Pakenham’s specialist decking & pergola contractors.
Timber, composite and BAL-rated bushfire decking. Pergolas, verandas, alfresco kitchens and full outdoor living rooms. Across Pakenham, Officer, Beaconsfield and the bushfire-prone Cardinia Hills. VBA-registered. Free design consultation.
Five outdoor-living formats.
From a sub-20m² ground-level rear deck (no permit needed) through to a full BAL-29 hardwood deck on a Cockatoo slope. We do the design, the build, and the permits.
Timber decking
Treated pine, merbau, spotted gum or jarrah. The classic decking material — warm, natural, beautiful when oiled. Maintenance every 12–18 months. ~$250–$550/m² depending on species.
See timber decking →Composite decking
Trex, Modwood, Ekodeck and similar — recycled timber/plastic blends. Zero maintenance for 25+ years, no oiling, no warping. Great for busy families. ~$450–$650/m².
See composite decking →Pergolas & verandas
Open frame, gabled-roof, attached or freestanding. Cypress, treated pine or steel framing. Polycarb or Colorbond roof, optional retractable shade. $4K–$25K depending on size and finish.
See pergolas →Alfresco & outdoor kitchens
Full alfresco enclosures with BBQ, sink, fridge, storage and seating. Effectively a small extension. $8K–$30K standalone, $30K–$80K enclosed under-roof. Outdoor pizza ovens optional.
See alfresco kitchens →Deck restoration
For tired 10–25 year old timber decks — sand, repair, re-oil. Sometimes board replacement for the worst sections. Cheaper than rebuilding. ~$50–$120/m².
See deck restoration →Three things every Cardinia decking project needs to get right.
BAL-rated bushfire decking (Cardinia Hills).
If you’re in Cockatoo, Emerald, Pakenham Upper, Beaconsfield Upper or Gembrook, your property is in a Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO) with a BAL rating (typically 12.5–29, sometimes 40 or FZ). AS 3959 dictates the construction. BAL-12.5: treated pine OK with Class 1 underdecking. BAL-29: hardwood deck with no >5mm gaps. BAL-40+: non-combustible substructure or composite. Most carpenters quote without checking the BAL rating — then the building surveyor rejects it at certification. We get the BAL right at design.
The 20m² / 800mm permit threshold.
Cardinia Shire (and most Vic councils) exempts decks under 20m² floor area AND under 800mm above natural ground level from a building permit. That’s a useful sweet spot for a small rear-yard deck off a Cardinia Lakes new build. Anything bigger or higher needs a permit (~$450–$900 fee + $1,200–$2,000 private surveyor). BMO + Heritage Overlay properties need a permit regardless of size.
Reactive-clay footings.
Same clay that wrecks driveways wrecks deck footings. Pakenham’s Class M clay seasonally swells 20–40mm. Stump-and-bearer footings need to be either deep enough (1.2m+ concrete pad footings) or screw piles driven below the active zone. The cheap short stumps cracked into existence at 600mm will heave in winter and warp the whole deck within 3 seasons. We default to 1.2m concrete pad footings or screw piles on Class M and H sites.
Where we build.
We service the full Cardinia Shire and adjoining suburbs. BAL-rated work across all five hills suburbs — Cockatoo, Emerald, Beaconsfield Upper, Pakenham Upper, Gembrook — is our regular weekly work.
From design consultation to oiled boards — 5 stages.
Free consultation
On-site visit. Measure, check BAL rating, check soil, talk through materials. 60 min, no obligation.
Design & quote
Concept sketches + material specs + fixed-price quote within 7 days. Multiple material options if you want them.
Permit (if needed)
If >20m² / >800mm or in an overlay, we lodge the building permit. 3–6 weeks typical.
Build
Footings day 1–2, framing day 3–5, decking day 5–7, balustrade + finish day 7–10. Larger projects 3–6 weeks.
Handover
Final inspection, building permit sign-off if applicable, oil + seal, 7-year structural warranty.
Ready for a free design consultation?
60 minutes on-site. We measure, check BAL rating, talk through materials honestly.