Composite decking in Pakenham & Officer.

• Trex (USA): The category leader, 95% recycled content. Premium feel, 25-year residential warranty. ~$580–$650/m² installed. Widest colour range.
• Modwood (AUS): Australian-made, slightly grainier surface, very durable. 25-year warranty. ~$500–$570/m².
• Ekodeck (AUS): Premium Australian, capped composite (extra UV protection layer). 20-year warranty. ~$520–$600/m².
• Futurewood (AUS): Mid-tier price, decent finish. 15-year warranty. ~$450–$510/m².

Why composite suits Pakenham’s climate.

Pakenham gets 30C+ summers, 5C winter mornings, 700+mm annual rainfall and humid summer storms. That cycle is brutal on timber decking — boards expand/contract, cup, split. Composite shrugs all of that off because:

• No grain to absorb moisture — no swell/shrink cycle
• UV-stable colourants throughout the board, not just surface
• No splinters — safe for kids with bare feet
• Hose-clean only, no oil/sealer
• Replaceable hidden-clip fastener system — easy individual board swap

Composite cost vs timber payback.

A 30m² merbau deck installed: ~$12,000. A 30m² mid-tier composite deck installed: ~$16,000. The $4,000 premium pays back through:

• No re-oiling every 18 months ($400–$800 + a Saturday × 15 years = $6,000–$12,000 + many Saturdays)
• No sanding-back at year 5–7 ($1,500–$2,500)
• No board replacement at year 12–15 ($800–$2,000)

Break-even is usually year 8–12. After that composite is pure savings plus owning your Saturdays.

Honest tradeoffs.

• Looks plastic up close. Some grain patterns are obvious. Premium-tier composites (Trex Transcend, Ekodeck Capped) are much closer to wood.
• Gets hot in direct sun. Dark colours can hit 60C+ on a 35C day. Light colours and shaded decks are fine.
• BAL compatibility limited. Composite generally doesn’t meet AS 3959 above BAL-12.5. Hills suburbs need hardwood.