Decking in Tapping
Northern Decking Co builds hardwood and raised decks in Tapping, a Wanneroo suburb that grew from a few hundred people to nearly nine thousand in the 2000s. Most decks go onto homes from that decade, low off the alfresco or raised where the lot falls. Every Wanneroo deck needs a building permit; the contractor quotes free after a site visit.
- Postcode
- 6065
- Council
- City of Wanneroo
- Coastal lot rules
- Not usually
- Last reviewed
- October 2026
Decks that suit Tapping homes
Tapping came into being in the early 1990s as a subdivision of Wanneroo, took its name in 1997, and then filled in fast: 229 people at the 2001 census, nearly nine thousand by 2011. The land it grew on had been used for farming and horticulture, so the suburb is mostly 2000s homes on what were paddocks and market gardens a generation ago. Decking in Tapping is mostly about making those homes work harder outdoors.
Hardwood on a 2000s home
Most Tapping homes date from a decade when the alfresco tended to be paved under the main roof, with the lawn starting where the roof stopped. A hardwood deck laid level with that alfresco takes the outdoor room past the roofline and swaps hot pavers for timber underfoot. Merbau and spotted gum are the common boards, pre-drilled and face-screwed in stainless, oiled when the colour goes flat. Away from the salt, a hardwood deck that is oiled on time will go a very long way.
Raised where the block falls
Not every Tapping lot is flat, and where the yard drops away from the house a deck that is low at the door can be well over 500 mm at its far edge. In the City of Wanneroo, 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. That changes the design: the raised deck either steps down to follow the ground, or holds one level with a privacy screen on the side that faces a neighbour and a balustrade where the drop reaches 1 m. The contractor measures the fall first, because the height at the far edge decides the approvals.
The permit comes first
In the City of Wanneroo all decking requires a building permit, regardless of height or floor area, and planning approval may be required for decking over 500 mm above natural ground level. On a low Tapping deck the permit is the only step. On a raised one there are two, and the drawings cover both. Our approvals guide sets out what each council asks for.
Timber that stays timber
A deck here will see dry summer heat far more than it sees sea mist, which suits hardwood. The frame is kept off the sand with airflow under it, the boards are gapped so the deck sheds water, and the first oil goes on before the first summer. Owners who would rather not oil at all can have the look of timber in composite, but on the inland side of the corridor hardwood earns its keep in Tapping.
What to know before you build in Tapping
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.
The ground
Coastal sand, as across most of the corridor. There is no suburb-specific ground record for Tapping, 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 Tapping 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 Tapping
Do I need approval for a deck in Tapping?
Yes, a building permit for any deck: in the 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, so a raised deck in Tapping usually needs both.
How high can a raised deck go in Tapping before the rules change?
500 mm above natural ground level is the line. Over it, the City of Wanneroo treats decking like a balcony, with a 7.5 m setback to side and rear boundaries unless a reduced setback is approved, and where the fall is 1 m or more a balustrade is required as well. The contractor designs the height, the screening and the balustrade together before the permit goes in.
Which hardwood is best for a Tapping deck?
Merbau and spotted gum are the usual choices. Tapping is an inland suburb, so salt air is not the deciding factor it is on the coast, and the board comes down to colour, hardness and how often you are willing to oil. The fixings are stainless either way.
Can a deck go on a 2000s Tapping home that already has a paved alfresco?
Yes. The usual job is a low deck beside or over the paving, level with the door sill, so the step down onto hot pavers disappears. If the yard falls away, the deck steps down with it or is raised to hold one level.
Nearby areas we cover
Get a free quote in Tapping
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