Decking on the Deal coast is a substrate story. Kingsdown and Ringwould sit on chalk - you cannot dig a proper post hole without hitting rock at 300mm, and the answer is ground screws driven into the chalk with a hydraulic driver, not a traditional post-and-concrete sub-frame. Closer to Deal town the soil is sandy loam, and ballast pads with adjustable pedestals sit better than driven posts.
Softwood versus composite
Softwood decking - treated grooved boards on a treated softwood joist frame - is the workaday spec, and the cheaper of the two. Needs re-treating every three to four years on the coast, otherwise the salt air greys it down inside two winters. Composite decking - recycled-plastic and wood-fibre boards on an aluminium or treated softwood frame - is the low-maintenance upgrade, priced above softwood. Does not need re-treating, does not fade, is significantly more slip-resistant when wet.
Sub-frame - the decisive spec
On any Deal deck the sub-frame is where the money should go. Coastal salt air will find any weak point in a treated softwood joist inside five years if it is not fully-treated end-to-end (including cut ends painted). On Kingsdown clifftop jobs I recommend an aluminium sub-frame outright - it will outlive the decking above it and it takes ground-screw fixings cleanly.
Handrail and stair spec
Anything above 600mm rise needs a handrail per Building Regulations Part K. Handrail spec matches the fencing style - vertical picket painted heritage black for cottage frontages, glass-panel for the modern coastal-view builds up by Walmer Castle, stainless-steel wire for the seafront modern builds. Stair treads always non-slip on any coastal deck.
How pricing works
Quoted from photos, installed. Softwood costs less than composite. Aluminium sub-frame and handrails quoted separately. Ground screws on chalk substrate cost more than ballast-pad installation. Send photos and a postcode for a fixed price.
Quote from photos. Send a couple of photos and a postcode to WhatsApp on 07763 100 477 or use the quote form. Fixed price on straightforward runs.