Good decking turns the strip of ground beside your static caravan into an outside room, and skirting tidies up the gap underneath while keeping the cold out. Both add comfort, storage and resale appeal. Before you order either, though, two things decide what you can actually fit: your park's rules and the fire-safety spacing between caravans. Get those right first, then choose the look.

Key takeaways

  • Check your park agreement and site licence before you buy anything. Many operators require decking to go through them, or an approved contractor, and some allow supervised DIY.
  • Fire-safety spacing rules the design. Parks keep a separation distance between caravans, commonly 6 metres. Any structure that reaches more than a metre into that gap must be non-combustible.
  • Keep the space under the caravan and decking clear. Storing combustible items there is a fire risk, and most operators forbid it.
  • Skirting must be ventilated. Sealing the underside without cross-flow ventilation traps damp and gas, so follow the BH&HPA and EN721 guidance.
  • Costs vary widely by size, material and access. Get a fitted quote rather than working from a headline figure.

Decking or skirting: what each one does

Decking is the raised platform and steps beside the caravan, giving you a level outdoor space and safe access to the door. Skirting is the panelling that closes off the gap between the floor of the caravan and the ground. People often fit both together, since the skirting hides the chassis and the under-deck area while the decking sits on top.

Skirting earns its place beyond looks. It keeps animals and windblown debris out from under the caravan, shelters the pipes and underfloor from draughts, and adds a layer of security around the base. A skirting access hatch or gate lets you reach the underside for servicing.

Check the park's rules first

Every park runs under a site licence from the council, and most operators add their own park rules on top. Between them they decide whether you can fit decking at all, how big it can be, what it is made from, and who installs it. Some operators insist you use them or an approved contractor. Others allow DIY with written permission. A few include decking in the pitch package.

Ask before you commit. Fitting decking that breaches the licence or the park rules can mean taking it down at your own cost. If you are weighing decking as part of a purchase, our guide to the hidden costs of owning a static caravan covers the other charges worth checking at the same time.

The fire-safety rules that shape the design

This is the part most decking guides skip, and it is the part that governs what you can build.

Parks keep a minimum separation distance between caravans so a fire cannot jump easily from one unit to the next. The government's Model Standards 2008 for Caravan Sites set this at 6 metres between units, and site licences apply a comparable gap on holiday parks. That space is not yours to fill.

Within it, the rules are specific. A porch may reach up to a metre into the separation distance, no more than 2 metres long and a metre deep, and it must stay below the height of the caravan. Any other structure, including steps and ramps, that extends more than a metre into the gap has to be of non-combustible construction, with at least 4.5 metres of clear distance kept to the neighbouring caravan. A timber deck built out toward next door can breach this; a steel-framed or non-combustible one within the limits does not.

Keep the area under the caravan and the decking clear as well. Storing combustible items there raises the fire risk and most operators ban it outright. If in doubt, ask the park to point you to the relevant condition in its licence and fire risk assessment.

Skirting and ventilation

Closing off the underside is where owners most often go wrong. Seal it tight, and you trap moisture and any gas that leaks, which rots the floor and creates a hazard.

The British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) sets out the standard in its good-practice guidance. Skirting ventilators should provide at least twice the low-level fixed ventilation that the caravan itself has, positioned as low as possible in the skirting wall. You need cross-flow ventilation for air movement right under the home, and on sloping ground you must vent the lowest point, because gas pools there. The technical specification sits in the British Standard EN721. That ventilation keeps gas appliances drawing properly, cuts condensation, and lets any fumes escape.

Materials: timber, composite, uPVC and steel

Timber is the traditional choice. It looks natural and costs less up front, but it needs regular oiling or treating; it does not last as long, and as a combustible material it is the one most likely to fall foul of the separation-distance rule near a boundary.

Composite boards mix wood fibre and plastic. They cost more at the outset but need no sanding, painting or staining, resist water, and hold their colour. uPVC is fully plastic, durable and easy to clean, though it can look artificial and expands and contracts with temperature. Many installers now build on a galvanised steel sub-frame, which handles the British weather and gives you a non-combustible base that helps with the fire-safety rules.

There is no single best answer. Match the material to your budget, your park's rules, and how close the deck sits to the next caravan.

What it costs, and how to get an accurate figure

Decking cost swings a lot. Size, board type, ground conditions and access to the pitch all move the number, and a sloping or awkward plot costs more to level. In our experience, fitted decking and skirting ranges from a few thousand pounds to well over ten, so a headline price tells you little about your own pitch.

The only figure that matters is a quote for your caravan, on your pitch, in the material your park allows.

Request a decking and skirting quote, and we will put your details in front of trusted fitters, so you can compare a real price rather than a guess.

Does decking add value?

Usually, yes. A tidy deck and matching skirting make a caravan show better and sell faster, and they can lift the asking price, depending on the home and its condition. Buyers picture the outside room and the hidden storage straight away. If selling is on your mind, our guide on how to sell a static caravan walks through pricing and presentation.

FAQ

Do I need permission to put decking on my static caravan?
 Almost always. The park's site licence and rules decide what is allowed, and many operators require you to use them or an approved contractor. Get written permission before you order.
Does static caravan decking have to be non-combustible? 
If it extends more than a metre into the separation distance between caravans, yes. The Model Standards require any such structure, other than a garage or car port, to be of non-combustible construction, with a clear distance kept to the neighbouring caravan.
Can I store things under my caravan or decking?
 Most parks say no. The space under the caravan and deck must stay clear because combustible storage there is a fire risk, and it is usually written into the park rules.
Does skirting need ventilation?
 Yes. Skirting must be ventilated, with cross-flow air movement and roughly twice the low-level ventilation the caravan has, per the BH&HPA guidance and EN721. Sealing it up traps damp and gas.
How much does static caravan decking cost?
 It ranges from a few thousand pounds to over ten thousand, depending on size, material, access and ground conditions. Get a quote for your own pitch rather than relying on an average.
Does decking add value to a static caravan?
 It generally helps a sale and can add to the price, since it adds usable outdoor space and storage. The gain depends on the caravan, the park and the quality of the installation.

Thinking about decking or skirting?

Sort the rules first, then the look. Confirm what your park allows, keep the fire-safety spacing and ventilation right, and choose a material that suits your pitch and budget.

Get a decking and skirting quote, and we will match you with fitters who work on parks like yours.