Decking Services in Ireland

Decking that lasts longer than the guarantee

Most decks in Ireland don't fail because of the boards. They fail because of what's underneath: joists set too far apart, no air moving under the frame, or plain galvanised screws that bleed rust down the timber after two winters. We build the frame as carefully as the surface, because that's what decides whether you're still happy with it in ten years.

We take on everything from a small patio deck outside a kitchen extension to multi-level decks with steps, screening and integrated seating. If the ground falls away or the garden is on a slope, that's usually an advantage rather than a problem. A raised deck with generous steps often makes far better use of an awkward garden than levelling it ever would.

Choosing your boards

Hardwood

Iroko and balau are dense, oily timbers that shrug off wet weather. Left alone they weather to a soft silver-grey; oiled once a year they hold a rich brown. Expect twenty-five years or more from a hardwood deck that's been properly built. It costs more up front and it's the option we'd pick for our own houses.

Composite

Composite boards suit north-facing and heavily shaded gardens, which is a lot of gardens in Ireland. Timber in permanent shade goes green and needs scrubbing every spring; composite doesn't, and it never needs oiling. Modern boards have come a long way from the plasticky look of ten years ago.

Treated softwood

The budget option, and an honest one. Well-built and kept oiled, a treated softwood deck will give you ten to fifteen good years. We'll tell you straight if it's the right call for what you're spending.

The part you never see

This is where the money quietly goes, and where a cheap quote and a fair one really differ:

• Joist spacing. 400mm centres as standard, tightened to 300mm where boards run diagonally or the deck carries a hot tub.
• Air underneath. A ventilation gap and clearance above ground so the frame dries out between showers instead of sitting damp.
• Falls and drainage. A slight fall away from the house, with membrane and drainage below so water leaves rather than pools.
• Fixings that don't stain. Stainless or properly coated screws throughout. Cheap fixings streak rust down hardwood within two winters.
• Separation from the wall. A DPC between the frame and any masonry, so the deck never bridges your damp course.

How a decking job runs

1. We call out and measure. We look at levels, drainage and where the sun actually lands during the day, which often changes where the deck should go.
2. You get a written quote. Itemised, fixed, and clear about which boards it's priced on so you can compare options properly.
3. We build. Most decks take three to six days. Materials arrive the morning we start, and the site is swept every evening.
4. We walk you through it. How to look after the boards, what to expect in year one as the timber settles, and any snags sorted before we leave.

Decking across Dublin and Leinster

We're a Dublin-based carpentry business and most of our decking work is within an hour of the city: Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock, Clontarf, Raheny, Santry, Glasnevin and Blanchardstown, along with Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. Being local matters more than it sounds: if a board lifts or a gate drops next spring, we're twenty minutes away rather than a phone number that stops answering.

Decking often comes up alongside other outdoor work. If you're also thinking about fencing, gates or a pergola, or a garden room at the end of the deck, it's usually cheaper and far less disruptive to plan them together than to do them a year apart.

Why choose ABM Carpentry for decking

• One team from first measure to last board, with no subcontracted frame with a different crew laying the surface.
• Timber and fixings specified for where you actually live, not for a catalogue.
• A fixed written price that names the boards, so you can compare quotes like with like.
• We're twenty minutes away if a board ever needs lifting.

Plenty of firms can lay decking. Fewer will tell you that your garden might be better served by paving, or that the cheaper board is the right call for the money you want to spend. We would rather have the awkward conversation at the quote than build you something you cool on after two winters.

Get a quote for decking

Tell us what you have in mind and we'll come back within one working day. Quotes and call-outs are free, and there's no obligation. We cover Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock, Donabate, Blanchardstown, Clontarf, Raheny, Santry and Glasnevin, along with Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. See every area we serve.

Ring 089 458 5501, or send us a few photos. They often tell us more than a description can.