Deck Builders Northern Beaches | Hardwood & Composite Decks

Composite timber deck around a pool with tropical landscaping, Northern Beaches

Why Bark

Deck Building, Done Properly

We've been building decks across the Northern Beaches for over a decade. Coby and Bill run every job on site, which means the people quoting your deck are the same people building it. No subbed-out work, no wandering project managers, no surprises in week three.

Most of our work comes from referrals and Google reviews. Clients call us because a neighbour recommended us, or because they read what previous clients wrote. That keeps us honest. We turn up when we say we will, we keep the site tidy, and we don't leave a job half-finished.

Every deck is fixed-price after the site visit. The number we quote is the number you pay, unless you change scope.

Get a Free Quote

What We Build

Decks We Build Every Week

Hardwood Decks

Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Merbau or Ironbark on a hardwood sub-frame. Oiled finish for the natural timber look. Best for clients who want warmth, character, and don't mind oiling once a year.

Composite Decks

Modwood, Trex, NewTechWood and Ekodeck. Set-and-forget low maintenance, consistent colour, 25–30 year warranties. Suits coastal sites where salt and UV chew through softer timbers.

Pool & Pool-Surround Decks

Slip-rated boards, hidden fixings, AS 1926.1 compliant fencing. We coordinate the certifier so the deck and the fence both pass at handover.

Multi-Level Decks

Sloping blocks across Avalon, Seaforth and Forestville suit multi-level builds. We design the levels around your view, the sun, and the way you actually use the space.

Pergolas & Covered Decks

Post-and-beam pergolas in hardwood. Louvred roofs where you want light control. Built into the deck so the structure reads as one piece, not bolted-on.

Stairs, Balustrades & Built-Ins

Stairs to the lawn, balustrade to code, bench seating with hidden storage underneath. Custom carpentry that matches the rest of the deck rather than looking added on.

Materials

What We Recommend — and Why

There's no single right answer. The best material depends on your site, your budget, and how much maintenance you're willing to do.

Spotted Gum

Class 1 durability, beautiful pale-to-warm grain, holds up to coastal exposure. Our default hardwood for Northern Beaches sites within a few hundred metres of the surf.

Blackbutt

Lighter colour than Spotted Gum, slightly softer underfoot, also Class 1 durability. Good choice when clients want a lighter aesthetic without giving up longevity.

Merbau (Kwila)

Cheaper than Spotted Gum, easier to work, but bleeds tannin in the first 12 months. Fine for inland Frenchs Forest, Belrose or Forestville. We'd push back on Merbau for absolute beachfront.

Composite (Modwood, Trex, NewTechWood)

The right call when low maintenance is the priority. Higher upfront cost, lower lifecycle cost. Coastal homeowners increasingly choose composite to skip the annual oiling.

Read our full hardwood vs composite breakdown →

How It Works

From Phone Call to Finished Deck

Site visit. We come out, measure up, and talk through what you're after. Free, no obligation, usually within a week of your call.
Written quote. Fixed price, itemised, with materials and timeline locked in. Most quotes are back to you within 5–7 days.
Approval pathway. If your deck needs a CDC or DA, we tell you up front and coordinate with a private certifier. No paperwork chase on your end.
Build. Coby and Bill on the tools, every day. Site kept tidy, communication daily, no ghost weeks.
Inspection & handover. Walk through together, snag list resolved on the spot, paperwork handed over.
Warranty. NSW statutory warranty plus our own. Anything not right after handover, we come back.

Recent Work

Decks We've Built Around the Beaches

Backyard deck & entrance steps, Manly

Hardwood deck off the rear living area plus front entrance steps for a 100-year-old Californian bungalow. Tight site access, kept the heritage detailing intact.

"They were very easy to work with." — Frank B., Manly

Pool-surround composite deck, Avalon

Composite boards around an existing pool with new pool-compliant balustrade. Slip-rated finish, hidden fixings, certifier sign-off included.

