Outdoor · 6 minute read
Decking that lasts a Scottish winter
Timber choice, ground preparation, drainage and fixings — the parts you never see.
The part you never see decides the lifespan
A deck fails from underneath. Ground preparation, the height of the frame above the soil, airflow beneath the boards and where the water goes matter far more than which boards are on top. In a wet climate a frame sitting flat on damp ground will rot years before the surface looks tired.
Timber choice
Pressure-treated softwood is the normal choice and is perfectly good if it is detailed properly and re-treated every few seasons. Composite costs more up front, does not need oiling and will not splinter, but it expands and contracts more, so it needs the right gaps and fixing centres. Neither survives a badly built frame.
Fixings and gaps
Use stainless or properly coated screws - cheap fixings bleed rust marks down the boards within a winter. Leave a consistent gap between boards so water drains and debris can be brushed out rather than sitting and holding moisture against the timber.
Patterns cost more, and why
A mitred or diamond-laid deck needs a denser frame underneath, because every cut board end has to land on a joist. It is more timber, more setting out and more cutting, so expect it to price higher than a straight run - but it is also the difference between a deck that looks bought and one that looks built.