Decking Boards

Our decking boards are the foundation of high-quality outdoor living spaces across North Yorkshire. We specialise in slow-grown European Redwood, which offers superior density and natural stability compared to standard whitewood alternatives. Every board is kiln-dried and pressure-treated (tanalised) to Use Class 3, ensuring long-term protection against decay and wood-boring insects in external environments.

What are Redwood Decking Boards?

Redwood is the industry-standard choice for timber decking due to its durability and consistent finish. Because redwood is naturally more resinous than standard spruce, it is less prone to splitting, twisting, and warping when exposed to the British weather.

While C24 structural timber is used for the sub-frames, our redwood decking provides the visible, hard-wearing surface. Our current range features 5-inch wide boards available in 3.6m and 4.8m lengths, offering a robust and traditional aesthetic for any garden size.

Key Applications & Use Cases

Our decking boards are specified for a wide range of outdoor structural work:

Garden Decking: The primary choice for domestic patios, balconies, and seating areas.

Walkways & Boardwalks: Durable enough for heavy foot traffic in garden paths and commercial outdoor spaces.

Raised Platforms: Ideal for elevated decks where a consistent, high-quality aesthetic and structural reliability are required.

Landscaping Features: Used for creating integrated bench seating, step-ups, or decorative borders within timber-framed gardens.

Performance & Quality Standards

At Ryedale Timber, we ensure our decking stock meets rigorous trade standards to prevent premature failure:

Redwood Stability: Naturally denser than whitewood, providing better fixings-retention and a smoother finish. Use Class 3 Treatment: Pressure-treated to ensure the preservative reaches the core of the timber for maximum rot resistance. Dry-Stored: We manage our own yard in Pickering and store our decking under cover, ensuring it stays straight and true until it reaches your site.

Choosing the Right Decking

It is essential to understand the “nominal” vs “finished” size when planning your deck coverage to avoid shortages.

Feature	Premium Redwood Decking	Standard Economy Decking
Material	Slow-grown Redwood	Fast-grown Whitewood
Nominal Width	5 Inch (Approx 125mm)	Varies
Finished Width	Approx 120mm	Often thinner/narrower
Storage Condition	Dry-stored under cover	Often stored outdoors

Important: When calculating your requirements, always allow for a 5mm expansion gap between boards to ensure proper drainage and airflow.

Treatment & Maintenance

Pressure-Treated (Tanalised): Our boards are treated for external use. However, any timber that is cut, drilled, or notched during installation must be treated with an end-grain preservative to maintain the protective seal.

Simple rule: If you cut it, seal it. Without end-grain treatment, moisture can enter the core of the board, leading to internal rot regardless of the initial pressure treatment.

Why Trade & DIY Choose Ryedale Timber

Straight & Square: We manage our own yard in Pickering to ensure stock is stored correctly. You won’t receive warped or unusable lengths.

Premium Species: We prioritise Redwood over cheaper species to ensure the longevity of your build.

Local Expertise: Deal directly with people who understand construction and landscaping requirements across North Yorkshire.

Decking Boards: Local Expertise & Quality

Redwood decking is the benchmark for high-quality domestic landscaping. At Ryedale Timber, we manage our own facility in Pickering to ensure every length is stored correctly and meets our quality control standards.

We specialise in serving trade and DIY customers across North Yorkshire and East Yorkshire. Our dedicated fleet provides reliable, fixed-price delivery to York, Scarborough, Malton, and Thirsk. We also regularly supply projects in Driffield, Bridlington, Whitby, and Filey.

For rural and coastal builds, we deliver to Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Easingwold, Pocklington, Guisborough, and Robin Hood’s Bay.

Timber Delivery: North Yorkshire & East Yorkshire

We deliver our full range of decking to the following areas. Deliveries typically take 3–5 working days.

Delivery Area	Postcodes Covered	Flat Rate	Minimum Spend
Pickering	YO18	£5.00	£50
Malton	YO17	£10.00	£100
Scarborough	YO11, YO12, YO13	£10.00	£100
Filey	YO14	£12.00	£100
Helmsley	YO62	£15.00	£150
Kirkbymoorside	YO62	£15.00	£150
Bridlington	YO15, YO16	£15.00	£200
Whitby	YO21	£20.00	£200
Robin Hood’s Bay	YO22	£20.00	£200
Driffield	YO25	£30.00	£300
York	YO1, YO10, YO19, YO23, YO24, YO26, YO30, YO31, YO32, YO43, YO44, YO51, YO60	£30.00	£300
Easingwold	YO61	£30.00	£300
Thirsk	YO7	£35.00	£300
Pocklington	YO41, YO42	£35.00	£350
Guisborough	TS14	£40.00	£500

Related Timber Products

• C24 Structural Timber – for longer spans and superior decking sub-frames
• C16 Structural Timber – for standard garden decking frames
• Railway Sleepers – for matching retaining walls and raised beds

Decking Boards: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 30cm rule for decking?

The “30cm rule” usually refers to the height of the decking platform from the ground. In the UK, if a deck is more than 30cm (approx. 1 foot) off the ground, it typically requires planning permission. Additionally, for structural safety, any deck at this height or above should have a balustrade or railing installed to prevent falls. Always check with your local authority in North Yorkshire before starting a high-level build.

Is it cheaper to build or buy a deck?

Building a deck yourself is almost always cheaper than buying a pre-made modular kit or hiring a contractor, as you save significantly on labour costs. However, the “cheapest” option isn’t always the best value. Using premium redwood decking boards and a solid C24 sub-frame may cost more upfront than a budget DIY kit, but it will last twice as long, saving you the cost of a full replacement in a few years.

Can I lay decking directly on soil?

No, you should never lay decking boards or sub-frame joists directly on soil. Moisture from the ground will cause even pressure-treated timber to rot prematurely. To do it correctly, you should remove the turf, lay a weed membrane, and support your frame on concrete pads, paving flags, or adjustable pedestals. This creates an essential air gap that allows the timber to dry out.

What are the common deck building mistakes?

The most common mistakes include:

• Spacing: Failing to leave a 5mm expansion gap between boards, which causes buckling when the wood swells in winter
• Sub-frame: Using weak or untreated timber for the frame. Always use C24 pressure-treated joists
• End-Grain: Forgetting to apply end-grain preservative to any parts of the boards that have been cut
• Airflow: Blocking the sides of the deck so air cannot circulate underneath, which traps moisture and leads to rot

Is it better to screw or nail a deck?

It is significantly better to use screws. Nails tend to “pop” out over time as the timber naturally moves, creating a trip hazard and a squeaky surface. High-quality, stainless steel or coated decking screws have a threaded shank that grips the joist tightly. This keeps the boards secure and makes it much easier to remove a board in the future if you need to access services beneath the deck.