Digging out and lowering the area
The soil was fully dug out and the ground lowered, so the new deck could sit at the right height rather than being built up on top of the old levels.
Case study · Norbury SW16 · March 2026
Two-level softwood decking in Norbury
Claudia's long garden in Norbury was dug out and lowered, then decked from the house to the far end with 35m² of softwood on a brand new frame over a weed membrane. The boards are laid in two different designs, with a step down to a lower section, and a concrete path finishes the area around a manhole cover that could not be lowered. Three days, £7,000 including VAT.
- Location
- Norbury, SW16
- Client
- Claudia
- Price
- £7,000 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days
- Deck
- 35m² softwood, two levels
- Extra
- Concrete path round the manhole
Where we started
The brief
Claudia's garden in Norbury is long and narrow, running down from the back of the house between trellis-topped fences. Claudia wanted it decked from end to end.
That meant digging the soil out and lowering the area first, building a new frame, and planning the levels so the deck works with the house, a manhole cover and the slope at the far end. It is a typical project for our decking in Norbury, close to our own base.
Before & after
The same garden, three days apart
The tricky parts
What went into it
Step by step
How we built it
Digging out and lowering
The soil was dug out and the area lowered along the length of the garden.
Soil dug out and lowered at the end of the Norbury garden 
Levelling the ground ready for the frame Weed membrane and new frame
A weed membrane was laid over the ground, and a new softwood frame was built and levelled across the garden.
New softwood deck frame down the length of the garden 
Deck frame looking back towards the house Two board designs and the lower section
The boards were laid in two different designs, with a step down to a lower section at the far end.
Decking boards laid in two directions at the end of the garden 
Step down to the lower deck section Concrete path around the manhole
The manhole cover could not be lowered, so a concrete path was laid around it where it meets the deck.
Concrete path around the manhole cover by the back doors 
Concrete path beside the new deck outside the house
The finished work
The finished deck
Budget
What it cost
This deck cost £7,000 including VAT over three days, covering digging out and lowering the ground, the weed membrane, the new frame, 35m² of softwood decking in two designs with a lower section, and the concrete path around the manhole. That works out at about £200 per m² for the complete job. See our decking in Norbury page for more options.
Get a free quote- Price
- £7,000 inc. VAT
- Time on site
- 3 days
- Deck
- 35m² softwood, two levels
Questions
About softwood decking
Thinking about something similar? These are the questions we hear most.
How much does softwood decking cost in Norbury?
Claudia's 35m² softwood deck in Norbury SW16 cost £7,000 including VAT and took three days, including digging out and lowering the ground, a weed membrane, a new frame, two board designs with a lower section and a concrete path around the manhole. That is about £200 per m² for the complete job.
Why dig out and lower the ground before decking?
Lowering the ground lets the deck sit at the right height for the house and doors, instead of being built up on the old levels, which can leave it too high or create awkward steps.
Can decking be laid in different patterns?
Yes. Changing the board direction, or using two designs in different areas, breaks up a long deck and makes it more interesting, as in Claudia's garden.
What if a manhole is in the way of a new deck?
Manholes must stay accessible. Where a cover can be lowered we can deck over it with a hatch; where it is too high, like Claudia's, we finish around it neatly, here with a concrete path.
Do I need a weed membrane under decking?
It is strongly recommended. A membrane over the ground stops weeds growing up between the boards while still letting water drain away.
How long does it take to build a 35m² deck?
Claudia's took three days, including digging out and lowering the ground, the membrane, the frame, both board designs and the concrete path.
Is softwood decking a good choice?
Pressure-treated softwood is a good-value, natural-looking choice. It needs occasional cleaning and treating to keep it looking its best, while composite costs more but needs less upkeep.
Do you build decks near Norbury?
Yes. Norbury is our home base, and we work across Streatham, Thornton Heath, Mitcham and Croydon. See all our landscaping in Norbury.
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Planning a new deck?
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020 3633 5529 info@finelandscape.co.ukFine Landscape Ltd
31 Tylecroft Road, Norbury, London SW16 4BL
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