Deck Builder on Auckland's North Shore

Timber decking

Kwila and treated pine are still the two most common choices on the Shore. Kwila gives you a rich, dense hardwood surface that can be re-oiled year after year; pine is the sensible option when the budget matters more than the look. Both are laid with even gaps for drainage and screwed off below the surface so the deck is comfortable in bare feet.

Kwila decking

Kwila is our most requested hardwood, and there is a lot of it in the project gallery. It is hard-wearing, holds up well to Auckland sun and rain, and looks best when the detailing is right — consistent spacing, a picture-framed border and fixings set out in straight lines.

Composite decking

If sanding and oiling every summer does not appeal, composite is worth a look. It costs more up front and then largely looks after itself. Hidden clips mean no visible screws, and the substructure is set out to suit the board manufacturer's spans rather than guessed at.

Deck repairs and replacements

Plenty of decks fail long before they need to — a handful of rotten boards, a soft bearer, or fixings that have given up. We lift a board or two, show you what is actually going on underneath and give you a straight answer on whether it is worth repairing or whether the money is better spent on a replacement.

Deck extensions

Often a deck is nearly right and just a metre or two short. Extending is usually the cheapest way to get the space you need, and the trick is making the new section read as original — matching board direction, spacing and how the joins are detailed.

Pool decks

Pool surrounds have their own demands: splash, chlorine, constant sun and a finished level that has to land exactly on the coping. We have built both kwila and composite surrounds around new and existing pools, with level entry from the house and steps where the ground drops away.

Aluminium subframes and outdoor tiling

Adjustable aluminium subframes are worth knowing about for low-clearance areas, decks over existing concrete and tiled outdoor rooms that need to finish flush with the floor inside. Every bearer can be dialled in, so the surface sits dead flat with a slight fall away from the house.

Stairs, balustrades, pergolas and screening

Stairs and balustrades are where poor workmanship shows up fastest. Stringers are set out so every step is the same, handrails go on at a comfortable height, and balustrade style is matched to the house — slim powder-coated aluminium to keep a view open, or timber to match the deck. Pergolas and slatted screens get tied into the deck framing rather than bolted on afterwards.

Planning and design

Most jobs start with a walk around the section: where the sun lands in the afternoon, how the ground falls, where the door thresholds sit and how you actually want to use the space. You get honest guidance on materials, an early view on whether consent is likely, and a clear written price before anything is ordered.

• —Free, no-obligation site visit and written quote
• —One point of contact from quote through to the final walk-through
• —Tidy site, and materials removed when the job is done