Decking Costs: Timber vs Composite Quote Checklist
Compare current Australian timber and composite decking price examples, installed scope, maintenance and the questions every deck quote should answer.
What does timber or composite decking cost?
There is no defensible single Australian decking rate. A board-only retail price, a re-deck over a sound frame and a new raised deck are three different purchases. The current source examples below show why: the cheapest linear-metre board price does not include the structure, fixings, waste, delivery, labour, permits, stairs or balustrades that may dominate a finished quote.
For one location-specific reference, a Sydney installer published mid-2026 supply-and-install examples of A$200-A$350 per m2 for treated pine, A$350-A$550 per m2 for merbau and A$600-A$1,100 per m2 for composite under standard residential conditions. Those are that business's Sydney examples, not RealScape estimates or national averages. A contractor still needs to inspect your site and define the scope.
Compare the same scope, not just the board price
Linear-metre prices cannot be compared directly when board widths differ. A 137 mm composite board covers more width than a 90 mm timber board, while gaps, board direction, cut lengths, breaker boards and picture-frame borders change the quantity. Ask each contractor to state the exact board range, dimensions, measured area and waste allowance.
Then separate the walking surface from the structure below it. A quote should identify footings, posts, bearers, joists, termite and moisture detailing, ventilation, drainage and connections to the dwelling. Re-decking is only comparable with a new deck when an inspection has confirmed the existing structure can be reused safely.
Timber and composite change the ownership work
Timber offers a natural appearance and can start with a lower board price, but its finish and exposure matter. WoodSolutions advises regular cleaning and says timber decks should be resealed at least annually or as directed by the coating manufacturer. Timber movement, drainage gaps, tannin run-off and cut-end sealing also need to be handled in the specification and installation.
Composite ranges can avoid routine oiling, painting or sealing, but that does not mean no care or no installation rules. The selected brand can require its own clips, spans, ground clearances, end gaps, edge treatment and cleaning method. Read the exact product warranty: the Ekodeck Essentials source used here describes a 10-year manufacturer warranty subject to its terms, not a universal warranty for every composite board or the completed deck.
Use a complete decking quote checklist
Give every contractor the same site photos, approximate dimensions and decisions. Ask them to price the same material direction and identify any assumption that still needs a site check. That makes exclusions and trade-offs visible without pretending different structures are like-for-like.
In Victoria, current government guidance says a structural deck typically requires a building permit. Planning controls, bushfire exposure, pools, overlays and local rules can add other requirements. Check the authority for your property and put responsibility for drawings, engineering, permits and inspections into the written quote rather than assuming they are included.
Choose the material after the site and use are clear
Treated pine can suit a tightly controlled budget when the specified treatment, finish and maintenance plan are acceptable. Hardwood can suit homeowners who value natural grain and are comfortable maintaining the surface. Composite can suit people who prefer its cleaning and finish regime and accept the selected system's board, fixing and edge-detail costs.
Also compare barefoot heat, slip information, colour variation, scratch repair, pool or coastal exposure, bushfire requirements and how the surface will weather. Review actual samples in the expected sun; an AI concept helps compare visual direction, but it cannot reproduce an exact product colour or prove technical suitability.
Turn your preferred deck direction into a clearer quote request
Start with one clear backyard photo and create separate timber and composite concepts while keeping the deck size, steps and furniture unchanged. Personal homeowners receive six free lifetime AI generations, so the concepts can help you discuss appearance without presenting them as measured plans or construction documents.
Take the preferred direction, the checklist below and the same site information to each contractor. RealScape quote requests are free for homeowners, but the businesses determine availability and pricing after assessing the work. Compare inclusions, exclusions, qualifications and the total scope rather than choosing a headline rate alone.
AI concept comparing timber on the left with composite on the right. It is not a completed customer project or a product sample.
