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Having decking installed in your garden is a great way to create a stylish and practical space that allows and encourages you to spend more time outdoors, having a designated area to sit down, relax, eat and drink and entertain guests. In the UK, you will likely consider having plastic decking installed, such as uPVC decking, since it will not absorb water or rot over time – which is essential with the amount of rainfall we experience throughout the year!
If you are considering installing uPVC decking in your garden, then read the rest of our helpful guide on how you can find the right decking installers to meet your needs.
Before choosing a decking company to install your decking, you must first think about the type of decking that you want. For example, you may want to opt for wood if you like the appearance of natural materials and that weathered look they get over time. However, if you want something that is more long lasting whilst still being eco-friendly, then uPVC could be your material of choice.
If you do decide that you want uPVC decking, then you will need to find a decking company who specialises in this. This means they will have the necessary knowledge and experience that is required to work with such a material. Whilst traditional timber decking is relatively uncomplicated to install, uPVC decking should always be installed by a professional due to the specialist tools required to bend it.
Finding a professional and specialised decking company will then give you the piece of mind that your decking will be installed correctly, safely and to the best possible standard.
The size of the decking that you wish to have installed may also affect which decking company you choose to employ. If you are wanting to have decking installed in a large area of your garden, then you may want to consider a company who specialises in decking services specifically, rather than a company who offers decking installation as an option amongst an array of other garden design and landscaping services.
A company who specialises in decking will have access to more materials and more experience in installing larger decking efficiently compared to those who offer services in multiple areas, as they will have more honed expertised in doing so.
If you are working to a tight budget, then it is also a good idea to choose a company who not only offer free quotes as opposed to standardised prices, since these will be tailored to your needs, but a specialised decking company in particular will be able to offer you advice on how your design vision may be tweaked (without extensive compromise) to better suit your budget and how they can do this for you.
When you think you have found a decking company that offers the services you need and can bring your desired decking visions to life, then there are a number of considerations that you should make first before jumping the gun and employing their services.
Not only will this reassure you that they are a responsible and reliable company who are fit to do the job, it will allow you to avoid any pitfalls by identifying potential issues (if there are any) before it’s too late.
We’ve listed some of the top considerations you should be looking out for below.
First and foremost, it is a good idea to look how happy previous customers have been with the quality of the work and service that the decking company in question provided them. Though there may be a testimonials section on the company’s website, there is potential that this is biassed and they may only include positive reviews.
The best place to look for reviews is through trusted sites that have truthful reviews from real people, such as Google reviews. Looking at these ensures you see a better, more accurate representation of a company’s customer satisfaction levels. There is also the opportunity for the company to reply to these, so if there are any negative reviews and you note that the company has reached out to the customer to try and resolve the issue, then this suggests that they take their reputation seriously.
If a company cares about its reputation, then it is more likely to deliver good-quality service to the standards that they advertise, since they will understand and appreciate the importance of word of mouth and customer satisfaction and how these can impact their business in either a positive or negative light.
Next, you want to ensure that the company you are considering has the appropriate licence and insurance to be installing your decking for you. A reputable company should be more than willing to provide you with evidence that they have the necessary contractor’s licence and insurance policy in place prior to undertaking any physical work.
This is key, as you don’t want to not check this only to find out later down the line if you try to sell your house to find out that they’ve built your decking to the wrong specifications. Furthermore, it offers you more peace of mind that when you use your decking it will be installed appropriately so that it is safe for you, your family and friends to spend time on and enjoy.
As for insurance, this is vital to avoid facing potential costs for damages should something go wrong or happen to someone whilst the work is being done on your property. Responsible decking companies should be covered by appropriate business liability insurance. Not only will this cover them if they cause accidental damage to your property or anyone on your property whilst working, but should you need to claim for damages then their insurance policy will cover these and be able to compensate you.
When you buy a material product, you often check the price of it before going ahead with your purchase, so that you know how much you are spending and that you can afford it, right? Well, the same should apply when having any form of building work carried out, including decking installations.
It is important to get a quote from a decking company first to see how much your desired decking will cost you. This way, you can see if it fits into your budget, as well as compare it to quotes from other companies to check that this is a realistic amount and they’re not overcharging you, or significantly undercharging you, which could suggest that they will not do a quality job.
Any reliable company should be more than willing to provide you with an initial quote, in fact many actively prompt you to do this when enquiring about their services. If you ask for a quote and they seem reluctant or refuse to do so, then take this as a warning sign and perhaps take your business elsewhere.
This one is not so much a consideration as it is being proactive on your part. Don’t be afraid to actively ask questions when choosing a uPVC installer. At the end of the day, they’re the ones who are losing business and revenue if you decide they are not the right fit for you, so they should be more than happy to answer any questions you have to prove that their services are reliable and completed to a high standard.
If they don’t have reviews on their website, ask them if they can offer any proof of previous work and refer you to past clients for testimonials. Ask them what experience they have, if they are licensed and whether they can provide relevant and up-to-date insurance documents. Ask them to break down the costs they give you in their quote so you know how much you are paying for materials, time and labour specifically.
By answering these questions, they are not only demonstrating how good their customer service is, but it suggests reliability and transparency on their part. Any hesitation or disregard for your questions could be a red flag.
If you are looking to have decking installed in your garden ready for the summer, why not consider having a plastic decking installation with the help of us here at Fitrite?
Based in Doncaster, we specialise in installing high quality, sustainable uPVC decking. Our uPVC decking is available in a range of colours, all of which are slip resistant, durable and easy to clean and maintain. We’re confident that the quality and aesthetic appeal of our uPVC decking withstands the test of time, which is why we also offer a 10-year guarantee!
Get in touch with us today to retrieve your free quote.
