Turn on the TV on a Sunday morning, and you’ll see someone building a deck in 30 minutes with a smile on their face. It looks easy. It looks like giant Lego.
And to be honest? On a perfectly flat, concrete surface, it is relatively simple. But here in Bristol, very few gardens are perfectly flat. Most are sloped, muddy, or full of old rubble.
At Joe's Fencing, we have fixed enough "DIY disasters" to know that decking is deceptively difficult. Here is our honest guide to help you decide if you should grab the drill or the phone.
The Hidden Complexity: It's All About the Frame
The boards you walk on are the easy bit. The hard part—and the part that determines if your deck lasts 2 years or 20—is the sub-frame.
- The Maths: If you are building a raised deck, you need to calculate the load spans. If your joists are too far apart, the deck will bounce when you walk on it.
- The Levelling: Getting a 30 square metre frame perfectly level on a bumpy lawn requires patience, a laser level, and a lot of digging for postcrete.
- Waterproofing: A pro knows to use joist tape and elevate the timber off the ground. A DIYer often lets the wood sit on the mud, which guarantees rot within 3 years.
Composite Decking: A Different Beast
If you are planning to use timber, you can get away with a few mistakes. Wood is forgiving—you can sand it or cut it easily.
Composite decking is unforgiving.
- Expansion Gaps: Plastic expands in the sun. If you don't leave the exact millimetre-perfect gaps at the ends of the boards, your nice new deck will buckle and warp in the first heatwave.
- Special Fixings: You can't just screw through the top. You need to use hidden clip systems, which can be fiddly and frustrating if you haven't used them before.
The Tool List Check
Do you have the right gear? To build a professional-looking deck, a hand saw won't cut it (literally). You need:
- Compound Mitre Saw: Essential for clean, square cuts.
- Impact Driver: You will be driving hundreds of long screws. A standard combi-drill will burn out (or break your wrist).
- Laser Level / Long Spirit Level: Because a wonky deck ruins the whole garden.
When You Can DIY
We aren't saying don't do it! Go for it if:
- The area is small and ground-level (no steps or handrails needed).
- You are using softwood timber (easier to work with).
- You have a friend to help (decking boards are long and heavy).
When You Should Hire a Pro
Save yourself the stress if:
- You have a slope: Building a raised deck involves structural safety. If it collapses, people get hurt.
- You want Composite: The materials are expensive (£60+ per board). One wrong cut is a costly mistake.
- You want funny shapes: Curves, diagonals, and wrapping around bay windows require high-level carpentry skills.
The Cost of "Putting It Right"
The most expensive deck is the one you pay for twice. We often get calls to "finish off" a project where the homeowner realised halfway through that the frame wasn't square. Unfortunately, we usually have to rip it out and start again.
Want to check the price difference? We can give you a quote for the full installation. You might be surprised at how competitive it is when you factor in tool hire and your own weekends.
Featured Image Image [A split image: Top half showing a complex sub-frame construction with laser levels; Bottom half showing a homeowner looking confused at a pile of timber.] Image Alt Text [DIY decking vs professional installation challenges] Tags Select Tags DIY Decking Garden Renovation Carpentry Tips Home Improvement Bristol SEO Settings Meta Title Can I Install a Deck Myself or Should I Hire a Pro? Meta Description Thinking of building your own deck? We explain the tools, risks, and skills needed for DIY decking vs hiring a professional in Bristol.