Timber Deckingin Sidmouth, Exeter& Across East Devon
New timber decks and full deck rebuilds, built on a solid, level sub-frame with treated timber, correct spacing and proper drainage, so the deck still feels tight underfoot years down the line.
Free site survey within 7 days · Treated timber sub-frames · 5-year workmanship guarantee on full installs
The work, in plain English.
What it is
Design, supply and installation of timber decking, including sub-frame build, board laying, edge trims and step or transition details. Full rebuilds of tired, rotten or unsafe existing decks are also covered, stripping back to a solid base and starting again properly.
Who it's for
Homeowners across Sidmouth, Exeter and East Devon who want a usable outdoor floor, whether that's a fresh deck for a new garden layout or a full rebuild of a sagging, mossy deck that's past its best.
When you need it
When an existing deck is bouncy, split, slippery or clearly rotten from below, when a garden re-landscape needs a proper outdoor floor, or when a house extension leaves a level change that a deck can bridge cleanly.
Why a specialist
The finished deck boards are the easy bit. What decides whether a deck lasts five years or twenty is the sub-frame: treated timber, correctly spaced joists, adequate ventilation underneath and drainage that doesn't trap water against the boards.
Small problems compound quickly.
A deck is one of the few parts of a house that sits outdoors, in contact with damp ground, under constant weathering. Cut corners on the sub-frame and the whole deck goes with it.
- An under-specified sub-frame flexes underfoot, screws work loose, boards cup and the whole deck begins to feel unsafe.
- Untreated or poorly-treated timber in contact with damp ground rots from underneath, often invisibly, until a board finally gives way.
- Boards laid tight with no expansion gap trap water and debris, accelerating rot and turning the deck slick with algae.
- No ventilation under the deck means damp air sits against the joists all year, shortening the life of every timber in the frame.
- Steps and transitions built as an afterthought are the first places to fail, and the most likely spots for a trip or a fall.
Where DIY and general trades come unstuck.
- 01Laying new boards straight over an old, tired sub-frame to save time, the frame fails first and takes the new boards with it.
- 02Buying whatever decking is cheapest at the DIY shed without checking the treatment grade or the board profile.
- 03Skipping a weed membrane and drainage layer under the deck, then wondering why plants push through and the ground stays wet.
- 04Fixing boards with the wrong screws, plain steel screws stain the timber and corrode within a couple of winters.
Five steps from enquiry to signed-off job.
Free site survey
Alex visits within 7 days, checks the ground, levels, drainage, access and any existing deck, and talks through board options, layout and step details.
Clear written quote
Fixed price for the deck, itemising sub-frame, boards, fixings, trims and any strip-out of the existing deck.
Strip-out & base prep
Old decking removed where needed, ground cleared, weed membrane and support pads set out, and the base prepared level and drained.
Sub-frame & boards
Treated timber sub-frame built square and level with correct joist spacing, then boards laid with proper expansion gaps and stainless or coated fixings.
Sign-off & guarantee
Deck walked through, edges trimmed, site left tidy and waste taken away. Full installations carry the 5-year workmanship guarantee.
What you actually get.
A sub-frame built to last
Treated timber, correctly-spaced joists and solid support points, the part you don't see is the part that decides the deck's lifespan.
Boards that stay tight
Correct expansion gaps, aligned fixings and end trims that keep the deck feeling solid underfoot.
Proper drainage
Ground membrane and a ventilated sub-frame so water runs away instead of sitting against the timber.
Safe steps and edges
Step risers, treads and edge trims built into the design from the start, not tacked on at the end.
Coastal-ready fixings
Stainless or corrosion-resistant fixings appropriate to the East Devon climate, including exposure closer to the coast.
Backed for 5 years
Full installs carry the 5-year workmanship guarantee.
The specifics, materials, methods, and where each option fits.
Decking is a system, boards on top of a sub-frame on top of a base, and the weakest layer decides the outcome. Each layer is specified properly.
Sub-frame
Treated softwood joists sized and spaced for the board type and expected load, sitting on level, drained support points rather than direct on soil.
