Timber Decking Construction in Adelaide
Classic Aussie hardwood decks, designed and built to last by local carpenters with 15+ years on the tools. From merbau to spotted gum, we build timber decks that suit your home and the South Australian climate.
We build merbau, spotted gum, blackbutt and treated pine decks across Adelaide and the Hills, on subfloors set out for your soil and span. Installed prices usually run $250 to $400 per m² for treated pine and $350 to $600 per m² for hardwood, so a 20 m² merbau deck typically comes to $7,000 to $12,000. Owner Shannon Ursino holds SA builder's licence BLD 339869.
Hardwood decks built properly, from the subfloor up
A timber deck lives or dies by what is underneath it. Every Adelaide Decks build starts with a properly engineered subfloor: stumps, bearers and joists set out for your soil and span, so the boards above stay straight and solid for decades.
We work with proven Australian decking timbers including merbau, spotted gum, blackbutt and treated pine, and we finish every deck with quality fixings and oils suited to Adelaide's hot, dry summers. You get a deck that looks sharp on day one and is built to be re-oiled, not rebuilt, as the years go by.
What you can expect from Adelaide Decks
Engineered subfloors
Stumps, bearers and joists sized and set out for your block, not a one size fits all frame.
Quality Australian timbers
Merbau, spotted gum, blackbutt and treated pine, sourced to suit your budget and look.
Neat, concealed fixings
Straight lines, consistent gaps and tidy detailing around posts, steps and edges.
Finished and sealed
Decks are oiled and sealed before handover, with honest advice on keeping them that way.
What is included
Included
- Free site visit, measure up and fixed written quote
- Engineered subfloor: stumps, bearers and joists for your soil and span
- Your choice of merbau, spotted gum, blackbutt or treated pine boards
- Quality fixings, neat edges and detailing around posts and steps
- Oiled and sealed before handover, with advice on upkeep
Not included or priced separately
- Balustrades, stairs and built in seating (priced on top of the deck)
- Pergolas and roofing over the deck (see custom decking)
- Council or building approval fees, where a deck needs approval
Which timber suits your deck
| Look | Good to know | |
|---|---|---|
| Merbau | Rich red brown, the classic Adelaide deck | Bleeds tannin for the first few weeks, so it can stain paving below until it weathers in |
| Spotted gum | Pale to mid brown with a wavy grain | Australian hardwood, very hard wearing, and one of the species listed as bushfire resisting under AS 3959 |
| Blackbutt | Pale golden brown, even grain | Australian hardwood, also listed as bushfire resisting under AS 3959, a popular pick in the Hills |
| Treated pine | Pale, takes paint or stain | The lowest cost board; needs a good finish and regular upkeep to stay looking sharp |
Building in a bushfire prone area? The Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) of your block decides which timbers and fixings are allowed. We check it at the quote.
What a timber deck costs in Adelaide
Treated pine
$250 to $400 /m²
The budget option. Paint or stain it any colour.
Hardwood: merbau, spotted gum, blackbutt
$350 to $600 /m²
The classic Aussie deck, oiled to bring out the grain.
Merbau entertaining deck, 20 m²
$7,000 to $12,000
A typical worked example, oiled and sealed.
Guide ranges for a typical residential deck on a straightforward site, installed including the subfloor, current 2026. Complex sites, raised decks and premium boards sit above these ranges. See the full Adelaide decking cost guide.
How a deck job works
- 01Site visitShannon looks at your site, sun, soil and access, and how you want to use the space.
- 02Design and written quoteBoard options, layout and a fixed written quote, with honest advice on where to spend and save.
- 03The buildEngineered subfloor first, then boards, edges and details, with a clear timeframe and updates as it goes.
- 04Handover and aftercareOiled and sealed before handover, with straight advice on keeping it that way.
From bare subfloor to finished hardwood deck
This Adelaide deck went in under an existing pergola. The frame was set out first, bearers and joists levelled to the fall of the site, then the hardwood boards were laid, edged and oiled.
Frequently asked questions
Which timber is best for a deck in Adelaide?
Merbau and spotted gum are the most popular choices for Adelaide decks because they handle our hot summers well. Treated pine is a budget friendly option, and we will walk you through the trade offs during your free quote.
How long does a timber deck take to build?
Most residential timber decks take between a few days and two weeks depending on size, access and site preparation. We give you a clear timeframe with your quote and keep you posted throughout the build.
Do I need council approval for a timber deck?
In South Australia a deck generally needs no development approval if no part of it is more than 500 mm above natural ground and no part is within 900 mm of a boundary. Higher decks, or decks closer to the fence, need approval, and heritage places and some overlays have their own rules (see this City of Marion fact sheet). Separately, the National Construction Code requires a balustrade at least 1 m high wherever someone could fall 1 m or more. You can check your own property with the PlanSA approval tool.
How often should I oil a timber deck?
In Adelaide most timber decks want re-oiling every 12 to 18 months, sooner for decks in full sun.
How long does a hardwood deck last in Adelaide?
Well built and kept oiled, a hardwood deck typically lasts 15 to 25 years or more. The subfloor decides it: a deck on sound stumps and bearers can be sanded and re-oiled many times, while a weak frame fails first.
Do I need a balustrade on my deck?
Under the National Construction Code you need a balustrade at least 1 m high wherever someone could fall 1 m or more from the deck. Lower decks do not need one, though many people add one for kids or style.
Is composite cheaper than merbau?
Not upfront. Composite costs more per square metre, but it needs no oiling, so the gap narrows over ten years. Our composite vs timber comparison walks through it.
Timber decking built for Adelaide conditions
Adelaide is hard on timber. Forty degree summers, months without rain and serious UV will punish the wrong board choice, so we match the timber and the detailing to where you live. Near the coast at Henley Beach, Grange or Glenelg, salt air means durable hardwoods and stainless or coated fixings. Up in the Hills around Stirling and Aldgate, shade, frost and winter damp call for good airflow under the deck so boards can dry out. On the hot, dry plains through the north and north east, movement gaps and a disciplined oiling routine keep boards straight through summer.
Wherever you are across Adelaide, the free quote works the same way: we look at your site, your sun and your soil before we recommend a timber. For ballpark numbers first, see our Adelaide decking cost guide, or weigh up boards with our composite vs timber comparison.
What Adelaide homeowners say
Shannon built our pergola. Quality build, looks good, fair pricing. Shannon clearly has plenty of experience so his advice to any of our questions was spot on.
Thanks Shannon and team turning a dilapidated stable into an amazing outdoor studio. Couldn’t have done it without his skill and expertise. He took our tight timeline and performed some magic. Thanks Shannon.
I have no hesitation in highly recommending Shannon and his team, and I will definitely be utilising their services again in the future.
Schedule your free decking quote today
Tell us about your backyard and we will come back with an honest, no obligation quote. SA owned and operated, 15+ years experience.
Run by Shannon Ursino, licensed builder BLD 339869.
