Raised Decking Kingston upon Thames | Balconies & Elevated Decks

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Raised Decking Kingston upon Thames

Elevated Deck Structures, Balconies & Balustrades in Kingston upon Thames

Designed & Built by Master Carpenters

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We offer free, no-obligation quotes for raised decking and balcony projects across Kingston upon Thames and the surrounding areas. Fill in the form and one of our friendly, professional estimators will be in touch to arrange a site visit at a time that suits you.

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Serving Kingston upon Thames and surrounding areas

Raised timber decking with balustrade built by the London Decking Specialists team

Raised Decking in Kingston upon Thames

Raised Decking & Balconies in Kingston upon Thames

Kingston upon Thames sits where the river meets some of South West London’s most varied residential streets, and its housing stock reflects that: Victorian terraces near the town centre, Edwardian semis along the avenues, and larger family homes towards Coombe and Kingston Hill. Plenty of those properties have gardens that change level, slope away from the house or sit above an older sunken patio. That is exactly the situation raised decking is designed to solve.

We are London Decking Specialists, the decking arm of MJ Kloss Carpentry and Joinery. Our carpenters design and build raised decking, elevated terraces and balcony structures across Kingston, from Norbiton and Berrylands out towards Coombe. Every structure starts with the sub-frame: posts sized for the load, beams sized for the span, fixings specified for the height. It is the part of the deck you never see, and it is the part we care about most.

This page covers what actually matters for raised decking in Kingston: the structural approach, what the Party Wall Act means if your deck sits near a boundary, the balustrade heights Building Regulations require, and when the council will expect a planning application. If anything is unclear, ask us at the site visit. The advice is free, and we would rather you knew the rules before you commit to anything.

Built From the Ground Up

Structural Design for Elevated Decks

A raised deck is a load-bearing structure, not a floor laid on the ground. It has to carry its own weight plus people, furniture and planters, and every one of those loads travels down through the posts into the ground. As the height increases, so do the forces involved, which is why post sizing, bracing and foundation design become more important with every extra hundred millimetres of elevation.

On sloping Kingston gardens, particularly around Kingston Hill where the ground can fall away sharply, the posts at the lower end of a deck may be far taller than those nearest the house. Taller posts need larger timber sections and diagonal bracing to prevent sway. We design each sub-frame for its specific site rather than applying a standard recipe, and where a structure is unusually tall or heavily loaded we will tell you plainly if a structural engineer should be involved before we build it.

Boundaries & Neighbours

The Party Wall Act & Decking in Kingston upon Thames

Terraced and semi-detached homes make up a large share of Kingston’s housing, which means many gardens share a boundary with a neighbouring property. The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 can apply to decking work in two situations. If you excavate for post foundations within 3 metres of a neighbouring building or structure and dig deeper than its foundations, a Section 6 notice must be served at least one month before work starts. And if the deck fixes to or bears on a shared garden wall, that wall may be a party fence wall, which also requires notice.

Most ground-level decking never touches the Act because post pads are shallow. Raised decks need deeper foundations, though, and the boundary walls of older Kingston streets often have very shallow footings, so it comes up more often than people expect. We assess this at the site visit and tell you clearly whether notice is likely to be needed. Serving one is not a planning application; it is a neighbour notification process, and most are resolved with simple written consent within a fortnight.

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 is a legal framework between neighbours. This is general guidance, not legal advice. Where a project engages the Act, we recommend confirming the position with a party wall surveyor.

Building Regulations Part K

Balustrades & Guarding Requirements

600mm

Drop that triggers guarding

Guarding is required wherever a person could fall more than 600mm from the deck edge

1100mm

Minimum guarding height

For external areas of a dwelling, including raised decks and balconies

100mm

Maximum sphere gap

No opening in the guarding may allow a 100mm sphere to pass through

Approved Document K of the Building Regulations sets the guarding standard for raised structures in England. The trigger is a 600mm drop: wherever someone could fall more than 600mm from the deck edge, guarding is required. For external areas of a home, which includes raised decks and balconies, that guarding must be at least 1100mm high and must not contain any gap a 100mm sphere could pass through, a rule written to keep small children safe.

We build every Kingston raised deck to those standards as a minimum, whether or not building control is formally involved, because they are sensible standards. Glass, metal and timber balustrades can all comply when correctly specified and fixed, and we will walk you through what suits your garden and budget at the design stage.

Figures from Approved Document K (Building Regulations, England). Requirements can change and specific projects can differ. We confirm the applicable standards for your project at the design stage.

Planning Guidance

Planning Permission for Raised Decking in Kingston upon Thames

Planning for decking hinges on height. Decking no more than 300mm above ground level is generally permitted development and needs no application. Above 300mm it counts as a raised platform, which is excluded from permitted development, so a planning application to the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is normally required. The coverage rule also applies: decking combined with outbuildings and extensions must not cover more than half the garden.