Boards
Grooved or smooth treated softwood decking laid with consistent expansion gaps, staggered joints where boards meet, and clean edge trims to finish.
Fixings
Corrosion-resistant screws chosen to suit exposure, including coastal locations. Correct pilot-hole practice on hardwood boards to stop splitting at the ends.
Ground & drainage
Ground membrane over cleared, levelled ground to suppress weeds, with clearance under the frame so air can move and water can drain, not pool.
Steps and transitions
Step risers and treads built as part of the design so heights are consistent and edges are safe. Level changes into paths, patios or thresholds detailed in properly.
Rebuilds
For existing decks, strip-out down to a solid base is often the honest answer, laying new boards over a failing frame just wastes the new boards.
Straight answers before you enquire.
Can you rebuild an existing deck rather than start from scratch?▾
Yes. Full rebuilds are common, tired boards and a failing sub-frame stripped out, the base re-prepared, and a new deck built properly on top. Alex will flag at survey whether any of the existing structure is worth keeping.
How long does a typical deck take?▾
Most domestic decks are a few days to a week on site, depending on size, ground conditions, step details and whether an existing deck needs to be stripped out first.
Do you use hardwood or softwood boards?▾
Both are available. Treated softwood is the standard, cost-effective choice for most gardens; hardwood is offered where a longer-lifespan, higher-end finish is wanted. Alex will talk through the trade-offs at survey.
Will the deck be slippery in winter?▾
All timber decks pick up some algae in shaded, damp spots over winter. Grooved boards and proper drainage under the deck help, along with routine cleaning. Anti-slip strips can also be added at steps for extra grip.
How quickly can I get a quote?▾
Quotes are free. Alex books your site survey in and completes it within 7 days of your enquiry: often faster. You get a clear written quote afterwards, either as a fixed price or a day rate, whichever suits the job.
How soon can the work start once I accept?▾
Most jobs are booked in within a month of quote acceptance, depending on the size of the work and the current schedule. Smaller jobs often slot in sooner, call Alex directly to check current availability.
Is the work guaranteed?▾
Yes. Full installations completed from start to finish by AJW Carpentry, where AJW supplies all the materials, carry a 5-year workmanship guarantee. The guarantee does not apply to repair or remedial work, fit-only jobs where you supply the materials, or damage caused by misuse or third-party alterations after completion.
How do I pay?▾
Bank transfer or cash. There is no card machine on site. Pricing is agreed up front, fixed price or day rate, so there are no surprise line items when the job is finished.
Which areas do you cover?▾
AJW Carpentry covers Sidmouth, Exeter, Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Seaton, Honiton, Newton Poppleford, Woodbury and Ottery St Mary. If you are just outside those areas, still get in touch, we often travel a short distance further for the right job.
Are you insured?▾
Yes. AJW Carpentry holds public liability insurance up to £2,000,000, so your home and belongings are properly covered while we work.
Other work often done at the same time.
Timber Sheds
Timber sheds, garages and garden buildings built or installed to spec, with careful attention to the base, the fixings and the weather-proofing, so the building is still standing straight and dry in ten years' time.
Learn moreGeneral Carpentry
Second-fix work, repairs and one-off timber jobs across your home, done cleanly, finished properly, and priced clearly. The job list that always seems to grow, finally sorted.
Learn moreSkirting Boards & Architrave
Crisp, mitre-perfect skirting and architrave that finish a room properly, tight joints, level runs, scribed to uneven walls and floors. The details that separate a finished room from an unfinished one.
Learn moreFrom a tired, rotten deck to a solid new build.
A recent Sidmouth deck rebuild, start to finish: the old deck stripped back, a new treated timber sub-frame set out square and level, and fresh boards laid tight with proper expansion gaps.
Recent AJW jobs, including work like this in Timber Decking.
Doors, wardrobes, decking, loft work and garden joinery, photographed on real jobs in Sidmouth, Exeter and the surrounding villages.
Book a free timber decking quote in East Devon.
Free site survey within 7 days. Clear written quote. Fair pricing, clean sites, and, on qualifying installs, a 5-year workmanship guarantee.