Really happy with the fence Tim built for us. He was easy to deal with, turned up when he said he would, and put a lot of care into getting everything right. The finished fence looks great and has made a huge difference to the property. Would definitely use Tim again and have no hesitation recommending him.
Decking Whangaparaoa and the Hibiscus Coast
Decks framed by a joiner, and detailed properly at the edges, steps and junctions where most decks start to go wrong.
01 — Framing
Framing decides how long a deck lasts
The boards are what people look at, but the substructure is what determines whether a deck still feels solid in fifteen years. Bearer and joist sizing, pile depth, fixing type and clearance from the ground all get set to suit the site.
On this coast that means allowing for salt-laden wind, clay that moves through summer, and slopes that make a simple square deck anything but simple.
- H5 treated posts to code depth on footings sized to the load
- Stainless steel fixings where the coastal exposure calls for it
- Stairs, handrails and balustrades built to comply
Kwila decking and the alternatives
There is no single best timber. It depends on sun, distance from the sea, how much maintenance you will realistically do, and budget.
Kwila
Dense, hard-wearing and rich in colour. Needs oiling to hold that colour, and washing down after the first few rains while the tannin leaches out.
Vitex
Stable, low-tannin and lighter in tone. The better choice next to paving or pale cladding where kwila runoff would stain.
Treated pine
The economical option, and perfectly sound when framed and fixed correctly. Takes stain well and suits decks that will be painted.
02 — On site
What actually happens once you say go
Materials are ordered against the measured plan, not estimated off a photo. Setting out happens first and gets checked before anything is concreted, because a deck that is out of square at the piles stays out of square forever.
Offcuts and rubbish are cleared at the end of each day. On an occupied property that matters more than most trades admit.
- Indicative timeframe supplied with the written price
- Variations raised before they happen, not after
- Site left clean and safe every evening
Recent decks
Single level, split level and platform decks, with the stairs and balustrades built as part of the same job rather than added afterwards.
Decking Whangaparaoa, and the questions that come up
The consent question comes up on nearly every job, so it is worth understanding before you start planning.
Does my deck need a building consent?
A deck under one metre above the ground it sits on can usually be built without consent, but the exemption has conditions and Auckland Council applies them carefully. Anything higher, and anything with a balustrade, generally needs consent. Tim tells you which side of the line you are on at the site visit so you can allow for it before anything is ordered.
How long does a deck take?
A straightforward ground-level deck is often three to five working days once materials are on site. Decks over sloping ground, and anything with retaining behind them, run longer.
Can you build over a slope or a bank?
Yes, and it is a large part of the work here. Pile-supported decks make use of ground that would otherwise be wasted, with post depth and footing size set to the fall of the section rather than to a standard detail.
What maintenance will it need?
A wash and a coat of oil each year keeps a hardwood deck close to new. Left alone, kwila and vitex both weather to a silver grey without losing strength, so maintenance is about appearance rather than structure.
Decks built across the Hibiscus Coast, Warkworth and the North Shore
Whangaparaoa and the wider Hibiscus Coast account for most of the decking work, with regular jobs through Silverdale, Orewa and Warkworth and across the North Shore. Distance from the sea is what sets the fixing spec, so it is checked address by address rather than assumed.
- Whangaparaoa
- Manly & Stanmore Bay
- Red Beach
- Orewa
- Silverdale & Millwater
- Warkworth
- Matakana & Snells Beach
- Albany & Greenhithe
- Torbay & Browns Bay
- Wider North Shore
Book a site visit
- Mobile
- 021 709 679
- Site visits
- No charge
- Pricing
- Itemised, written
Site visits anywhere on this list are free, including the North Shore run.
Get a quoteWhat clients say
Verified NoCowboys reviews covering decking and structural work across the Hibiscus Coast, Warkworth and the North Shore.
5.0
from 57 verified reviews
Working with Tim was awesome!!! he was so full of knowledge, always informed us of his plans for our gardens,kind and very respectful. He is our "Grass Guru", we never imagined our lawns could be as luscious as they've grown 10/10 :thumbsup_tone3:
Tim replaced our small grass area with a ready lawn after the existing area had been dug up due to drainage works and dried out. We are very happy with the result and now have a thick (and visually pleasing) lawn.
Tim from The Landscape Company responded to a job I posted on No Cowboys. A small job with a tight timeframe at a time of year (leading up to Christmas) when it can be difficult to get things done. Tim was committed to getting the job done on time, working in the rain one day and even delayed his holiday by a day to complete the job. We were very grateful as it enabled us to give a new puppy a safe area. Tim always responded to my queries promptly, gave a timely quote, asked questions to understand our expectations of the finished job and communicated clearly on when he would be on site to do the work. When some of the timber was unexpectedly unavailable, he told us why and the cause of the delay. The final fences and gates are brilliant. Tim kept a very tidy worksite, ensured no mud was transferred to the concrete driveway, accommodated changes that arose due to a change of mind on our part, and was very easy and pleasant to deal with. I have no hesitation in recommending Tim from The Landscape Company.
Tim was recommended by a friend and I couldn’t be more pleased. He single-handedly transformed my garden. An absolute pleasure to work with, first rate communication, and a real down to earth knowledge of landscaping, and a real problem solver when my garden threw up challenges.
We are absolutely thrilled with the exceptional service provided by Tim at The Landscape Company. From the initial consultation to the final walk-through, his professionalism, expertise, and attention to detail were truly impressive.
Tim was an absolute pleasure to work with, always responsive, and went above and beyond to ensure our complete satisfaction. His dedication to his craft is evident in every aspect of his work. We highly recommend Tim and The Landscape Company to anyone seeking top-notch landscaping services. Tims exceptional work has earned him a well-deserved 5 stars from us! Thank you for all the amazing work you have done for us and will continue to do for us hopefully in the future.
Thinking about a new deck?
Send a couple of photos and rough measurements, or book a site visit. You get an itemised written price with the timber options set out.