A city of slopes
The River Wear loops round a rocky peninsula, and the city spreads up the hills on every side. Streets in Gilesgate, Crossgate and around the viaduct climb steeply, and the terraces built along them have gardens that rise behind the house or drop away below it. Even out in Nevilles Cross, Belmont and Framwellgate Moor, a flat garden is a bit of a luxury.
Steep gardens often go unused because they're hard to sit in and hard to reach. A well-planned deck changes that. One level platform by the back door can give you somewhere to eat outside for the first time. A series of terraced decks can open up a whole hillside. Read our steep gardens guide for how we approach them.
Survey first
On sloping ground, guessing is expensive. We take levels across the whole garden, check the ground, look at any retaining walls and plan how to get materials in, which in Durham often means up or down flights of steps. Only then do we design the deck.
Built for height
Most of what we build in Durham involves height somewhere. That means raised and terraced decks with deeper joists, braced posts and concrete pads; and steps and guarding designed alongside the deck, not added afterwards. See balustrades and steps.
Boards
Capped composite is our usual choice. It's grippy on steps, doesn't grow algae in shaded hillside gardens and needs no staining, which matters when parts of the deck are hard to reach. We also build timber decks for people who prefer real wood.
The city and the villages
Close to the centre, many terraced houses are let to students; most of our work is for homeowners in the suburbs and villages, though we're happy to quote for landlords who want a safe, low-maintenance deck. Villages like Shincliffe, Brancepeth and Witton Gilbert have larger gardens, older stone houses and plenty of character. Parts of the city are in a conservation area around the cathedral and castle World Heritage Site, so we'll flag anything that might need checking.
FAQ
Can a deck work on a really steep garden?
Usually, yes. Terraced levels joined by steps can handle a lot of slope. We'll survey and show you what's realistic.
Do you build decks for rented houses in the city?
Yes. Landlords often want durable, low-maintenance composite with sturdy guarding. We'll quote in the same way as for any home.
How do you get materials up steps to a back garden?
By hand, in manageable loads, often up a back lane or steps. We plan it at the survey and include it in the quote.