How to fit composite decking?

Fitting composite decking is similar to installing timber decking, but there are some small differences in terms of the gaps you need to leave between boards and the screws you use. We’ll go through a quick guide to show you the process involved in fitting composite decking so you can decide whether it’s something you want to do yourself. Prepare the area Prepare the area according to our instructions in the previous FAQs – or you can use an existing patio or concrete base if you have one. Measure and mark out the area using chalk (if using an existing base). Assemble the decking frame Build the outer frame as we show in our FAQs above; if the area you have planned is longer than your joists, you’ll need to join them together. When you’ve built the frame and it’s secure, ensure that it’s at the right level for water runoff and add risers, slabs or treated off-cuts of timber at 500mm intervals if you need to. Add joists The spacing of your joists will depend on the type of design you have chosen for your composite decking. If you’re laying arched boards horizontally, you’ll need to space the joists 300mm apart. Lay your composite decking boards If you’ve not got an overhang or it’s a fixed deck, fit starter clips along the outside edge of the frame and secure with screws provided with the composite decking. If you are working with an overhang, put the first board into position not exceeding 25mm. If you’re adding a fascia, put an off-cut of board under the overhang so you know it’ll be flush with the fascia. Pre-drill all fixing points, measuring in 30mm from the edge of the board. Secure the board to the joist below with composite decking screws. Slide a hidden fastener clip in so it sits within the groove of the deck board. It needs to be in the centre of the joist to keep the boards secure and ensure an expansion gap of 6mm. Tighten the clips until just tight, and repeat so there’s a clip at every joist. Add the next board, ensuring that the fastener clips sit within the groove – make sure you don’t force it. Repeat step 3. Continue steps 3 and 4 until you’re at the final board, which you should secure in the same way as you did the first. Add a fascia board If you’re adding a fascia, measure in 40mm from each end and add two guide marks: one at 40mm from the top and the other at 40mm from the bottom. Connect the marks, then mark at 300mm intervals down the board. Drill pilot holes, then put the fascia board into position. You need to make sure that there’s a 40mm ventilation gap between the bottom of the fascia and the ground. Ask someone to hold the board level until you’ve finished securing it with composite decking screws; you can get colour-matched ones so they don’t look unsightly at the end of your decking. Not so sure you want to carry out such a big project yourself? Get quotes from decking pros who will be able to fit composite decking much more quickly and easily.

Wooden Decking in Newmarket

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Wooden Decking in Newmarket

Wooden decking is an increasingly common choice for providing outdoor seating areas in gardens. Due to the natural beauty of wood, they can be very elegant spaces which you can use year round with the help of external heating and lighting. Wooden decking is typically installed in locations in front of patio or French doors where they can create a smooth transition between inside and outside spaces. Wooden decking is available in virtually any size or shape to match any area. Curved designs or large areas linked by pathways can create a striking effect. Wooden decking is relatively simple to install and causes minimal disruption, particularly in comparison to other possibilities like patio or paving. It could even be installed over the top of an existing patio. It is necessary however to be certain that your wooden decking is structurally sound and capable of taking the weight of any furniture or plants that you want to use on the decking. There is a variety of varieties of wood that can be used in wooden decking. Often decking is constructed from hardwood, but there are softwoods available that fulfil the durability requirements. As hardwood decking will need maintenance, which usually will involve annual cleaning and staining for weather proofing, composite woods have become more popular for use in wooden decking because they are stronger and require far less maintenance.

Average Wooden decking cost in Newmarket

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 Newmarket, as reported by local LeadsDoWork members.

Wooden decking installation cost in Newmarket 2026

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

Time frame: 1-4 days

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Newmarket

Newmarket is a market town in the English county of Suffolk. It lies around 65 miles north of London. In accordance with the 2011 Census, it has a population of around 20384. The town is most commonly identified as being the birth place and worldwide centre of purebred horse racing and as a possible World Heritage Site. Newmarket is the biggest training centre for horse racing, the biggest breeding centre for racehorses, the headquarters for renowned British horseracing institutions, and a central international centre for the health of horses. Every year, Newmarket hosts 2 Classic races, and an added 3 British Champions Series races. In total, there are 50 horse training stables and 2 sizeable racetracks, with The Rowley Mile and The July Course being the most wide-ranging and admired horse training grounds on an international level. Having more than 3500 racehorses being located in the town, it is estimated that one in every three local jobs has a connection to horse racing. Signs of the town's prominence in horse racing are incorporated in the National Horseracing Museum, the Home of Horseracing project, the racehorse auctioneers and 2 equine hospitals for horse health. Contained in the town is a prominent local business cluster, with annual financial investment in strong competition with that of the Cambridge Science Park. Thanks to its significance in the town for so long, a number of Britain's sporting painters have been drawn in to the town. This began as early as the 18th century when the creators of the sporting school painted several scenes of the racehorses and its environment. The town is also the setting for a number of Sir Alfred Munning's art work. For all of your home upgrades, make certain to make use of trusted experts in Newmarket to make certain of quality.

