Decking in Dormanstown

Here's what to know about a deck in Dormanstown: the houses and gardens, the clay, planning and tenancy rules, and what affects the cost.

The homes

Dormanstown is semi-detached territory. The 2021 Census recorded 67.1% of homes in Dormanstown ward as semi-detached, 19.8% terraced, 8.1% flats and 3.7% detached. Just over half of households (50.9%) own their home, while 33.6% rent from the council or a housing association and 15.2% rent privately.

The street names follow a theme: many come from the dales and villages of the North York Moors, such as Eskdale Road, Bransdale Grove, Rosedale Grove, Glaisdale Avenue, Wheeldale Avenue, Farndale Square, Boulby Road and Grinkle Road. Broadway East and Broadway West cross the estate, and All Saints Church, Dormanstown Primary Academy, Outwood Academy Redcar and Dormanstown Millennium Green are all close by.

Many semis here have regular gardens with a path down the side, which makes building a deck straightforward. A low deck outside the back door, the width of the house, gives a dry, level space for a table and chairs. For families, it keeps play and meals off a lawn that can stay wet for weeks in winter.

Salt, clay and drainage

The British Geological Survey's 1:50,000 map shows Devensian till (boulder clay) over the Jurassic Redcar Mudstone Formation under Dormanstown. Till drains slowly and can hold surface water, which is why lawns here can be soggy after rain.

For a deck on clay, we take post holes down to firm, undisturbed ground and set the posts in concrete. The ground underneath is shaped to fall gently away from the house, covered with a weed membrane and topped with gravel, so water runs off. The frame stays clear of the soil, with air moving round it to keep the joists dry.

Dormanstown is a little inland from the beach, but the wind still carries salt. We use stainless steel fixings throughout, because ordinary plated screws rust and stain the boards. The Environment Agency's Flood Map for Planning shows no land in Flood Zones 2 or 3 within 300 metres of the centre of the estate.

Planning in Dormanstown

planning.data.gov.uk lists 1 to 20 Dormans Crescent as Grade II listed, along with Westfield House, Foxrush Farmhouse and its garden wall, and a barn near the farmhouse. The Coatham Conservation Area, one of 16 in Redcar and Cleveland, lies to the north-east.

For most of the estate, the Planning Portal's national rules apply. A deck is normally permitted development if it's no more than 30cm above the ground and, together with other extensions and outbuildings, covers no more than half the garden. Higher decks need planning permission, and so do decks for flats and maisonettes. At a listed building there is no permitted development allowance for decking, so a deck at a house on Dormans Crescent would need listed building consent and possibly planning permission.

If you rent from the council, a housing association or a private landlord, you'll need written permission before any work. We can give you a drawing and specification to send with your request.

Deck ideas for Dormanstown

A simple low deck by the back door, with a picture-frame edge and one wide step down to the lawn, suits most semis here. Boards laid across the width make the garden feel wider. A built-in bench along the fence adds seating and can hide storage for cushions or toys. If you'd like some shelter from the wind, a slatted screen on one side helps without blocking light.

Composite is low-maintenance and copes well with coastal weather; treated softwood keeps costs down if you're happy to re-treat it every couple of years. See composite decking and timber decking, or read about decking repairs and replacement if you already have a tired deck.

Budget

We quote after a visit. Size, height, board choice, steps, screens and lighting all affect the price, along with clearing the area first. Side access on most semis makes the job easier. Our decking costs guide explains how a quote is built up.

Around Dormanstown

• Coatham: to the north-east, terraces and the Coatham Conservation Area near the seafront.
• Eston: to the south-west, with its High Street and Christ Church.
• Marske-by-the-Sea: to the east along the coast.

See every place we cover on our areas page.

FAQs about decking in Dormanstown

Sources: ONS Census 2021 TS044 and TS054, Dormanstown ward (Nomis); planning.data.gov.uk: listed buildings; Wikipedia: Dormanstown; BGS Geology Viewer 1:50,000; Environment Agency Flood Map for Planning; OpenStreetMap; Planning Portal: decking.