What are the costs of building a garden deck either by your self or by a contractor?

But based on the types of information we have received we have been able to come up with some idea of the cost of building a garden deck and guidelines for a number of areas across the UK.
There are a variety of factors that determine the cost of building your garden deck. Typical items and factors affecting these costs include:
your location
type of materials for your garden deck.
Cost Factor #1 - Proximity to City Centers
Generally speaking the closer you are to larger city the higher the cost of labor for your garden deck to be built. This translates into higher costs for hiring a contractor. On the other hand, material costs for your garden deck can be more competitive if you are in a large area where there are several large suppliers.

Cost Factor #2 - Proximity to where materials are produced.
It should be no surprise that timber for your garden deck and material costs are higher in places like the Scottish Highlands or Isles where things have to be shipped across from where they are manufactured.
On the mainland, most areas rural and urban are well serviced with building materials for your garden deck project.

Cost Factor #3 - Materials
The other key factor that affects the costs of building a garden deck is the materials used. Pressure treated timber is less expensive than cedar or redwood. Vinyl railings or aluminum railings are more expensive than wood railings.
Composite garden deck materials and exterior vinyl garden deck floor coverings are more expensive than wood. The final building cost will be a combination of all three components. In our building cost summary we have tried to provide a cost per square metre for materials only (you build yourself) and for labor and materials (you hire a builder). The costs are based on wood decks and are stated in a range which accounts for the low end minimalist pressure treated garden deck to the mid range cedar or redwood garden deck.
They do not include such higher end customization such as composite garden deck or aluminum or glass railings. The figures we have used for the costs of building a garden deck are an average based on the messages we receive from our visitors.


Garden Deck Local joiner with no serious experience per m2 £54
Garden Deck Local decking company with reputation per m2 £92
Garden Deck National decking company per m2 £86
Garden Deck Design and build yourself per m2 £34

About the Author

It may not be scientific, but we think it is very helpful if you are trying to budget for your <a href="http://www.deckingfirm.co.uk/gardendecking.aspx">garden deck</a> building project. And we think it is pretty close to the truth.

Garden Deck Videos

Building Garden Decking Part 1

Outdoor Wicker Chairs for garden and deck

Garden Deck Q&A

We're wanting to deck an area of our garden so as to have a seating area?

How difficult is it to do? What do we need? The bit we're doing would need to be raised about a foot to be level with another part of the garden.

Thanks.

http://www.applegategardens.co.uk/acatalog/laying_garden_decking.html

I hope this helps. Try and do it yourself - you will save a packet.

does anybody know where to buy some cheap decking for my garden?

You might check at your local Costco. I saw some there about a week ago. Good luck on it