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FAQs

Fitting composite decking is similar to installing timber decking, but there are some small differences in terms of the gaps you need to leave between boards and the screws you use. We’ll go through a quick guide to show you the process involved in fitting composite decking so you can decide whether it’s something you want to do yourself. Prepare the area Prepare the area according to our instructions in the previous FAQs – or you can use an existing patio or concrete base if you have one. Measure and mark out the area using chalk (if using an existing base). Assemble the decking frame Build the outer frame as we show in our FAQs above; if the area you have planned is longer than your joists, you’ll need to join them together. When you’ve built the frame and it’s secure, ensure that it’s at the right level for water runoff and add risers, slabs or treated off-cuts of timber at 500mm intervals if you need to. Add joists The spacing of your joists will depend on the type of design you have chosen for your composite decking. If you’re laying arched boards horizontally, you’ll need to space the joists 300mm apart. Lay your composite decking boards

If you’ve not got an overhang or it’s a fixed deck, fit starter clips along the outside edge of the frame and secure with screws provided with the composite decking. If you are working with an overhang, put the first board into position not exceeding 25mm. If you’re adding a fascia, put an off-cut of board under the overhang so you know it’ll be flush with the fascia.
Pre-drill all fixing points, measuring in 30mm from the edge of the board. Secure the board to the joist below with composite decking screws.
Slide a hidden fastener clip in so it sits within the groove of the deck board. It needs to be in the centre of the joist to keep the boards secure and ensure an expansion gap of 6mm. Tighten the clips until just tight, and repeat so there’s a clip at every joist.
Add the next board, ensuring that the fastener clips sit within the groove – make sure you don’t force it. Repeat step 3.
Continue steps 3 and 4 until you’re at the final board, which you should secure in the same way as you did the first.

Add a fascia board If you’re adding a fascia, measure in 40mm from each end and add two guide marks: one at 40mm from the top and the other at 40mm from the bottom. Connect the marks, then mark at 300mm intervals down the board. Drill pilot holes, then put the fascia board into position. You need to make sure that there’s a 40mm ventilation gap between the bottom of the fascia and the ground. Ask someone to hold the board level until you’ve finished securing it with composite decking screws; you can get colour-matched ones so they don’t look unsightly at the end of your decking. Not so sure you want to carry out such a big project yourself? Get quotes from decking pros who will be able to fit composite decking much more quickly and easily.

There are two ways to lay decking on uneven ground. We’ve explained how to build a raised deck in our FAQ ‘How to build a raised deck’ above, and that’s great for uneven ground or sloped gardens. But there’s another way that you can lay decking on uneven ground if you don’t want a raised deck: you can create a level supporting base. We’ll go through the basics here. Materials you’ll need

Paving slabs – old or cheap ones are fine
Timber for the frame and legs
Type 1 MOT hardcore

How to lay decking on uneven ground

Mark out the area as we explain in ‘How to lay decking’. Then, dig to 200mm below where you want to surface of the decking to be.
Add a 50mm layer of hardcore and make sure it’s compact.
Build the decking sub-frame as we describe in ‘How to build a deck frame’.
Lay out paving slabs along the edges and in the centre of the area. This will help to spread the weight of the decking.
Set the decking frame on the slabs, checking for high or low points and adding off-cuts of timber where needed. Don’t forget to sand and seal these off-cuts with decking preservative.
Add your joists and then the deck boards, leaving the recommended gaps of expansion of between 5-8mm.

Building your decking on top of paving slabs is a good way to get it level, but you still may not be able to get as good a finish as if a professional did it. If you’re in any doubt, get in contact with some decking specialists and see what they would recommend.

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.

If your deck isn’t going to be flat to the ground, it’s a good idea to have some kind of balustrade to avoid any tripping. If the gap between the deck and the ground is less than 600mm, use a 900mm balustrade. If it’s higher than 600mm, the balustrade should be 1100mm tall.

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Customer Reviews

Overall rating:

Newmarket Wooden decking pros are rated 4.4 out of 5 on average: 14 rated pros, 142 reviews, of 48 pros covering the area.

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 Newmarket Wooden decking contractors

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