Carpentry, decks and pergolas
Canberra's hard on outdoor timber. Frost most winter mornings, forty-degree afternoons in February, and not much in between. What you build with matters more here than it does on the coast.
What gets posted
Decks
New builds and replacements. The frame is the job; the boards are just the part you see. Ask what the bearers and joists are, not only the decking.
Pergolas and patio roofs
Freestanding or attached to the house. Attaching to the house means someone has to be sure the wall can take it, and that changes who's allowed to sign off on the job.
Doors, windows and trim
Hanging a door that's never closed properly, replacing rotted external frames, architraves and skirting after other work.
Built-ins and storage
Wardrobes, laundry benches, under-stair cupboards, garage shelving. Usually a day or two, and usually followed by a painter.
Structural repairs
Rotted bearers, sagging floors, termite or water damage someone found during another job. Needs looking at before anyone can price it honestly.
Timber repairs and rot
Fascia, barge boards, deck posts that have gone at ground level. Common on the 1970s and 80s houses out through Belco that have had one repaint too few.
Two things to sort before you get quotes
Does it need approval?
In the ACT, decks and pergolas above a certain height, or close to a boundary, can need building approval — and some smaller ones are exempt. It depends on the height, the size and where it sits on the block. Check with Access Canberra or ask the builder to confirm before you commit, because retro-fitting approval is far worse than getting it first.
What's going in the ground?
Post footings carry the whole thing. Canberra clay moves, and frost gets into shallow work. A quote that doesn't say how deep the holes go and what goes in them isn't really a quote.
Timber choices, plainly
- Treated pine — cheapest to build, needs oiling, and it'll grey and check if it doesn't get it. Fine if you'll actually maintain it.
- Merbau and other hardwoods — more up front, holds up better, still wants oil every year or two. Bleeds tannin onto pale paving when it's new.
- Spotted gum — the local favourite for looks and durability, and it sits at the top of the timber price range.
- Composite — costs about what a good hardwood does, no oiling, and it does get hot underfoot in a Canberra February. Worth it if you know you're never going to maintain a deck.
What to tell us so the quote is real
- Size in rough metres, and how high off the ground at the highest point.
- What's there now — bare ground, an old deck coming out, existing concrete.
- Photos from two angles, including one that shows the ground falling away.
- Access. Can timber be carried down the side, or does it go over a fence?
- Roof or no roof, and whether you want power or lighting out there.
- Any deadline — a birthday, a sale, before summer.