How to make steps for a deck?

Unless you built a ground-level deck, you’re going to need steps to go with it. Check Building Regulations to see if you need to install handrails as well. It’s good practice to: Have a step tread width of 900mm – if you don’t want them that wide, they should be no less than 760mm Add a central step riser to stairs wider than 900mm to prevent them buckling Add a step depth (the vertical distance between each step) of between 150 and 180mm if building your own riser, so the steps are at a comfortable depth Getting started To build your steps for the deck, you’ll need: Step treads (the actual step themselves) Step risers Coach screws Deck screws Saw Drill Make the steps for your deck Make sure the ground where you want to put your steps is level and firm. If it’s not, consider laying concrete or paving slabs to provide a secure surface for your steps to sit so they don’t sink. Grab some joist off-cuts and cut them to the same width as your step treads. Attach them to the step risers at the top and bottom using countersunk coach screws. Place the steps against the sub-frame of the deck; if you’ve put slabs down for support, make sure the steps sit in the middle of them. The longest edge of the stair riser should be on the slabs, and the short edge against the deck. Drill pilot holes through the step and sub-frame joist, then screw the step to the sub-frame with more coach screws. After drilling pilot holes, screw the treads into the risers at each end with deck screws. If you don’t want gaps between each stair, you can add joist off-cuts or deck boards. Measure the height and depth of the gap, then screw the off-cut or board into the step riser with two screws at each end.

Wooden Decking in Ashford

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Wooden Decking in Ashford

Wooden decking is an increasingly fashionable choice for providing outdoor seating areas in gardens. Due to the natural beauty of wood, they can be very fashionable spaces which you can use year round with the addition of additional heating and illumination. Wooden decking is commonly fitted in locations in front of patio or French doors where they can create a smooth transition between interior and exterior spaces. Wooden decking can come in any size or shape to complement any area. Curved designs or large areas linked by pathways can produce a striking effect. Wooden decking is relatively quick to install and causes minimal disruption, particularly in comparison to other possibilities like patio or paving. It can even be installed over the top of a pre-existing patio. It is crucial however to be certain that your wooden decking is structurally sound and capable of taking the load of any furniture or plants that you would like to use on the decking. There is a array of species of wood that can be used in wooden decking. Generally decking is constructed from hardwood, but there are softwoods available that fulfil the durability specifications. As hardwood decking will require maintenance, which usually entails annual cleaning and staining for weather proofing, composite woods are becoming more popular for use in wooden decking because they are more robust and require far less maintenance.

Average Wooden decking cost in Ashford

The typical cost of Wooden decking is £1500. Costs can change based upon the materials and the firm hired. The upper price range can be as high as £1725. The material costs are commonly approximately £375

Average price per Wooden decking job in 2026

Avg. price low	Avg. price low £1,125
Avg. price	Avg. price £1,500
Avg. price high	Avg. price high £1,725

£1900

£1425

£950

£475

£0

Prices based on actual Wooden decking costs for Ashford, as reported by local LeadsDoWork members.

Wooden decking installation cost in Ashford 2026

	Labour cost	£1,050
	Material cost	£375
	Waste removal	£75

Time frame: 1-4 days

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Ashford

Ashford is a town in Kent, England. It lies on the River Great Stour at the south of the North Downs which is about 61 miles south east of central London. At the time of the 2011 census, the population was 74,204. Ashford gets its name from an Old English word which meant a ford near a clump of ash trees.

Ashford has been a market town since the 13th century, and a regular market still takes place there. It has been a communication hub for many years and stands at the centre of five railway lines which have been there since the 19th century. The town grew as the construction of the railways contributed to employment. The international passenger station is now a European communications centre, and new lines run between London at the Channel Tunnel via HS 1.

The town has been in plans for expansion since the 1960s. A shopping centre, named County Square, was opened in the late 1980s as an extension and redevelopment of the Tufton Centre. The award winning Ashford Designer Outlet was built in 2000. The Templer Barracks at Repton Park have also been redeveloped.

A popular local landmark is St Mary's Church, which was built in the 13th century and expanded in the 15th. The church not only host worship but also entertainment. Ashford also has two grammar schools, named the Norton Knatchbull School, established in the 17th century, and the Highworth Grammar School for Girls, established in 1904.

