Decking built for Perth's northern suburbs
Composite and hardwood decks from Joondalup to Two Rocks, built for coastal sand and salt air, and quoted free by the contractor who builds them.
What we build
- Composite decking Low upkeep boards, the usual pick near the coast
- Timber decking Merbau, jarrah and spotted gum
- Pool decking Grip when wet, safe around the barrier
- Raised decks Stairs, balustrade, privacy screens, approvals
- BAL-rated decking Built to AS 3959 for bushfire prone lots
- Deck repairs and restoration Boards, oiling, rot, termites, re-fixing
How your deck gets built
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Set-out
The deck is marked out with string lines and pegs, squared off the house and checked corner to corner before anything is dug.
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Footings
Stumps go into footings in the sand. Some sites in the far north hit limestone close to the surface and need core drilling.
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Bearers
Bearers are laid across the stumps and levelled.
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Joists
Joists go across the bearers at the centres the board maker specifies, typically 450 mm for hardwood and tighter for composite.
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Boards
Boards are laid from the house out with an even gap, fixed with screws or hidden clips.
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Finish
Fascia and trims go on and the deck is oiled, or a composite deck settles into its finished colour.
Composite or timber?
| Property | Composite | Merbau | Spotted gum | Jarrah |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Even colour and grain from board to board. Wide colour range, including greys. | Rich red-brown that deepens with oil. Fairly even grain. | Pale to mid brown with varied grain and colour between boards. | Deep red that silvers if it is left unoiled. A WA timber. |
| Upkeep | A wash down. No oiling, no sanding. | Oil when the colour goes flat and water stops beading. Sand back if it greys. | Oil as for merbau. Holds colour a little longer in the sun. | Oil as for merbau. Greys quickly without it. |
| Coastal suitability | Very good. Does not rot or attract termites. Fixings and frame still need to be stainless or galvanised. | Good with stainless fixings and regular oil. Bleeds tannin onto light paving for its first months. | Good with stainless fixings. Less tannin bleed than merbau. | Good with stainless fixings and oil. |
| Underfoot in summer | Dark colours get hot in full sun. Lighter colours and shade help. | Warm. Cooler than dark composite. | Warm. The lightest of the three timbers stays coolest. | Warm. Cooler than dark composite. |
| Fixings | Hidden clips in a groove, or colour-matched screws. | Stainless screws, or hidden fixings on grooved boards. | Stainless screws, pre-drilled. | Stainless screws, pre-drilled. |
Read the full comparison of composite, merbau, spotted gum and jarrah, including movement, bushfire ratings and what each one is like to live with.
Approvals in Joondalup and Wanneroo
City of Joondalup
For a single house or grouped dwelling, development (planning) approval is not required for decking 500 mm or less above natural ground level. A deck within 7.5 m of a side or rear boundary needs a privacy screen at least 1.6 m high. Building permit requirements depend on the deck. Confirm with the City of Joondalup on 9400 4000 before work starts.
City of Wanneroo
All decking requires a building permit, regardless of height or floor area. Planning approval may be required for decking over 500 mm above natural ground level. Decking over 500 mm is treated like a balcony, with a 7.5 m setback to side and rear boundaries unless a reduced setback is approved.
Check the DFES Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas for your lot. Decks in a bushfire prone area have to meet the BAL construction requirements of AS 3959. DFES bushfire prone areas. Everything else is in our guide to deck approvals in Joondalup and Wanneroo.
Questions people ask
Do I need council approval for a deck in Joondalup?
For a single house or grouped dwelling in the City of Joondalup, planning approval is not required for decking 500 mm or less above natural ground level. Higher decks can avoid it if they meet the R-Code setbacks. Building permit requirements depend on the deck, so confirm with the City on 9400 4000.
Do I need a building permit for a deck in Wanneroo?
Yes. The City of Wanneroo requires a building permit for all decking regardless of height or floor area. Planning approval may also be needed for decking over 500 mm above natural ground level.
Composite or timber for a deck near the coast?
Both work on coastal lots if the fixings and frame hardware are stainless or galvanised. Composite needs less upkeep and does not rot. Hardwood is warmer underfoot in summer and can be brought back with oil. Our comparison table above sets out the differences.
What does a deck cost?
It depends on size, height off the ground, the board material, access to the site and whether approvals are needed. We do not publish prices because two decks of the same size can be very different jobs. The contractor quotes free after seeing the site.
Who actually builds the deck?
An independent licensed decking contractor. Northern Decking Co is a referral service: your enquiry goes to the contractor, who calls you, visits the site, quotes in writing and does the work.
Which suburbs do you cover?
Perth's northern coastal corridor from Joondalup to Two Rocks, across the City of Joondalup and the City of Wanneroo. The full list is on our areas page.
Get a free quote
Send your details. The contractor calls you to talk through the job and book a site visit. You get a written quote from the contractor, with no obligation.
Or call
Have ready
- Where the deck goes and roughly how big
- Height off the ground, if you know it
- Composite or timber, or ask us