Decking Q

Be careful; you need planning permission if the decking is more than

Colin Bignell

The wider the boards the fewer you need, the fewer you have to cut & screw down. Go as wide as possible.

Wickes boards are not much good. The square grooves are meant to be anti cupping kerfs - but most people lay that face up. They fill with muck.

Have a look here

If you post the size's of the deck I'll run them through my spreadsheet & give you accurate quantities.

You do indeed - and you can't deck more than 50% of the garden.

Why ? ... planning not normally needed for a non-permanent structure at least 5m from the house.

I built an 18m x 8m boat shed ... no planning needed .. non-habitable. (this did need buildings regs though)

no problem there have 1/2 acre garden so well under

I found these guidelines on Planning for decking ... it advises planning is needed when:

Where the deck is situated within 20 metres of a highway. Where the deck platform is more than 300mm (1 ft) from the ground (effective 1 October 2008). If the structure would affect the amenity value or privacy of neighbouring properties. If the deck is attached to a listed building or situated in a conservation area or National Park.

I don't fall foul of any of these ... so I'll not bother with planning

That is known as deemed approval and decking more than 30cm from the ground is one of the things that is specifically excluded from deemed approval.

Colin Bignell

I went and looked at Jewson .. they had some 'very rough' 32 x 150 but were not quoting finished size .. which was 29 x 143

They also had 38 x 125 (finished as 32 x 115)

In the end I bought at Wickes even with my trade account at Jewson Wickes came in way more than £110 cheaper.

Now just have to find a way to pick it up to save £30 delivery charge :-) .... mainly 4.8m lengths so trailer is not an option.