Find the shelter
Before anything else, we look at where the wind comes from. In Hartlepool, strong winds often come off the sea from the north and east, with westerlies across open land. We walk the garden with you, look at where the house, extensions, walls and hedges give shelter, and find the calmest spot. Often it's a corner by the house, not the middle of the lawn.
Keep it low
Wind speed rises with height. A low deck, or several low levels, is calmer than a high platform. Where a raised deck is needed to reach the back door, we keep the main seating on the lowest practical level.
Screens that filter the wind
Solid fences and walls can create turbulence: wind rolls over the top and swirls down on the sheltered side. A slatted screen with gaps lets some air through, which slows it and reduces gusting. We build slatted screens from hardwood or composite and fix them to strong posts bolted into the deck frame.
Strength in the frame
Exposed decks get pushed around by gusts. We use closer joists, noggins between them for stiffness, deeper beams and diagonal bracing on posts. Every post sits on a concrete pad. Decks fixed to the house use a properly fixed ledger below the damp-proof course; freestanding decks are braced on all sides.
Fixings that hold
Every composite board is clipped into every joist, with edges screwed where specified. Timber boards are screwed at each joist. Near the sea we use stainless steel, because rusted fixings are the main reason boards come loose.
Furniture and extras
Built-in benches don't blow over. Heavy planters can anchor a corner and add shelter. Parasols need a weighted or fixed base, and we can build a socket into the deck for one.
Questions answered
What's the best windbreak for a deck?
A slatted screen with gaps, usually in hardwood or composite. It slows the wind rather than blocking it, which reduces turbulence on the sheltered side.
Will a screen need planning permission?
Fences, walls and screens over 2m high generally need planning permission, or over 1m next to a road. Screens on a raised deck can count from deck level, so we'll check your design.