About This Project

This amazing landscaping project just outside Great Bentley in Essex was both a challenge an a delight to complete.

Our client has a secluded property with views across the marshes towards Alresford Creek.  Whilst the area provides amazing vistas and spectacular sunsets, it can be wet underfoot at certain times of the year. The family wanted a boardwalk so that they could access their property all year round and enjoy everything that their outside space has to offer.

Engineered decking support

The secret to building structures that last lies partly in choosing good quality materials and installing them well. However, we’ve always maintained that the most important element in landscaping is the engineering beneath the surface.  With this decking work in Great Bentley, we needed to be Uber-sure that all of the structure would be robust enough to be semi-submerged at times and to stand strong in soggy soil.

We used a strong steel frame to lift the boardwalk and decking above the usual waterline and to ensure easy access to the property, which sits on top of a bank.

Ensuring Safety At All Times

Planning regulations dictate that any raised platform that is more than 300mm above ground level should have some kind of barrier to prevent falls. But to be honest – even without building control, we would have added a balustrade anyway.

As a safety feature for the  boardwalk we’ve opted for stylish Iroko posts and handrails from The Garden Trellis Company. Where the decking forms a verandah, we’ve strung a heavy rope between the uprights.

As damp conditions can be being inclined to encourage algae which makes timber surfaces slippery, the decking and boardwalk for this Great Bentley project are made with Millboard composite decking. Which is an ideal material for landscaping near water. As well as being slip-resistant, composite decking is rot proof and so shouldn’t need replacing within our client’s lifetime.

Decking Services in Essex

If you need help building sturdy decking that will last for many years, contact Holland Landscapes.  We work with your choice of natural timber or composite decking to create the perfect deck for your outdoor space.

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