Deck Builders Sanctuary Cove

Residential and commercial decking around Sanctuary Cove

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.

A deck can have perfect boards and still feel cheap if the stairs bounce, the balustrade wobbles or the frame shows along the edge. In estates with a set design standard, these details also tend to be what an architectural review looks at. This page covers how we handle them.

Stairs that feel solid

Good deck stairs have the same rise on every step, a tread deep enough for a whole foot, and stringers that do not flex. We cut stringers from hardwood or use steel stringers for longer flights, and fix them to a landing or footing at the bottom rather than letting them sit on soil. Treads are usually two boards wide to match the deck, with a nosing that is easy to see at night.

• Rise between steps kept consistent, usually between 115 and 190 mm.
• Treads at least 240 mm deep, more is more comfortable.
• A handrail where the stair needs one, which we confirm at design stage.
• A concrete pad or paver landing at the base so the bottom step does not sink.

Balustrades

Where the deck is more than a metre above the ground, a balustrade is required, at least a metre high, with no gaps a child could slip through and nothing horizontal to climb. Within those rules, you can choose the look.

Frameless or semi-frameless glass

Keeps the view open. Needs a strong fixing into the deck frame or a concrete edge, so the frame is designed for it from the start.

Aluminium

Powder-coated aluminium posts with vertical balusters or wire are low maintenance and suit modern homes. Colours can match window frames.

Timber

Hardwood posts and top rail with vertical balusters suit traditional and Queenslander-style homes. Needs oiling along with the deck.

Fascia and edges

A fascia board runs around the outside of the frame to hide the joists and bearers. We use the same board as the deck, or a matching composite fascia for composite decks. Adding a picture-frame border on top gives the edge a finished line and covers the board ends. Where the deck meets a garden bed, we leave a gap so soil and mulch do not sit against the boards.

Estate approvals

Some estates have design guidelines or an approval process for external changes. Check yours before you commit to colours or balustrade styles. We can provide drawings and product details for the application.

Boards, supply and price

We build in hardwood, composite (mainly Ekodeck and Ezy Decking) and treated pine, supplied and installed or install only. As a general guide, timber decking runs roughly $350 to $550 per m² and composite $450 to $700 per m² supplied and installed, depending on height, access, framing and finishes. Stairs and balustrades are priced per job. See the decking cost guide for how those add up.