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Anjuna B., HP14

Garden | Decking in High Wycombe

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Paul M., GU2

Garden | Decking in Guildford

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Work description: Decking My garden is very small

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Unless you built a ground-level deck, you’re going to need steps to go with it. Check Building Regulations to see if you need to install handrails as well. It’s good practice to:

Have a step tread width of 900mm – if you don’t want them that wide, they should be no less than 760mm
Add a central step riser to stairs wider than 900mm to prevent them buckling
Add a step depth (the vertical distance between each step) of between 150 and 180mm if building your own riser, so the steps are at a comfortable depth

Getting started To build your steps for the deck, you’ll need:

Step treads (the actual step themselves)
Step risers
Coach screws
Deck screws
Saw
Drill

Make the steps for your deck

Make sure the ground where you want to put your steps is level and firm. If it’s not, consider laying concrete or paving slabs to provide a secure surface for your steps to sit so they don’t sink.
Grab some joist off-cuts and cut them to the same width as your step treads. Attach them to the step risers at the top and bottom using countersunk coach screws.
Place the steps against the sub-frame of the deck; if you’ve put slabs down for support, make sure the steps sit in the middle of them. The longest edge of the stair riser should be on the slabs, and the short edge against the deck. Drill pilot holes through the step and sub-frame joist, then screw the step to the sub-frame with more coach screws.
After drilling pilot holes, screw the treads into the risers at each end with deck screws.
If you don’t want gaps between each stair, you can add joist off-cuts or deck boards. Measure the height and depth of the gap, then screw the off-cut or board into the step riser with two screws at each end.

Usually, slipperiness is caused by algae or dirt on top of the deck or terrace. A full cleaning treatment should restore the natural grip of the wood or stone. If slipperiness is a persistent problem, consider installing grip mats in high traffic areas of the deck.

How much decking costs depends on the type of material you go for, how big you want your decking to be and where you live in the country. But typically, the cost of decking is between £1,200 - £1,800. The most popular material for decking is pre-treated softwood, which will set you back around £1,000 for 15m². Hardwood is more expensive but is more durable, and will cost approximately £2,000 for the same amount. Homeowners are also beginning to choose composite decking, which is made from recycled plastic and wood fibres, and is low-maintenance and eco-friendly. This will cost around £1,600 for 15m², while uPVC which is also a low-maintenance option costs around £600. People tend to choose composite over uPVC because it looks more like natural timber. If you’re a competent DIYer, you might want to have a go at laying decking yourself which will set you back around £1,000 for a standard softwood timber deck. We think it’s worth paying the extra £600 for a professional to lay your decking, since they will be able to do it much more quickly. If you do want to try it yourself, we recommend leaving at least a whole weekend open to do it, but it’s likely to take you longer. Factor in the possibility of having to take time off work to complete it and it might be more cost-effective to leave it to the pros.

How much decking you need will – of course – depend on how big you plan your deck to be. There is an equation to help you work out how many deck boards you need. It’s a little complicated until you’ve been shown how it works, but once you know how to do it it’s easy to work out how much decking you need for any project. The equation takes into account the recommended 10% wastage and includes the expansion gaps that are required, which is between 5-8mm along the length of the deck boards (EGL, or expansion gap length) and 3mm along the ends of the deck boards (EGW, or expansion gap width) for timber. It also assumes you’re laying your decking horizontally, as if you’re looking for a diagonal or chevron design you’ll need more deck boards. Let’s go through an example, assuming you have a 10m x 6m area that you want to cover with decking made from timber boards that are 2.4m long and 144mm wide. We’ll use the EGL of 5mm and EGW of 3mm.

Calculate the surface area for your decking Multiply the length (L) of your decking area by the width (W): L x W = Decking Surface Area (DSA) in m² 10 x 6 = 60m²
Work out the coverage of your deck boards Add your deck board width (DBW) to the expansion gap length (EGL), then add the deck board length (DBL) to the expansion gap width (EGW). Then multiply these numbers. (DBW + EGL) x (DBL + EGW) = Single Board Coverage (SBC) 0.144m + 0.005m = 0.149m 2.4m + 0.003m = 2.403m 0.149 x 2.403 = 0.358m²
Calculate the number of deck boards you need Multiply the SBC by 1.1 to allow for 10% wastage. Then, divide the DSA by the SBC. DSA / SCB x 1.1 = Total number of boards required 60m² / 0.358m² x 1.1 = 184.36 boards – so round up to 185 so you’re not left short.

If that all seems a bit complicated for you, let a professional do the maths – they will be able to give you an idea of how much decking you’ll need in no time.

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Ashford Wooden decking installers are rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 26 reviews of 62 pros.

The LeadsDoWork rating and review is an overall rating based on verified reviews and feedback from the customers with Wooden decking projects that have been connected with Wooden decking pros to help them. All Wooden decking contractors All Ashford Wooden decking contractors

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Wooden Decking in Ashford

Discover Wooden Decking Prices in Ashford

Wooden Decking in Ashford

Average Wooden decking cost in Ashford

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Wooden decking installation cost in Ashford 2026

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Garden | Decking in Guildford

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