The decks we build
Most Canberra back decks are low: the floor sits level with the back door and somewhere between a step and a metre above the lawn. That height keeps the frame simple, keeps the deck out of the building-approval system, and suits the brick-veneer homes that sit close to the ground across most suburbs.
A low deck off the back door
Posts on stirrups set in concrete footings, a treated-pine subframe, and decking boards fixed with stainless screws. We leave a gap between the frame and the house wall so the bricks stay dry and you can see under the deck.
Wrap-around and split-level decks
On a sloping block, a deck can step down in two levels instead of one high platform. Each level stays low, and the step between them becomes somewhere to sit.
Deck steps, landings and screening
Wide timber steps down to the lawn, a landing at the side gate, or a slatted screen at one end for privacy from the neighbours.
Replacing an old deck
When the old boards and frame have had it, we take the deck up, check what the footings are like, and build the new one in its place. Tell us the deck's age and what's underneath it.
Deck costs in Canberra
Merbau, hardwood and composite deck prices per m²
| What's charged | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Merbau deck, installed | $250 – $350 per m² | MS Decking & Repairs, Canberra |
| Australian hardwood deck | $200 – $350 per m² | MS Decking & Repairs, Canberra |
| Composite deck, installed | $250 – $400 per m² | MS Decking & Repairs, Canberra |
| Composite deck, standard boards, installed | $250 – $350 per m² | Compotech Solution (ACT supplier) |
| Composite deck, premium boards, installed | $350 – $500 per m² | Compotech Solution (ACT supplier) |
Published by a Canberra deck builder (MS Decking & Repairs, page published October 2024 and updated August 2025) and a composite decking supplier that installs across the ACT (Compotech Solution, 9 March 2026), checked 8 October 2026. Neither says whether GST is included. MS Decking doesn't say whether its hardwood figure includes installation. Compotech's figures are for composite only and it sells the boards. A deck's own price is set after seeing the site: height, steps, access and the timber change it.
Size, height, the number of steps, access to the back yard and the timber decide the price, and we put ours in writing after seeing the site. The deck cost guide covers each one, plus the ACT costs that come with a deck that does need approval.
Does a deck need approval in the ACT?
Two separate tests apply, and a deck has to pass both. For the building approval exemption, ACT Planning says an unroofed deck needs no walls, its highest point no more than 3 m off the ground, its floor no more than 1 m above the ground, and no unsupported span over 4 m.
For the development approval exemption, the floor can be no more than 0.4 m above the ground in front of the house or within 1.5 m of a side or rear boundary, and no more than 1 m elsewhere. There can be no balustrade in front of the building line. Our deck and pergola approval guide walks through both.
Higher or roofed decks
A deck with a floor more than a metre off the ground, a roof over it outside the exempt limits, or walls needs a building approval and a licensed ACT builder. Get a quote from a licensed builder for that work.
Choosing the decking timber
Merbau
A dense, reddish-brown hardwood that's common in Canberra yards. It bleeds tannin when new, so keep it off pale paving for the first few rains or give it a wash.
Spotted gum and other Australian hardwoods
Hard, heavy and long-lasting, with a lighter grey-brown colour that weathers to silver if it isn't oiled.
Treated pine
The budget choice. It needs oiling more often and moves more than hardwood, but it's light to work and suits a deck you plan to stain.
Composite boards
No oiling, but the boards cost more and get hot in summer sun. We fix them to the manufacturer's spacing and fastener rules.
Deck balustrades and bushfire rules
The National Construction Code requires a barrier where it's possible to fall 1 m or more from the deck. On a deck the barrier must be at least 1 m high, and the gaps must not let a 125 mm sphere through (NCC Housing Provisions 11.3). Most low decks don't reach that height, but a sloping yard can push one end over it.
Blocks near bushland may have a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) that sets the materials for a deck attached to the house. Access Canberra's BAL construction note explains where the level comes from. Tell us if your block backs onto bush.
What to send us
- The rough size of the deck, and photos of where it'll go
- How high the floor will sit above the ground at its highest point
- The timber or board you have in mind, and whether you want steps or screening
- Whether the block backs onto bushland or slopes
- The year the house was built, if you know it
Questions about decks in Canberra
How long does it take to build a low deck?
It depends on the size, the footings and the weather. Once we've seen the site, the written quote sets out the scope, and we agree a start date with you.
Can a deck be built over old pavers or concrete?
Often, if the slab is sound and drains. A deck over concrete still needs room under the boards for air, so the frame height has to allow for it. Send a photo of the area and we can talk through the options.
How close to the boundary can my deck be?
For the development-approval exemption, a deck floor within 1.5 m of a side or rear boundary can be no more than 0.4 m above the ground. See the approval guide for the full rules.
Do I need a balustrade?
The National Construction Code requires a barrier where you could fall 1 m or more from the deck. A lower deck doesn't need one by that rule, though some people add a rail at the steps anyway.
Can you add a roof to the deck later?
A roof changes the approval question. A small roof over part of the deck may still fit the pergola exemption limits; anything larger needs a building approval and a licensed builder. Tell us if you're thinking about one, so the frame suits it.
Where this information comes from
The rules and figures on this page come from these published pages, checked on 8 October 2026.
- MS Decking & Repairs: top decking materials for Canberra homes · Canberra deck builder and repairer, published October 2024, updated August 2025
- Compotech Solution: composite decking price Canberra · Composite decking supplier and installer covering the ACT, guide dated 9 March 2026
- Building (Fees) Determination 2026 (DI2026-163) · ACT Government fees for 2026–27, commenced 1 July 2026
- Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency: arranging a residential asbestos survey · Australian Government factsheet, republished November 2025
- ACT Planning: unroofed decks, patios and terraces (building approval) · Territory Planning Authority, when a deck doesn't need a building approval
- ACT Planning: unroofed decks, patios and terraces (development approval) · Territory Planning Authority, when a deck doesn't need a development approval
- NCC 2025 Housing Provisions, part 11.3: barriers and handrails · Australian Building Codes Board, adopted in the ACT from 1 May 2026
- Access Canberra Construction Note: Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) requirements · ACT Government construction note 2026-04
