Hardwood Decking · South West London
Hardwood decking, designed and built across South West London.
Thames & Oak is South West London's design-led specialist for bespoke hardwood decking. European oak, Iroko and thermally-modified ash — engineered by our in-house carpenters to sit precisely with the architecture of your home and the wider garden.
The South West London studio for hardwood decking
For over a decade, Thames & Oak has built hardwood decks for homes across Kingston, Richmond, Wimbledon, Putney, Barnes and Esher. It is one of the most requested elements in our garden schemes — and one we have refined to a level rarely seen in the wider trade.
Every deck we build begins as a drawing, not a quote for square metres. Board direction, level relationship with the house, threshold detailing, drainage falls, ventilation, sub-frame layout and lighting are all resolved on paper before a single timber is cut.
Oak, Iroko and thermally-modified ash
We work exclusively in premium hardwoods. European oak for its warmth, longevity and beautiful silver patina. Iroko for its density and resistance to the damp micro-climate of Thames-side gardens. Thermally-modified ash for its stability, tight grain and lower embodied carbon.
Softwood and composite have their place, but they do not belong on a hardwood deck. Where clients specifically want a low-maintenance composite deck, we are honest about the trade-offs and will build it properly — but the majority of our work is genuine hardwood, laid to last.
Engineered from the substructure up
A hardwood deck is only as good as what sits beneath it. Our substructures are built on treated softwood or galvanised steel, mechanically levelled, ventilated on every side and detailed to shed water. Joist centres are set to the specific board thickness and species — never a one-size-fits-all grid.
Fixings are stainless throughout. Boards are hidden-fixed or precisely counter-bored and pelleted. End grain is sealed. Perimeters carry a proper fascia rather than an exposed joist edge. The finished deck looks calm, level and considered — because every hidden detail has been thought about first.
Integrated with the wider garden
Because we design and build whole gardens, a Thames & Oak deck never sits in isolation. Levels flow into the paving. Board direction respects the sightlines from the principal rooms. Concealed 12V lighting extends the deck into the evening. Built-in seating, planters, pergolas and screens are drawn and built as one continuous piece of work.
The result is a deck that reads as part of the architecture of the house, rather than something added on afterwards.
Where we work
Our hardwood decking work covers the whole of South West London: Kingston upon Thames, Coombe, Norbiton and Surbiton in KT; Richmond, Kew, Petersham and East Sheen in TW; Barnes, Putney, Southfields and Wandsworth in SW; Wimbledon Village and the West Hill area of SW19; and out into Esher, Thames Ditton and Weybridge in Surrey.
Why Thames & Oak
What sets the work apart.
01
In-house carpenters
Directly employed timber teams — never subcontracted middlemen.
02
Premium hardwoods only
European oak, Iroko and thermally-modified ash as standard.
03
Engineered substructures
Levelled, ventilated and drainage-detailed to outlast the boards.
04
Design-led detailing
Concealed fixings, flush thresholds, integrated lighting and seating.
Our Process
From first visit to handover.
Consultation
An unhurried site visit at your home to understand the brief and the site.
Design
A measured survey, concept design, materials and a transparent build cost.
Build
Directly employed teams take the site through every trade end-to-end.
Completion
Walked handover, aftercare notes and a written workmanship guarantee.
Common Questions
FAQs
- Which hardwood is best for decking in South West London?
- For most gardens across Kingston, Richmond, Wimbledon and Putney we recommend European oak, Iroko or thermally-modified ash. Oak weathers to a soft silver and is exceptionally stable; Iroko is dense, oily and resists movement in damp Thames-side conditions; thermally-modified ash is a beautiful lower-carbon alternative with excellent dimensional stability. We advise on the right choice for the specific garden, aspect and use.
- How long does a hardwood deck last?
- A properly engineered hardwood deck — set on a treated softwood or steel substructure with correct ventilation, drainage and stainless fixings — will last 25 to 40+ years. Oil finishes are refreshed every one to two years, or the timber can be left to silver naturally.
- How much does hardwood decking cost in South West London?
- As a guide, bespoke hardwood decking in the South West London area typically ranges from £350 to £600 per square metre installed, depending on the species, substructure, levels, balustrades and integrated details such as lighting or built-in seating. Every project is quoted transparently after a site visit.
- Do I need planning permission for a raised deck?
- In most cases decks under 300mm above ground level fall within permitted development. Raised decks, decks close to a boundary, or decks in conservation areas (parts of Richmond, Kew, Barnes and Wimbledon Village) may require permission. We handle the planning conversation as part of the design process.
- Can you replace an old softwood or composite deck?
- Yes. A large part of our decking work is replacing tired softwood or first-generation composite decks with properly engineered hardwood. We remove and dispose of the existing deck, reassess the substructure, correct any drainage or ventilation issues, and install the new timber.
- Which areas of South West London do you cover?
- We design and build hardwood decking across the whole South West London area — Kingston upon Thames, Richmond, Kew, Barnes, East Sheen, Putney, Wimbledon, Southfields, Wandsworth, Surbiton, Esher and Twickenham.
- Do you offer a guarantee on decking?
- Yes. All hardwood decking we install carries a written workmanship guarantee, in addition to the manufacturer warranties on fixings, substructure components and any integrated lighting.
Related Work
Recent projects in this area
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