Current published cost examples
Prices were checked on 6 October 2026. Retail prices can vary by store or change after publication. Supply-only board prices and installed examples are kept separate.
| Option | Published price | Basis and scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| H3 treated pine, 90 x 22 mm | A$3.99 per linear metre | Australia retail listing; price shown in AUD including GST. Supply only. Profile varies by state; delivery, waste, fixings, subframe and labour are not included. | Bunnings treated pine decking |
| Pre-oiled merbau, 90 x 19 mm | A$5.72 per linear metre | Australia retail listing; price shown in AUD including GST. Supply only, random 1.8-5.7 m lengths. Delivery, waste, fixings, subframe, finishing and labour are not included. | Bunnings SpecRite merbau decking |
| Ekodeck Essentials composite, 137 x 23 mm | A$14.63 per linear metre | Australia retail listing; 5.4 m board, price shown in AUD including GST. Supply only. Compatible fixings, edge treatment, waste, delivery, subframe and labour are not included. | Bunnings Ekodeck Essentials decking |
| Treated pine deck in Sydney | A$200-A$350 per m2 | Installer-published Sydney metropolitan example, 19 July 2026; GST basis not stated. Supply and installation on reasonably level ground with clear access and no unusual engineering. Balustrades, stairs, council fees and other listed extras are excluded. | APX Trade Group Sydney deck cost guide |
| Merbau deck in Sydney | A$350-A$550 per m2 | Installer-published Sydney metropolitan example, 19 July 2026; GST basis not stated. Supply and installation under the same standard-site assumptions. It is not a national average or a quote for another property. | APX Trade Group Sydney deck cost guide |
| Composite deck in Sydney | A$600-A$1,100 per m2 | Installer-published Sydney metropolitan example, 19 July 2026; GST basis not stated. Supply and installation under the source's standard-site assumptions. Brand, subframe, height and detailing can materially change the price. | APX Trade Group Sydney deck cost guide |
Deck quote comparison checklist
- Measured deck area, finished height, board direction and any picture-frame borders
- Demolition, excavation, spoil removal, access limits and protection of the house or garden
- Footings, posts, bearers, joists, treatment or steel specification, ventilation and drainage
- Exact board brand, range, dimensions, colour, quantity, waste allowance and compatible fixing system
- Steps, balustrades, privacy screens, fascias, edge boards, hatches, lighting and under-deck drainage
- Permits, drawings, engineering, inspections and who is responsible for arranging each item
- Timber pre-oiling, cut-end sealing and final coating, or composite cleaning and manufacturer installation requirements
- GST, delivery, clean-up, exclusions, provisional sums, variation process, workmanship warranty and product warranty
Sources and date checked
- Bunnings Online and Special Order Terms of Sale - accessed 2026-10-06. Confirms online product prices and delivery charges are in Australian dollars and include GST.
- WoodSolutions Domestic Timber Deck Design - accessed 2026-10-06. Industry guidance on timber durability, drainage gaps, weathering, cleaning and resealing.
- Ekodeck Essentials product and warranty information - accessed 2026-10-06. Manufacturer information for board dimensions, maintenance claims and the conditional 10-year warranty.
- Building and Plumbing Commission Victoria landscaping guidance - accessed 2026-10-06. Victorian guidance that a structural deck typically requires a building permit; rules vary by location and project.
- Consumer Affairs Victoria outdoor building project checklist - accessed 2026-10-06. Homeowner guidance on plans, permits, written contracts and insurance checks for outdoor building work.
For Australian homeowners, start with a real backyard photo and use an AI concept to explore a practical dream-garden direction. The visual can make style, layout, planting, and material preferences easier to explain before requesting quotes.
Turn the preferred concept into a clearer project brief, find suitable landscapers, and compare scope, inclusions, exclusions, and options against the same visual direction. Homeowner quote requests are free.
The concept is an early planning aid rather than a measured plan or promise of the finished result. Confirm drainage, levels, access, services, permits, engineering, materials, and construction details with the appropriate professionals.