The Client Brief
This family wanted the rear garden to work harder as a social space. Their existing patio could accommodate a dining table but became crowded as soon as guests arrived, and there was no clear relationship between the cooking area, the doors from the kitchen and the rest of the garden. The homeowners asked for a dark, architectural finish that would suit black window frames and contemporary outdoor furniture. They wanted enough room for a full dining set, a barbecue station and relaxed seating, with the whole area feeling designed rather than assembled from separate products.
The Design Challenge
The main task was zoning a large surface without making it feel like an empty platform. The deck also needed to account for thresholds, existing drainage and the garden’s planting beds. Dark finishes can visually dominate if used without relief, so the layout needed planting and furniture to break up the expanse.
The Fitrite Solution
The representative design specifies ProDeck in Onyx, giving the terrace a strong contemporary base. The deck is divided into distinct zones through furniture placement, planting edges and the alignment of the boards rather than through physical barriers. A dining area sits closest to the kitchen, the barbecue zone is positioned away from the main route, and a softer seating area occupies the garden-facing end. Wide steps create a generous transition to the lawn. ProDeck’s capped shell supports the brief for a robust, low-maintenance family surface while the dark finish provides the premium architectural character the clients wanted.
The Project Journey
- Initial brief – Map how the family entertain and where movement currently becomes congested.
- Survey – Record levels, drainage, door thresholds and planting constraints.
- Zoning plan – Allocate dining, cooking and lounge areas within one coherent deck.
- Material selection – Confirm Onyx ProDeck against the house and outdoor furniture.
- Preparation – Create the substructure and maintain drainage clearances.
- Installation – Lay the capped composite surface and form perimeter and step details.
- Finishing – Add lighting and complete interfaces with planting and lawn.
- Handover – Review maintenance guidance, guarantees and finished layout.
Project Cost
Illustrative project investment: £21,400. This is a representative project value, not a formal quotation. Final pricing would vary according to size, access, ground conditions, specification, finish and any additional works required.
The Finished Result
The new terrace is large enough for the family’s day-to-day life while also coping comfortably with bigger gatherings. Because each activity has a natural place, the space feels organised rather than oversized. The Onyx finish visually anchors the rear of the house and works particularly well with modern glazing and pale planting. The family can now move directly from kitchen to dining area, then out to lounge seating and lawn without the bottlenecks that existed before.
Key Outcomes
✓ Created three distinct social zones within one terrace
✓ Improved circulation from the kitchen into the garden
✓ Delivered a contemporary dark finish to suit the property
✓ Provided a durable capped-composite surface for high-use entertaining
✓ Replaced a small, congested patio with a true outdoor living space