Bouncy decking means the subframe below the boards is underbuilt, failing or rotten. Plex Group explains the causes and what a proper repair looks like across Worcestershire and the Cotswolds.
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Standard softwood decking boards need joists at 400mm centres at most, and 300mm centres where boards run diagonally or where composite boards are used. Many decks are built with joists at 600mm centres, the spacing the builder had in their head from stud walls. The boards then span further than they were designed to and deflect underfoot. Undersized joist timber causes the same problem over longer spans. The fix is not more screws through the boards. The fix is more support underneath them.
The whole deck sits on its posts, and the posts are the part you cannot see. Posts concreted in without ground contact rated timber rot at the point where they leave the soil, usually within eight to twelve years. Posts sat on paving slabs or bare soil sink unevenly, and spiked repair supports driven in beside a failing post rarely hold because they never reach undisturbed ground. When one post drops even ten millimetres, the beam above it hangs unsupported and the whole corner of the deck bounces. If the movement is worse in one area than another, failed support below ground is the most likely cause.
Joists need bridging, known as noggins, fixed between them to stop them twisting and to share load across the frame. A frame without noggins works as a set of individual planks rather than a single structure, so every footstep loads one joist at a time. The same applies to the main bearers. Where a single beam has been stretched between posts set too far apart, the beam itself flexes and the deck moves as one surface.
Ground conditions across our area work against deck frames in different ways. In the Vale of Evesham and on the clay soils around Cheltenham, the ground swells in winter and shrinks in summer, which rocks concrete pads and loosens post fixings year after year. On the limestone brash of the Cotswold wolds the soil drains freely but is often shallow, so pads bear at inconsistent depths and settle unevenly. In older gardens around Broadway and Winchcombe, established tree roots lift and tilt pads long after the deck was built. Add a frame built tight to the ground with no airflow beneath it and the joists stay damp, soften and lose their stiffness long before the boards on top show any sign of trouble.
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We start with a full site assessment. That means lifting boards to inspect the joists, checking joist centres and spans against the board type, probing posts at ground level for rot and checking pads and footings for settlement. Where the frame is sound but underbuilt, we add joists to close the centres to 400mm, fit noggins throughout and sister weak joists with new C24 timber. Where posts have failed, we excavate and set new ground contact rated posts in concrete to a proper depth, never spiked repair supports. Where rot has taken hold, we rebuild the subframe on a ventilated design with a membrane over the joists before the boards go back down. Plex Group repairs and rebuilds decking across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire.
A bouncy deck is always fixable once the cause is identified. Plex Group assesses and repairs decking across Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and the Cotswolds. Get in touch to arrange a site assessment.
Bouncy decking means the subframe below the boards is underbuilt, failing or rotten. Plex Group explains the causes and what a proper repair looks like across Worcestershire and the Cotswolds.
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Patio slabs that rock underfoot are a bedding or drainage problem, and they won't fix themselves. Plex Group explains why it happens and what a proper repair looks like across Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.
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A leaning garden fence almost always points to post failure below ground. Plex Group explains why fence posts fail across Worcestershire and what the correct fix looks like.
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I would highly recommend Luke and Patrick and their team. They are all extremely polite and hard-working. They put up a new pergola in our back garden and tidied up the edges of the garden. An excellent job.
I can highly recommend Luke and his team. My garden had got a little overrun due to all the rain and needed some serious attention. They were on time and left my garden looking fantastic. I am so pleased that i will now be using them to maintain my garden permanently.
I had an overgrown garden and after placing an advertisement for someone to clear my garden they were the quickest to reply and offer their services. The work carried out was very good they were very efficient and I’m very pleased with the outcome.
Luke and Patrick have completed two projects for us now. They are the most polite and professional people with a hardworking team of individuals. Nothing is too much trouble for them.
