Decking in Butler
Northern Decking Co builds composite and hardwood decks in Butler, a City of Wanneroo suburb of 2000s and 2010s estate homes a couple of kilometres from the beach. Most jobs extend an alfresco onto the lawn as a low deck with stainless fixings for the sea breeze. Every deck in Wanneroo needs a building permit, and the contractor quotes free on site.
- Postcode
- 6036
- Council
- City of Wanneroo
- Coastal lot rules
- Apply
- Last reviewed
- September 2026
Decks that suit Butler homes
Butler was bushland until 2003, when Satterley opened it as part of the Brighton estate, and it filled fast with young families. By the 2021 census it was home to more than thirteen thousand people with an average age of 28. The houses are 2000s and 2010s estate homes: single storey, an alfresco under the main roof at the back, a compact lot, and a lawn that gets smaller every time the kids get bigger. Decking in Butler is mostly about that alfresco and that lawn.
Taking the alfresco past the roofline
The alfresco slab is the natural starting point. A low deck built level with it and running out onto the lawn doubles the usable outdoor area without a step, and puts the table and the barbecue where the shade falls in the afternoon. The deck sits on stumps in the sand at 450 mm joist centres for hardwood or the tighter centres a composite board specifies, with a picture-frame border where it meets the grass so no cut ends show. Most of these decks are under 500 mm, which keeps the City of Wanneroo’s planning side simple; the building permit is still required.
Boundaries on a compact lot
Butler lots do not have much spare width, so the boundary rule matters. The City of Wanneroo says decks should be set back at least 900 mm from a boundary, or can go to the boundary if 900 mm is kept between the deck and the house, subject to overlooking rules. On a narrow yard that often decides whether the deck runs the full width or stops short, and the contractor lays it out with the rule in hand rather than discovering it at permit stage.
Composite for busy households
With young families and no time for oiling, composite is the common choice in Butler: no splinters for bare feet, no maintenance beyond a hose, and colour that holds. Lighter greys and browns stay cooler on a north-facing yard. Hardwood in merbau or spotted gum is the alternative for owners who want real timber and are happy to oil it once the colour goes flat.
A first deck, done once
Because most Butler homes are less than twenty years old, the deck is usually the first one on the block rather than a replacement. That is a chance to do it once and properly: stumps set right in the sand, a frame that breathes, fixings that will not rust through, and a size that suits how the yard is actually used. The contractor will measure the alfresco, look at the fall of the lawn and the fences, and quote a deck that fits.
What to know before you build in Butler
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.
Salt air
Butler is a coastal suburb, so the fixings, hangers and stirrups are stainless steel and the frame is detailed to dry out. Composite boards suit lots within reach of the sea breeze; hardwood works too when it is oiled and fixed properly.
The ground
Sand, as across most of the corridor. There is no suburb-specific ground record for Butler, and the first footing hole confirms what the contractor expects.
Bushfire map
Check your lot on the DFES Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas. If it is inside a mapped area the deck is built to the BAL requirements of AS 3959. We do not say here whether Butler is or is not bushfire prone, because the map runs through suburbs and is revised.
How it goes in
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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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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.
Questions from Butler
Do I need a building permit for a deck in Butler?
Yes. The City of Wanneroo requires a building permit for all decking regardless of height or floor area. Most Butler decks are low, so planning approval is usually not the issue, but the permit always is.
Can my deck go right up to the fence?
The City of Wanneroo says decks should be set back at least 900 mm from a boundary, or can go to the boundary if 900 mm is kept between the deck and the house, subject to overlooking rules. On a compact Butler lot that rule shapes the deck, and the contractor designs to it.
What is the best deck to extend a Butler alfresco?
A low deck level with the alfresco slab, in composite if you want no upkeep or hardwood if you want the warmth of timber, with a picture-frame border where it meets the lawn. Under the main roof stays paved; the deck takes the outdoor area past the roofline.
Butler is a couple of kilometres from the beach. Do I still need stainless fixings?
Yes. The sea breeze carries salt well past the first row of houses, and Butler is treated as a coastal suburb here. Every screw, clip, hanger and stirrup on a Butler deck is stainless steel, which is what fails first on older decks that were built with galvanised hardware.
Nearby areas we cover
Read about composite decking and timber decking, or our guide to what affects the cost of a deck. All areas.
Get a free quote in Butler
Send your details. The contractor calls you, looks at the site and quotes in writing. No obligation.