Deck Builders Arundel

Residential and commercial decking around Arundel

Alongside home decks, we take on decking for managed and commercial properties: outdoor customer areas for cafes and retail, office break-out decks, body corporate common areas, and replacement decks on investment properties for landlords and property managers. Commercial work can be timber or composite, and is scoped and quoted the same way: measure, assess what is there, then a fixed written price.

People often ask us which deck needs the least work. The honest answer is that the board matters, but so does the design. A deck with good airflow, sensible gaps and a sealed frame will be easier to look after than one built tight to the ground, whatever boards it has.

What a timber deck needs each year

Hardwood and treated pine need a coat of decking oil to keep their colour and slow down surface checking. In full Queensland sun, plan on oiling roughly every 9 to 12 months. A deck under a roof can often go longer. Before oiling, the deck needs a wash with a deck cleaner and a soft brush, and time to dry fully.

If you let the oil lapse, the timber turns silver-grey. That is not rot, and some people like the look, but the surface will check and splinter more over time. Bringing a grey deck back usually means a heavier clean and two coats of oil.

What composite needs

Composite boards from Ekodeck and Ezy Decking do not need oiling or staining. A wash a few times a year with warm soapy water, and a clear-out of leaves from between the boards, is usually enough. Grease from a barbecue should be cleaned up soon after it lands. Composite is not maintenance free, but the work is much lighter.

Design choices that cut upkeep

• Leave enough height under the deck for air to move. A frame sitting in damp, still air is the first thing to fail.
• Seal cut ends of timber and fit joist protection tape on top of joists so water does not sit in the fixing holes.
• Keep garden beds and soil away from the frame. Soil against timber holds moisture.
• Point downpipes and sprinklers away from the deck.
• Use a consistent board gap so leaves wash through rather than packing in.

Choosing boards with upkeep in mind

If you want the lowest ongoing effort, composite is the clear choice, at $450 to $700 per m² supplied and installed. Hardwood, at $350 to $550, gives a natural look and lasts well if oiled. Treated pine sits within the same timber range and is usually the lowest upfront cost and works well under a roof or where it will be painted. Read more on composite decking and timber decking.

Supply and install, or install only

We can supply everything, or build with boards you have bought yourself. If you supply the boards, we will check the product and quantity before work starts so there are no surprises halfway through.