Service
Ground Screw Foundations for Decking Across the North West
Give your house and garden a modern look and mount the decking straight onto the screws, saving time, money and effort.
No post holes, no concrete, no waiting
- Development, supply and installation under one roof
- One of the UK's biggest independent ground screw distributors
- Screws made from 70% recycled galvanised steel
- Around 70% faster and cheaper than digging
- No excavation, no concrete, no spoil to remove
What decking involves
Decking normally means digging post holes, setting posts in concrete and waiting for it to go off before the joists can go on. Ground screws replace that with a driven foundation the frame fixes to immediately.
Screws are set out on the joist and post centres, driven to level, and the deck frame is bolted on the same day.
Who it is for
Homeowners laying a new deck, landscapers who want the foundation handled, and anyone rebuilding a deck whose concrete-set posts have rotted at ground level.
It also suits decks over soft ground, shallow services, root protection areas or existing hard surfaces.
When it is needed, and why specialist installation matters
Deal with the foundation before the timber is ordered. Once the screw positions and heights are set, the frame can go on the same day the screws go in, with no cure to wait out.
Screws are the right call for a new deck on soft or made ground, a deck over shallow services or root protection areas, a raised deck on falling ground, and any rebuild where concrete-set posts have rotted at the base.
It is worth having the foundation set out properly because a deck's fall, threshold level and joist spans all key off it. Posts a little out of line or heights a little out of level show up in every board above them.
What happens if it is left
The cost of leaving it another winter
Concreted timber posts sit in a bucket of water for their whole life, which is why so many decks fail at the base rather than on the surface.
Digging holes across a finished garden also does real damage: spoil to remove, lawn to repair, and a skip to hire for the arisings.
A screw foundation keeps timber clear of the ground and keeps the garden intact.
Common mistakes we are called in to undo
- Assuming concrete is the only option, and paying for excavation, spoil removal and curing time you do not need.
- Setting posts in concrete on ground with services below, where a screw could have been positioned and driven safely instead.
- Buying screws without checking the soil conditions or the load, so the wrong length and diameter go in.
- Starting a build on foundations that were never set properly to level, and packing the structure to compensate later.
Our process
How a decking job runs, from first call to handover
Step 1
Request a call back
You send the form or call us. We ask what you are building, where it is going and what the access is like, so nobody wastes a visit.
Step 2
Estimate over the phone
We give you an estimate there and then based on the structure, the loads and the number of screws the job needs. No obligation to go further.
Step 3
Site visit and assessment
If you are happy with the estimate, we visit and assess the full requirements: ground conditions, levels, services below ground and the screw specification.
Step 4
Installation
Our qualified installers drive the screws in with practical handheld equipment, to the surveyed positions and levels, with total precision and no excavation.
Step 5
Hand over, ready to build
Screws are set to level, the ground is left as we found it, and you can start building the same day. No curing time, no spoil, no skip.
What you get
The results this work is actually bought for
No digging and no concrete
The foundation is driven into undisturbed ground. Nothing is excavated, nothing is poured, and there is no spoil to get rid of.
Usually finished in a few hours
Most installations are completed in a single visit, so the build on top can start straight away instead of waiting on a cure.
Works in any weather, any soil
Ground screws are designed for year-round installation and suit all soil types, even on hillsides, so winter does not stop the job.
Cheaper overall
Around 70% faster and cheaper to assemble than normal ground digging, with no skip hire, no muck away and far less labour on site.
Reusable and removable
Made from 70% recycled galvanised steel. The soil stays unsealed, so the foundation can be unwound and reused elsewhere later.
In detail
Decking: materials, methods and where it applies
Levels and layout
Screws are positioned from your frame drawing or set out on site to suit the joist span. Heights are set so the finished deck runs to the threshold level you want, with the fall away from the building.
Where the ground drops away, longer screws and taller heads carry the frame rather than a built-up base.
Longer life, easier repairs
Galvanised steel in the ground and timber above it is a far better arrangement than timber in concrete. Individual screws can also be added later if the deck is extended.
When the deck is eventually replaced, the foundation is normally reusable.
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Ground-level, raised and rooftop-style decks
Ground-hugging decks use shorter screws on close centres, with heads set just above finished ground so the frame is ventilated and the timber never sits in standing water.
Raised decks and balconies over falling ground use longer screws and taller heads, carrying the frame at height instead of building up a base or stepping a concrete foundation.
Decks over existing patios and hard surfaces are often possible too, depending on the make-up beneath; we confirm that at the site assessment before committing to positions.
Why the base outlasts concreted posts
A timber post set in concrete sits in a cup that collects water, which is why so many decks fail at the base long before the boards wear out. Galvanised steel in the ground with timber bolted above it removes that failure point.
Screws also make later changes cheap. Extra screws can be added to extend a deck, and a single position can be adjusted without breaking out a concrete plug.
Because the soil is never sealed, drainage across the garden is unaffected and the screws are normally reusable when the deck is eventually replaced.
Not sure this is the right specification for your wall? See all of our services, the areas we cover, or go back to the homepage.
FAQs
Decking questions we are asked most
Can screws be used on an existing patio or slab?
Often yes, depending on what is underneath. We check that as part of the assessment before confirming the approach.
How many screws will my deck need?
It depends on the span, the frame design and the loading. Send the dimensions and we will give you a number and a price over the phone.
How long does the installation take?
Most jobs are completed in a few hours, in a single visit. Larger commercial installations are programmed around your site, but there is never any curing time to wait on.
Is there any mess?
Very little. There is no excavation, no concrete and no spoil, so no skip is needed and the surrounding ground is left largely as we found it.
Will ground screws work in my soil?
Ground screws suit all soil types, even on hillsides, and different screws suit different conditions. We confirm the specification when we assess the site.
Can the foundations be removed later?
Yes. The soil is never sealed, so screws can be unwound and reused. That is one of the reasons they suit temporary and relocatable structures so well.
How much will it cost?
Cost depends on the number of screws, their specification and the access on site, so we price each job rather than publishing a rate. Send the details or call us and you will get an estimate over the phone before anybody visits.
How long will the foundation last?
The screws are galvanised steel made from 70% recycled material, so the shaft in the ground is corrosion-protected for the life of the structure above it, and unlike a concrete base it can be unwound, moved and reused rather than broken out.
Can you install in winter or wet weather?
Yes. Ground screws are designed for installation all year round and there is no concrete to protect while it cures, so weather that would stop a dig and pour does not stop us.
Which areas do you cover?
We install across Liverpool, Merseyside, Sefton, Wirral, Knowsley, St Helens, Warrington, Cheshire and the wider North West, and we supply ground screws nationally as one of the UK's biggest independent distributors.
Related work
Often carried out alongside this
Garden buildings
Garden rooms, offices and sheds of any size sat on a level screw foundation the same day.
Read moreFencing
Garden fences through to school railings, with screw types matched to the soil on your site.
Read moreGround screw foundation installation
Qualified installers screwing your foundations into place in hours: no digging, no concrete, no skips.
Read moreFree quote
Building or rebuilding a deck?
Send the size and the shape. We will confirm the screw layout, the cost, and a day to get the foundation in.
- Development, supply and installation under one roof
- One of the UK's biggest independent ground screw distributors
- Screws made from 70% recycled galvanised steel
- Around 70% faster and cheaper than digging
- No excavation, no concrete, no spoil to remove
No obligation. We'll ask a few questions about the project and give you an estimate over the phone. Prefer to talk now? Call 0151 530 1825.