Luke and his team were incredibly professional, polite and hard working. They did an amazing job cutting back my huge holly hedge and reducing four other large trees and bushes in the space of one day - it would have taken me weeks. Fast, efficient and very reasonably price.
Luke and his team are really lovely and professional. Cannot recommend him enough.
All the team are very personable, efficient, hard working, flexible and reliable they keep the customer in touch with any change of plans and timings. i can thoroughly recommend them.
Luke and the team are absolutely brilliant. A passion for what they do and personal but professional, so pleased to have found them!
We had some overgrown garden shrubs cut down to size. The service was professional and thorough from the initial visit, where Luke discussed various options regarding shaping and pruning, to the actual trimming.
Luke and his team offer a well run and professional service and are always willing to ensure the job is completed to customer satisfaction.
A relative's garden had become very overgrown. Luke and team come once a fortnight and have been slowly restoring it. It's already looking loads better. What's more, they take away all the garden waste and check in regularly to make sure they are meeting your requirements.
I can highly recommend Luke and his team, very professional from the quote to the finished job they went above and beyond replacing and installing a new fence for me. They did a fantastic job, will not hesitate to use them again. Great job guys. Thank you.
Our garden fence was damaged in a storm in December and a poor attempt to repair it by another company had left it sagging. The guys from Plex Procurement Group quickly worked out what needed to be done to fix and stabilise it and we are very pleased with the result.
Really pleased with the gardening the team are doing. They've helped get on top of the garden and are now maintaining it with regular visits. Very dependable and good quality work. Thanks Luke!
Patrick and his team came out to level our lawn out in harsh weather. Moving all the soil/mud by wheelbarrow to the front driveway. It was completed efficiently and at low cost. I would recommend Plex to my friends and family. We have them coming along to do some more work soon.
Really pleased with the concrete base for my carport that was completed by the team , worked really hard in poor weather conditions . Great job would definitely recommend the team .
We're really pleased with the changes you've made to our front garden and would have no hesitation recommending you and your team. I really appreciate you coming to water the garden once the job was finished and the after sales service was superb.
Completely satisfied with work carried out and very impressed with work ethic of the whole team. Their level of commitment is exemplary. Our garden will now be much easier to manage with the raised borders. Have already booked for further work in the spring.
Our garden has never looked better - hard-working, thorough, and also great at getting in touch if there's a change to the schedule, etc. They have nursed our box hedging back to health. Before and and after photos are a bonus!
The guys worked tirelessly for 10 days on my 100m hedge. This was a mammoth task, and they turned up on time every day with smiles on their faces. Polite, helpful, courteous and hard working. Price was also very reasonable. Would certainly recommend
Competitive price wise even though the work carried out was to a very high standard. I was very pleased with the end result and impressed with the tidiness they left the garden after all the work was carried out. A very happy customer!
Luke & the team are extremely efficient and professional. Our lawns look very neat and tidy. Thank you.
I can easily rate Garden Guys as 5 star. The are good listeners, respectful and will always go that extra mile to make sure you’re left smiling. ? After a couple of really bad years have left me incapacitated to do the smallest of jobs, I have really needed their support.
Very obliging and efficient we have worked out a schedule that suits us both.
Hard working young team. Plenty of effective machinery and responded to special requests. Will be using them this summer and confident the relationship should develop.
Excellent service and great communication. Would highly recommend.
The boys were charming, came on a Sunday worked very hard all day, and did a fantastic job of literally halving the height of my very out-of-control hedge. Highly recommend.
They are really hard working efficient and tidy so the garden always looks better for the visit. They add more each time an have the sense to check stuff if they are less sure about odd plants or problems. Highly recommended.
Excellent job. Very nice lads. Our timings were out due to weather and for me going into hospital. They took the job on and completed it perfectly without me. Very trustworthy and no hesitation in recommending this business. Thank you, Jan
Extremely polite and did their best in the pouring rain!
Fantastic friendly team, hard working, have done many varieties of jobs for myself, and really great rates to boot!
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