HOW TO HIRE · GARDEN & OUTDOOR · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a deck builder in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A decking construction in Ireland costs €100–€320 per m², typically around €170. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a deck builder in five steps
- Are you on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — maintenance and Repair — regular maintenance and occasional repairs are part of decking upkeep.
- Will I get a Certificate of Compliance on Completion, and when?On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — installation Process — the installation process typically includes site preparation, foundation work, and the actual decking assembly.
- How does material choice change the price?A cheaper material often means more work to make it look right. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does deck size change the price?More ground to cover means more time on site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the design change the price?Unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
Construction Industry Register Ireland (CIRI)
CIRI is a VOLUNTARY register today. The Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 was signed on 5 July 2022 and S.I. 429/2022 commenced parts of it on 29 August 2022; the Construction Industry Federation was appointed registration body on 16 January 2023. Registration is NOT yet mandatory: the divisions regulations had not been drafted as of a May 2025 Dáil answer, and CIRI itself projects mandatory registration from 2027. So being absent from CIRI breaks no law in 2026 — and being on it is still the only independent check of a builder that exists here.
Search the Construction Industry Register Ireland for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. ciri.ie →
a Certificate of Compliance on Completion
Issued by the assigned certifier and the builder, where the work needed a commencement notice on completion, before the building is occupied. It matters because it is lodged on the statutory register and is what a buyer's solicitor looks for; work done without one surfaces on sale.
Agree before the work starts that you will be handed a certificate of compliance on completion, and keep it with the house papers.
Insurance
Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — maintenance and Repair — regular maintenance and occasional repairs are part of decking upkeep.
A good answer: On the day the work is finished and tested, not posted on later — installation Process — the installation process typically includes site preparation, foundation work, and the actual decking assembly.
A good answer: A cheaper material often means more work to make it look right. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: More ground to cover means more time on site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Design and Layout — decking construction involves planning the design and layout to enhance your outdoor space — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a deck builder job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and, for anything structural, professional indemnity from whoever designed it — material Selection — choosing the right materials is crucial for decking construction.
Getting the quote right
- Material choice — a cheaper material often means more work to make it look right.
- Deck size — more ground to cover means more time on site.
- Complexity of the design — unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit.
- Condition of the area — a bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Construction Industry Register Ireland, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- No a Certificate of Compliance on Completion is offered, or you are told you do not need one for work of this kind
- They will not talk about it: material choice — a cheaper material often means more work to make it look right
- They will not talk about it: deck size — more ground to cover means more time on site
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the design — unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit
- A price for the deck builder before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
What a deck builder costs: €100–€320 per m²
The figures are for the job, per m², and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Wood deck installation and Composite decking construction each carry their own band. Decking Construction price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Deck builders near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstMaterial choice — a cheaper material often means more work to make it look right — that is what the deck builder is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneDeck size — more ground to cover means more time on site — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfComplexity of the design — unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherCondition of the area — a bigger job takes longer and uses more of everything — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the deck builder is still there.
- What you are handedA Certificate of Compliance on Completion, the invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, access to the site — an upper floor without a lift is slower to work on.
- Material Selection
- Choosing the right materials is crucial for decking construction.
- Design and Layout
- Decking construction involves planning the design and layout to enhance your outdoor space.
- Installation Process
- The installation process typically includes site preparation, foundation work, and the actual decking assembly.
- Maintenance and Repair
- Regular maintenance and occasional repairs are part of decking upkeep.
- Wood Deck Installation
- Constructing a deck using timber materials, ideal for a classic and natural look.
- Composite Decking Construction
- Building a deck with composite materials for enhanced durability and low maintenance.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a deck builder: questions people ask
The cost of decking construction can vary based on material choice, deck size, and complexity of the design. High-quality materials and intricate designs typically drive up the overall price.
The duration for building a deck usually ranges from a few days to a week, depending on the size and complexity of the project. Weather conditions and material availability can also impact the timeline.
Emergency or same-day decking construction is not common due to the complexity of the work and the need for proper materials. However, some contractors may offer expedited services for urgent repairs.
Yes, many contractors offer discounts for booking multiple related jobs together, such as landscaping or fencing alongside decking construction. It’s advisable to discuss this when obtaining quotes.
Out of scope items may include extensive landscaping, electrical work, or plumbing unless specified in the contract. Always clarify with your contractor what is included in your decking project.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in garden & outdoor
Deck builders near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Regulation of Providers of Building Works and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022
- S.I. 429/2022 — Commencement Order
- Construction Industry Register Ireland
- Department of Housing — Building Control
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — LANDSCAPING (Private dwellings) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only