Kingston has 26 conservation areas, and Kingston Old Town was among the first three designated in the borough back in 1971. Conservation area status does not automatically rule out a raised deck, but it can affect how the council assesses an application. Listed buildings are stricter still: there are no permitted development rights for decking within the curtilage of a listed building, so consent is needed regardless of height. We confirm the planning position for your specific address before quoting. This page is general guidance, not planning advice.

This is general guidance, not planning advice. Rules vary by property and can change. Always verify your position with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames or a qualified planning consultant before starting work.

Pricing Guide

Raised Decking Costs in Kingston upon Thames

Raised decking costs more than ground-level decking because the sub-frame is more substantial and the balustrade is an additional element. These are typical fully installed ranges for our work across London, including Kingston upon Thames.

Raised to 600mm

£130–200/m²

Decks elevated up to around 600mm, including sub-frame and boards

Elevated 600mm+

£200–350+/m²

Taller structures needing heavier posts, bracing and deeper foundations

Balustrades

£120–400/lm

Per linear metre: timber at the lower end, frameless glass at the upper

Height is the biggest single variable: every additional level of elevation adds post length, bracing and foundation work. We provide detailed, itemised quotes after a proper site visit, with the structure, boards and balustrade priced separately so you can see exactly what you are paying for.

Raised Decking Kingston upon Thames: FAQs

Do I need planning permission for raised decking in Kingston upon Thames?

If the deck is no more than 300mm above ground level it is generally permitted development. Above 300mm it is classed as a raised platform and a planning application to the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is normally required. Conservation areas such as Kingston Old Town can affect how an application is assessed, and listed buildings have no permitted development rights for decking at all. We check the position for your address before quoting, but always confirm with the council for your specific property.

How much does raised decking cost in Kingston?

As a guide, raised decking up to about 600mm off the ground typically costs £130–200 per m² installed. Taller elevated structures run from £200 to £350+ per m² because the sub-frame and bracing requirements increase with height. Balustrades add £120–400 per linear metre depending on whether you choose timber, metal or glass. We provide an itemised quote after a site visit rather than a guess over the phone.

Does the Party Wall Act apply to a garden deck?

It can. If post foundations are excavated within 3 metres of a neighbouring building or structure and go deeper than that structure’s foundations, the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 requires a Section 6 notice at least one month before work starts. Work on a shared garden wall can also require notice. Most decking projects do not trigger the Act, but raised decks with deeper footings near a boundary sometimes do. We flag this at the site visit.

How high does the balustrade on a raised deck need to be?

Approved Document K requires guarding wherever there is a drop of more than 600mm. For external residential areas such as decks and balconies the guarding must be at least 1100mm high, with no gap large enough for a 100mm sphere to pass through. We build to these standards on every raised deck as a matter of course.

Can you build a raised deck on a sloping Kingston garden?

Yes, that is the most common reason to build one. A sloping garden around Kingston Hill or Coombe can be levelled with a raised deck so the surface sits flush with the back of the house and steps down into the garden. The posts at the lower end are taller and need heavier sections and bracing, which we design into the sub-frame from the start.

How long does a raised decking project take?

A typical 20–30m² raised deck takes three to five working days depending on the height, ground conditions and balustrade. A new balcony on an existing property is usually a five to eight day project. We give you a realistic timeline with the quote and keep you informed if anything changes.

Raised Decking in Nearby Areas

We design and build raised decking and balcony structures across South West London and the surrounding areas.

Raised Decking Twickenham Raised Decking Bromley Raised Decking Surbiton Raised Decking Wimbledon Raised Decking Beckenham Raised Decking Richmond Raised Decking Chiswick

What Our Customers Say

4.9rating from 18 reviewsGoogle

Reviews for MJ Kloss Carpentry & Joinery — the master carpenters behind London Decking Specialists

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Barbie Kristal

Good, very professional company with reliable and excellent tradespeople. Always punctual when promised. Also available to speak to during any works. So important especially if there are problems. This is a company that takes FULL responsibility for its workers. So if there's a problem, no hesitation in sorting and remedying it. Joey a manager, was especially kind, caring and helpful towards me. He too, is an outstanding carpenter. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this company.

Lindsey Chadwick

Wouldn't hesitate to recommend MJ Kloss Carpentry and will certainly be using them again. They have now completed two pieces of work for us and in both cases we've been delighted with the results. Carlos, their head carpenter, is a true artisan who takes the utmost pride in his beautiful work (as well as being a lovely person to have working in your home). Maarten, the project manager, is equally easy to work with. He skillfully helped guide us through the design process offering really creative and effective solutions throughout. Any issues (and let's face it, things will always crop up on any project, no matter who you work with) were thankfully minor and resolved quickly without complaint.

MJ Paradiso

Very happy with the process to help me design what I was looking for (even before I knew what I was asking for) and the attention to detail with the installation was excellent.

Garion Gilchrist

Great experience. Delivered what we asked for and more, in a tidy and timely manor. Thanks!

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Our friendly estimators are happy to visit your property in Kingston upon Thames and give you a free, no-obligation quote for raised decking or balcony construction.

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