Decking in Fairfield

What follows is a practical guide to decking in Fairfield: the houses, the ground, the planning position and what affects the price.

The houses and gardens

Fairfield is semi-detached country. The 2021 Census recorded 70.4% of homes in Fairfield ward as semi-detached, 17.4% detached, 6.8% terraced and 5.3% purpose-built flats. Most households own their home (81.0%), and almost half (49.3%) own it outright.

The street names are a clue to the area's character. Around Orchard Road you'll find Lime Grove, Blackthorn Grove, Almond Grove, Berberis Grove, Autumn Grove and Palm Grove, while Fairfield Road, Coverdale Road, Westerleigh Avenue and The Chase run between them. Schools such as Ian Ramsey Church of England Academy, The Grangefield Academy and Our Lady and St Bede Catholic Academy are close by, and Fairfield Library is on the edge of the area.

Many Fairfield back gardens have a path or patio by the house, a lawn and borders, often with a shed at the end. Over time, slabs settle and patios crack, and that's often what prompts a deck: a level, even surface outside the back door where the old patio was. Some houses have kitchen or conservatory extensions, and a deck can wrap around them or fill the corner they create.

Ground conditions in Fairfield

The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows Devensian till over Sherwood Sandstone under Fairfield. Till is boulder clay: stiff, mixed with stones and slow to drain. It's a good base for footings once you get down to undisturbed ground, but it can stay wet on the surface for long periods.

So we dig post holes to firm clay and set the posts in concrete. Before the frame goes in, we clear the turf and topsoil, shape the ground with a slight fall away from the house, lay a weed membrane and cover it with gravel. That keeps water and weeds from collecting under the boards, and leaves air moving around the joists.

The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows no land in Flood Zones 2 or 3 within 300 metres of central Fairfield. Green Vale Beck runs a little further away, so if your garden is near it, a quick check on the map is sensible.

Planning in Fairfield

There's no conservation area covering Fairfield on planning.data.gov.uk, and only a couple of listed buildings nearby: The White House and the former Royal Navy wireless station, both Grade II.

That keeps things simple. Under the national rules on the Planning Portal, a deck is normally permitted development if it's no more than 30cm above the ground and, together with other extensions and outbuildings, covers no more than half the garden. A deck higher than 30cm needs planning permission, and flats and maisonettes don't have permitted development rights for decking. If you rent, you'll need your landlord's written agreement first.

If your semi has an extension already, include it when working out the half-garden limit. We'll measure that at the visit.

Designs that suit Fairfield

For most Fairfield semis, a low deck straight off the back door makes the best use of the space. Boards laid across the width of the garden make it feel wider; laid lengthways they draw the eye down the garden. A single broad step to the lawn is easy for children and older visitors alike.

Composite boards suit families who'd rather not spend weekends staining, and come in greys and browns to match brick. Treated softwood is a lower-cost choice if you're happy to treat it every year or two. A built-in bench along the fence or a planter at the corner can give the deck a finished look. Read more on our composite decking and timber decking pages, or see how we replace a tired old deck on decking repairs and replacement.

Pricing your deck in Fairfield

We give a price after we've seen the garden. The things that change it are the size of the deck, the height, how much old patio needs lifting and taking away, the board, the number of steps and any extras. Side access matters too, because semis usually have a path down one side, which makes it easier to bring materials in. Our decking costs guide explains each factor in more detail.

Neighbouring areas

• Hartburn: next door to the south-east, with an old village street and conservation area.
• Norton: to the north-east, with its green, High Street and older houses.
• Billingham: further north-east, with a post-war planned town centre and the Billingham Forum.

See every place we cover on our areas page.

Questions we get asked about Fairfield

Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044, TS045 and TS054, Fairfield ward (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer 1:50,000; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; OpenStreetMap; Planning Portal: decking.