Decking in the garden

chatterboxwillie

Hi everyone. I'm looking at putting some decking in my garden. Approx 4 metres wide by 3 metres deep.

My question isn't so much about the cost but more about things I need to be aware of. I'm going to be getting someone in to do it but I want to make sure I don't forget anything.

There is already some decking right outside the rear entrance to the property and this wasn't installed properly, there is no angle for run-off for example and I want to avoid this for next time.

The decking is to be laid next to an existing shed andn the rear metre or so of land is actually a 2 metre drop where original Beech trees were.
Is there any merit in filling this space before hand or would it be enough to simply lay a strong framework over this space?

I plan on raising the level of the decking to be approx 2ft above the ground level with steps rising up to it so I can afford a hefty base.

Any advice is always welcome.

RTNI

You will prob need planning permission if you are raising it 2 feet above ground level - even filling in the slope to give a level surface will not count as they take it from the existing ground - here in NI it cant be more than 30cm above the ground - there are also restircitions over how close to the road it can be etc here so might be worthwhile calling the planning office to ask about that (or the person who will be installing this might know already)

ic

So the land drops 2m, but you want to raise level 2 ft above the highest point of this slope? Will you be towering above any neighbours?

chatterboxwillie

Wow, had no idea that you would need planning permission.

It's not so much a slope but there is a flower bed and at the rear of this there are currently Beech trees. These will be removed.

This leaves a gap at the back of the garden, right next to the rear boundary fence. We won't be looking over any fences though and will be under the height of our existing shed roof too.

Gloomendoom

chatterboxwillie wrote: »

Wow, had no idea that you would need planning permission.

There is some info on planning permission and building regs here...

Timber Decking Association

They also offer advice on preventing the inevitable (according to the Daily mail) rat plague too.

Garden decking triggers rat plague

bobhawke

Easier to lay a strong enough framework because if you back filled that size area you would presumably need a large retaining wall that a structural engineer would need to design.