. What you pay depends on your home: the sizes, the timber and fittings you choose, and what the carpenter finds once work begins.
The published guides behind these figures
Planning rules for decks and fences
Most garden decks do not need planning permission. Under the national rules for England, you do need it if the deck stands more than 30cm above the ground, or if the deck and other outbuildings together would cover more than half the garden.
Fences have their own limits. In most cases a fence can be up to 2 metres high without permission, or 1 metre where it runs beside a road. Flats, listed buildings and some newer estates have tighter rules, so check with Crawley Borough Council if you are unsure.
Before a fence is replaced, find out which side is yours. Your deeds usually show it. A word with next door before work begins keeps things friendly.
Gardens in Crawley
Back gardens in Crawley's terraces and semis tend to be modest, and many are overlooked on three sides. A deck near the house with a fence or screen at the right height can turn a small plot into an outdoor room.
On newer estates such as Maidenbower and Forge Wood, gardens often slope or have a step down from the patio doors. A deck built level with the door sill takes the step away, which helps anyone unsteady on their feet. Small jobs such as a gate that drops or a rotten shed door can be done at the same visit.
Carpentry services in Crawley
- Door hanging and repairsInternal and front doors hung, eased, repaired and re-framed.
- Fitted wardrobes and storageWardrobes, alcove shelves and cupboards built to fit the room.
- Kitchen fittingUnits, worktops, doors and trims fitted level and true.
- Staircases and banistersNew balustrades, handrails, spindles, treads and whole flights.
- Skirting and architraveSkirting, architrave, window boards and second fix work.
- Flooring and loft boardingLaminate and wood floors laid, floorboards fixed, lofts boarded.
- Carpentry repairs and small jobsFrames, floorboards, loose rails, boxing in and other small jobs.
Where in and around Crawley
Carpentry help for every part of Crawley and these places close by.
- Town centre, Northgate, West Green and Southgate
- Three Bridges
- Pound Hill and Worth
- Maidenbower
- Furnace Green and Tilgate
- Broadfield and Bewbush
- Gossops Green and Ifield
- Langley Green and Forge Wood
- Horley
- Copthorne and Crawley Down
- Pease Pottage and Handcross
- Charlwood and Rusper
- Horsham
- East Grinstead
Good to know first
- No charge and no strings. Sending the form is free. Nobody can make you accept a price, and you can say no at any point.
- Four boxes to fill in. Name, phone number, area and the job. You are not asked for an email or the number of your house.
- Every price shows its source. The figures on this site are typical UK guide prices taken from published cost guides, each one named and linked. They give you a feel for the job. They do not replace a quote for your own home.
- Your details stay with the job. They are used to get your carpentry sorted and for nothing else. They are never sold on.
Common questions
How long does a timber deck last?
It depends on the timber, the frame and how well it is looked after. A deck that drains well, has air moving beneath it and is cleaned and treated will far outlast one that sits wet on the soil. Ask the carpenter what treatment the timber has had and what care it needs.
Is decking slippery when wet?
Any smooth outdoor surface can be slippery when algae builds up on it. A stiff brush and a deck cleaner each spring deals with most of it. Grooved or textured boards and composite boards with a grip finish also help.
What is the best time of year to build a deck?
A deck can be built in any dry spell. Many people ask in spring and want it ready for summer, so diaries fill up then. Asking in autumn or winter can mean a wider choice of dates.
Be ready for the first warm weekend
Everybody thinks about decking on the first sunny Saturday of the year, and that is when carpenters get busiest. An old deck with soft boards is also a hazard, as a foot can go straight through. Ask now and the work can be planned without a rush.
Give the rough size of the deck or fence and your part of Crawley. There is no charge for asking.