Decking specified for Kent coast weather.

Timber decking

• Pressure-treated softwood deck boards (tanalised, 32mm thick) or hardwood (usually iroko or balau) depending on spec
• Joists at 400mm centres, sized for the span - typically 47mm x 150mm C24-graded softwood
• Concreted post supports where the deck is raised above ground level (any drop of more than 200mm)
• Full drainage gap between boards (5 to 6mm) - a coastal spec, not the tight-butted look
• Stainless A2 or hot-dip galvanised fixings throughout - never zinc-plated
• Perimeter fascia board and step-riser as standard

Pricing: Softwood timber decking, £150 to £200 per square metre. Hardwood, £220 to £300 per square metre. Including sub-structure, drainage gap, fixings.

Composite decking

• Wood-plastic composite (WPC) or capped composite boards - Trex, Millboard or equivalent quality
• Same sub-structure spec as timber (joists at 400mm, C24 softwood, concreted posts on any raised deck)
• Hidden clip fixings, stainless steel
• Composite doesn't silver in the salt air the way untreated hardwood does - one of the reasons it's popular on Ramsgate coastal-facing gardens
• 25-year manufacturer warranty on the boards (standard on the mid-tier composites)

Pricing: Composite decking, £190 to £240 per square metre including sub-structure and fixings. Trex Enhance Basics at the low end, Millboard Enhanced Grain at the top.

Coastal-spec notes

Any deck within sight of the sea needs a proper drainage gap between boards. Salt-air rain sits on a tight-butted deck and rots the joists below inside five years. Our default is 5 to 6mm between boards on softwood, 4 to 5mm on composite - the manufacturer specs allow for it.

Softwood decking on the West Cliff or any coastal-facing garden gets re-treated with preservative every second year to hold off silvering and cupping. It's a one-hour job with a garden sprayer. We'll show you which product to use, or bring a crew back to do it if you'd rather.