Timber decking in Pakenham & the Cardinia Hills.
Treated pine, merbau, spotted gum, jarrah, blackbutt. The natural look, the natural smell, the satisfaction of an oiled deck on a summer evening. We’ll talk you through the species honestly, including the maintenance you’re actually signing up for.
Timber species comparison.
- Treated pine (T2/H3): Cheapest. Light tan colour, grey with age. 15–20 year deck life. Best for BAL-12.5 properties with Class 1 underdecking. ~$250–$290/m² installed.
- Merbau (Kwila): Mid-priced, warm red-brown, dense, durable. The Australian default. 20–30 year deck life. ~$380–$450/m².
- Spotted gum: Premium Australian hardwood, mid-brown with cathedral grain. 25–40 year life. Class 2 fire rating — suits BAL-19. ~$430–$500/m².
- Blackbutt: Pale gold-brown, straight grain, modern look. 25–40 year life. Class 2 fire. ~$450–$520/m².
- Jarrah: WA hardwood, deep red, extremely durable. 30–50 year life if maintained. Heavy — needs robust substructure. ~$500–$580/m².
What “maintenance every 12–18 months” actually means.
A Pakenham timber deck cycles between hot dry summer (boards shrink), wet cold winter (boards swell), and UV exposure (surface oils break down). To keep it looking good you sand back lightly and re-oil annually for the first 3 years, then every 18–24 months thereafter. Skip it for 5 years and the deck silvers grey and needs full sanding to restore. $400–$800 in oil and a Saturday afternoon. Or $50–$120/m² for us to do it for you.
BAL-rated timber for the hills.
For Cockatoo, Emerald, Pakenham Upper, Beaconsfield Upper and Gembrook properties, timber species matter:
- BAL-12.5: Treated pine + Class 1 underdecking OK
- BAL-19: Class 2 hardwood — spotted gum or blackbutt
- BAL-29: Class 1 hardwood — jarrah, ironbark, or hardwood + non-combustible substructure
- BAL-40 / FZ: Hardwood-only above non-combustible substructure with full ember protection
Where we work.
Free timber decking consultation.
Species samples on-site. Honest maintenance reality check.