Decking Design and Installation in Milton Keynes

Installed decking runs from about £60 to £180 per m² in 2026, depending on the boards. Softwood is the cheapest at £60 to £100, hardwood sits at £100 to £160, and composite lands at £100 to £180. Those prices include the frame and labour, not just the boards.

Often, yes, but it depends on the material and the ground. A ground-level softwood deck usually costs a little less than a block paving patio of the same size, while composite is closer to porcelain paving. On a sloping garden decking tends to win on price, because a patio would need the ground levelled first.

Labour normally makes up 40 to 60% of a decking quote and is built into the per m² price rather than charged on its own. A typical 15m² deck takes 2 to 4 days to build. Sloping ground, raised platforms and a heavier frame all push the labour cost up.

Pressure-treated softwood is the budget choice at £60 to £100 per m² fitted, including the frame and labour. It is the cheapest way to get a deck, but it needs re-oiling or staining every year or two. Left untreated on a damp MK plot it will go green and grey fairly quickly.

Composite decking costs £100 to £180 per square metre installed in 2026, with the frame and labour included. It costs more than softwood to start with, but there is no sanding, staining or sealing to do. Most boards come with a 25-year warranty, so it usually pays for itself over time.

Good composite decking lasts 25 to 30 years, and most brands back it with a 25-year warranty. It will not rot, warp or fade like timber, so there is no yearly upkeep. The one thing that matters is a well-built frame, since that is what carries the boards.

Most ground-level decking in Milton Keynes is permitted development and needs no permission. You do need it if the deck sits more than 30cm off the ground, or if it and other buildings cover more than half the garden. A raised deck close to a boundary is the usual case that needs approval.