Built for real family life
A family deck has a lot to cope with: bikes, paddling pools, muddy boots, a dog, grandparents who need a steady step and toddlers who'll find any gap. We design around all of it from the first visit. That means grippy boards, steps that are wide and shallow, guarding with no rails to climb where a deck is high, and a layout that lets you see the whole garden from the table.
We've written a whole guide on this, decks for family gardens, covering play space, lawns, sandpits and making room for a hot tub later on.
Darlington's gardens
The west end of town, around Hummersknott, Mowden and Blackwell, has large 1930s and Edwardian houses with long, established gardens and big trees. West Park and Middleton St George have newer homes, often with flat lawns and small patios. Out in Hurworth, Heighington and Gainford there are stone cottages and bigger village houses with more room to play with.
Each needs something different. A shaded Mowden garden might want a deck halfway down where the sun reaches. A West Park garden might want a deck the width of the house, with the lawn kept clear for football.
Why composite suits families
Capped composite decking has no splinters, stays grippy in the wet and wipes clean after barbecues and ice lollies. It doesn't need staining, so there's no weekend lost to maintenance, and no chemicals for children and pets to walk through. We also build timber decks for people who prefer real wood.
Safe steps and edges
Most accidents on decks happen on steps and edges. We keep risers even, treads deep and nosings visible. On higher decks we fit balustrades and steps designed so children can't climb them, and can add a gate at the top of the steps.
Good to know
Can we keep part of the lawn for the children?
Yes, and we'd usually recommend it. We often keep the deck near the house for dining and leave most of the lawn open for play, so you can watch from the table.
How soon can we use the deck after it's built?
Straight away. There's no paint or stain to dry on a composite deck. If there's new concrete under the posts, we'll have let it set before the boards go on.
Is a deck a good idea if we have a dog?
Yes. Composite resists scratches from claws, doesn't absorb smells and hoses clean. We can leave a gap in the guarding with a gate so the dog can't wander off the deck.