A sympathetic decking replacement for a much-loved family garden
This private garden in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, had been home to a hardwood deck for more than twenty years.
It was not a failed idea, quite the opposite. The original deck had clearly been loved, used and enjoyed by the homeowners for many years. It had formed part of family life, garden lunches, quiet afternoons, summer evenings and everyday access between the house and garden.
However, after more than two decades, the old DIY hardwood deck had reached the end of its safe and practical life. The surface and structure were no longer suitable for continued use, and the family needed a replacement that would respect what had worked before while bringing the platform up to a more modern standard.
Karl Harrison was asked to consider the options and recommend a decking material that would suit the house, the garden and the way the space was already being used.
The client brief
The brief was refreshingly clear.
The homeowners did not want to redesign the garden or impose a completely new layout onto a space that already worked. They had used the existing deck for many years and liked the relationship it created between the house, the conservatory, the seating area and the garden.
The aim was therefore to replace the existing deck platform with something safer, cleaner, more durable and more refined, while retaining the general shape and purpose of the original design.
This is an important point on many established gardens. Not every project needs reinvention. Sometimes the right design response is to understand why the previous layout worked and then improve the material choice, detailing, structure and finish.
In this case, the old hardwood deck had given excellent service. The new deck needed to continue that role, but with a more reliable and contemporary decking system.
Choosing Deckorators decking
The homeowners asked Karl Harrison to recommend suitable decking brands.
The preferred look was natural, warm and understated. The deck needed to sit comfortably against the house, the brickwork, the mature planting, the roses, the lawn and the established garden setting. It could not feel too sharp, too grey, too commercial or too visually dominant.
Deckorators was recommended as a strong option, and the homeowners were drawn to the earth-toned finish of Deckorators Excursion in Bali.
Bali was the easy choice.
It has enough warmth to sit comfortably beside a traditional Buckinghamshire home, but it also has the cleaner, more stable appearance expected from a modern composite decking product. In this garden, that balance mattered. The deck needed to look considered, but not forced. It needed to feel like it belonged.
Working with the existing shape
The existing deck had already proved itself in use.
The main platform served the house well, creating a generous area for seating, movement and access into the garden. Rather than changing the design unnecessarily, the new deck was planned around the existing geometry, with one important improvement.
The steps needed reconsideration.
The change to the step geometry was a straightforward but important part of the project. Good decking is not just about the boards used on the surface. It is about how the platform is approached, how people move across it, how safe the transitions feel and how the finished structure works in daily use.
The replacement deck therefore retained the successful footprint of the original garden platform, while improving the practical detailing where it mattered.
Single-length deck boards for a cleaner finish
One of the advantages on this project was the 4.88 metre deck board length.
This allowed the main deck to be designed using single-length boards across the principal areas. That gives a cleaner, calmer appearance because it avoids unnecessary joins across the platform.
On a deck of this kind, that visual simplicity is important. The boards are not competing with the house or planting. They create a generous, ordered surface that allows the garden, furniture and surrounding planting to remain the focus.
The shorter offcuts were then used intelligently within the ramp section, reducing waste and making sensible use of the material ordered for the project.
That is the difference between simply laying boards and designing a deck properly. Board length, orientation, offcuts, edging, steps and transitions all need to be considered before the installation starts.
Contrast detailing for safer step transitions
The main deck was installed in Deckorators Excursion Bali, with the step risers and fascias finished in the lighter Deckorators Excursion Tahiti.
This was not just a decorative decision.
The lighter board provided a useful contrast at the changes in level. That made the step transitions easier to read visually, particularly for someone who is visually impaired.
Small details like this can make a significant difference to how a deck feels in use. A step that disappears into the same colour as the main platform can look neat in a photograph, but it may not always be the most sensible detail in a real garden.
Here, the contrast between Bali and Tahiti gave the deck a more considered finish. It helped define the change in level, improved legibility and created a subtle design feature across the front edge of the platform.
A deck that sits comfortably in the garden
This is a garden with an established feel.
The roses soften the house elevation. The mature planting creates enclosure. The existing lawn and shrubs give the space a calm, lived-in quality. The new deck therefore needed to be sympathetic rather than showy.
The finished platform does exactly that.
The warm earth tone of Bali sits comfortably with the brick, render, timber furniture and planting. It does not jar against the property. It gives the family a clean, usable surface while still allowing the garden to feel mature and relaxed.
A good deck should not always shout for attention. In some gardens, the best result is a deck that quietly improves the whole space.
Installed in five days
The decking platform was completed by the team in five days.
That included the replacement of the old unsafe deck, the adjustment to the step geometry, the new composite decking installation, the contrasting fascias and risers, and the finishing details needed to bring the platform together.
For the homeowners, the result was not simply a new deck. It was the return of an important garden space.
They could continue using the area they had enjoyed for many years, but now with a safer, cleaner and more durable decking platform beneath them.
Why this project matters
Many older decks in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas are now reaching the end of their practical service life.
Some were built in hardwood. Some were built in softwood. Many were constructed as DIY or general landscaping projects twenty or more years ago. In many cases, the layout still works, but the structure, boards, fixings or safety of the deck no longer meet the needs of the household.
That does not always mean the garden needs a complete redesign.
Sometimes the right answer is a carefully considered replacement using better materials, better detailing and a clearer understanding of how the deck is used.
This project in Chalfont St Giles is a good example. The original deck had earned its place in the garden. The new Deckorators platform simply allows that part of the garden to continue, with a more modern and reliable finish.
Designed and installed by Karl Harrison
Karl Harrison specialises in high-quality decking design and installation, with a particular focus on correct material choice, detailing, structure and long-term use.
Decking should not be treated as just a surface. It is an external structure, and it needs to be designed and built with care. Board selection, substructure, ventilation, fixings, steps, edges, drainage, access and visual appearance all matter.
This Chalfont St Giles project shows how a replacement deck can be practical, attractive and sympathetic to an established garden.
It did not need to dominate the space. It needed to serve the family well.
That is exactly what it now does.
Considering a new deck in Chalfont St Giles or Buckinghamshire?
If your existing timber or hardwood deck is becoming tired, slippery, unsafe or difficult to maintain, it may be time to consider a properly designed replacement.
Karl Harrison can help you choose the right decking material for your garden, whether that is Deckorators, composite decking, mineral-based composite decking, modified timber or another suitable option.
The best deck starts with the right conversation. It should suit the house, the garden, the users and the way the space will be enjoyed.
If you are planning a decking project in Chalfont St Giles, Amersham, Little Chalfont, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, The Chalfonts or the surrounding Buckinghamshire area, please get in touch to discuss your garden.
A well-designed deck can give you back an important part of your outdoor space.
Credits and further information
Location – Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
Client – Private residential garden
Project – Replacement composite decking platform
Decking – Deckorators Excursion
Main deck colour – Bali
Step risers and fascias – Tahiti
Project type – Replacement of an unsafe DIY hardwood deck
Installation time – Five days
Designed and installed by – Karl Harrison
