Decks
Modern materials and advances in building techniques have given us the means to build decks that last a lifetime. Decks have become an extension of the home and living space. They are now a way of life and a necessity of any functional family home. Decks can be as minimalist or extravagant as you like.
Design options:
— Pine decks
— Hardwood decks
— Composite decks
— Consented decks
Pine decks
Treated pine is an affordable, fast growing, sustainable and plentiful timber that makes an excellent choice for decking in Wellington.
Pine is a softwood, so the raw timber is not as durable as hardwood and in order to make pine suitable for outdoor use it requires chemical treatment.
Because pine is soft, the decking boards are milled (cut) to a thicker profile than hardwood decking boards. This ensures they don’t bend, buckle or warp.
Pine can be stained, oiled and painted as desired. Over time, it seasons (ages) to a natural silver colour.
Hardwood decks
Hardwood decks are a sleek looking high end option for deck finishing.
Hardwoods are denser and harder than softwoods and the decking planks are typically thinner in profile.
Kwila, one of the most popular hardwoods available in New Zealand is grown in South East Asia. It is gold to red-brown in colour.
Purple Heart, grown in South America, is purple-brown in colour.
Vitex, from Solomon Islands, is light sandy gold in colour.
Garapa, from South America, is gold in colour.
Another option, although technically not a hardwood, is Macrocarpa.
All timbers eventually silver off (turn a light shade of grey) over time, with exposure to the environment. With appropriate maintenance and treatments, a degree of colour can usually be restored to silvered hardwoods.
Composite decks
Composite decks use plastic-wood decking planks instead of natural timber. The boards are typically comprised of plastic, wood fibre, glue and colour pigment. They’re splinter-free and resistant to scratches, fading and mould.
Unlike timber framed decks, the beams and components are usually manufactured from lightweight structural aluminium. The fastening types are also different to traditional timber fastenings.
Composite deck and framing systems can be installed over waterproof membranes (i.e. above garages and apartment buildings) as they don’t require ground penetration for post holes.
Consented decks
Some decks will require permission from the local Council before construction can commence.
In this case, a different process needs to be followed, usually involving input from an engineer or architect and a series of inspections and Council sign off.
A competent landscaper can manage this sometimes complicated compliance process for you. They will also have the experience and skill to build the approved structure to the specific exacting standards necessary to satisfy the Council and achieve Code of Compliance.
The Scapegoats team has built many consented structures in the Wellington City Council, Porirua City Council, Hutt City Council, Upper Hutt City Council and Kapiti Coast District Council zones.
Explore more landscape design options
See decks in our projects
-
steps | decks | walls | fences | paths | gardens | ...
Brooklyn
-
fences | gardens | decks | walls | steps | driveway | ...
Karori
Wisdom
Landscaping in Wellington can present its unique challenges. We’ve spent years taming the terrain and know what to consider when designing your dream landscape.
-
Planting with New Zealand native flora
Native New Zealand plantlife is suited perfectly to Wellington’s wily weather conditions. Because of their adaptability to local environmental conditions, most New Zealand native plants are able to thrive in Wellington landscape design.
-
Keeping your lawn healthy
You’d think your lawn would be thriving with all this rain. While summer might sear patches into your lawn and cause your grass to brown, winter drowns everything in mud; the sort that’s easily shifted and deformed under even the slightest application of pressure.
-
Lessons from Japanese landscaping
The beauty of ornamental Japanese landscaping is that it can be achieved in the smallest of spaces. A small front yard or back yard can be transformed into an intimate natural escape.