"Brought our vision to life. Better than expected actually." — Brooke R., Avalon

Multi-level deck with storage, Seaforth

Sloping harbourside block. Two-tier deck with built-in storage boxes under the upper level. Cantilevered edge to maximise the view.

"The boys from Bark really brought our vision to life." — Peta B., Seaforth

View Full Portfolio

Pricing

Indicative 2026 Deck Prices

Every job is priced individually after a site visit. The figures below are realistic ranges for the Northern Beaches in 2026 to help you budget before we quote.

Small hardwood deck (15–25 sqm)

$12,000–$22,000

Single level, low to ground, basic balustrade if needed. Spotted Gum or Blackbutt on hardwood sub-frame.

Mid-size deck with stairs (30–50 sqm)

$22,000–$42,000

Single or split level, stairs to lawn, full balustrade. Hardwood pricing — composite adds 25–40%.

Large deck + pergola (60–90 sqm)

$45,000–$80,000

Full alfresco build with pergola, multi-level, lighting and built-in seating.

Pool-surround composite deck

$28,000–$55,000

Composite boards, slip rating, AS 1926.1 fencing, certifier sign-off included.

Prices are supplied and built. Sloping sites, structural piers, premium hardwoods (Ironbark) and high-spec finishes can shift these ranges.

FAQs

Common Questions

How much does a deck cost on the Northern Beaches in 2026?

Hardwood decks on the Northern Beaches typically run $850–$1,200 per square metre supplied and built, including the sub-frame and standard balustrades. Composite is $1,200–$1,650 per square metre. Most jobs land between $12,000 and $35,000 once stairs, balustrades and a pergola are factored in. Sloping sites, pool surrounds and structural piers add cost.

Do I need council approval for a deck on the Northern Beaches?

Most decks under 25 sqm and less than 1m off finished ground level fall under exempt development and don't need approval. Larger decks, decks attached to the dwelling, and decks in heritage or bushfire zones usually need a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) or a DA through Northern Beaches Council. We confirm the approval pathway before quoting.

What's the best decking timber for coastal Sydney?

Spotted Gum and Blackbutt handle salt air and UV better than softer hardwoods like Merbau. Both are Class 1 durability, dense, and hold up well on Northern Beaches sites. Ironbark is the toughest of the lot but harder to source in long lengths. For lower-maintenance options, composite (Modwood, Trex, NewTechWood, Ekodeck) avoids the silvering and oiling cycle altogether.

How long does a deck take to build?

A standard hardwood deck on a flat block takes 1–2 weeks from demolition to handover. Multi-level builds with stairs, balustrades and a pergola run 2–4 weeks. Pool surrounds with new fencing typically add a week. Wet weather and council inspection windows can extend timelines slightly.

How long does composite decking last?

Quality composite boards (Modwood, Trex, NewTechWood) carry 25–30 year warranties for residential use. They won't rot, splinter or warp like timber, but the colour can fade slightly over years of UV exposure. The structural sub-frame underneath usually outlasts the boards themselves.

Can you build a deck around a pool?

Yes. Pool decks are one of our most common builds. We use slip-rated boards, hidden fixings, and pool-compliant balustrade designs. If pool fencing is part of the scope, we make sure the finished build meets AS 1926.1 and the certifier's requirements.

Do you handle the engineering and certification?

For decks that need engineered footings or are over 1m off ground level, we coordinate the structural engineer's input and the certifier sign-off. You don't need to chase paperwork — we run that side as part of the job.

What warranty comes with a Bark Construction deck?

All structural work is covered under the NSW statutory warranty (up to 6 years on major defects, 2 years on minor). Composite decking carries the manufacturer's warranty on top of that — 25 to 30 years for most premium brands. If something we built isn't right, we come back and fix it.

Keep Reading

Ready to Build?

Free site visit, fixed-price quote, no obligation. Most clients hear back within 24 hours.

Deck Builders on the Northern Beaches