Price of the construction of a wooden deck in Auckland

A wooden deck is an alternative to consider if you want to enlarge your property and give it added value without paying the cost of a new room. The investment required is between $ 2,000 and $ 6,800, for a platform of 20 m2 to 40 m2. The budget for a decking building cost can, however, vary greatly depending on the materials chosen and the different functions to be performed.

Price of the construction of a wooden deck: materials suitable for decks: advantages, disadvantages and prices

It is still possible to make a beautiful wooden deck with very affordable materials, assuming that they will require more maintenance - to prevent them from rotting or their color deteriorating over the years. Materials that do not require any maintenance inevitably involve a larger budget. They are generally classified into three categories, each material having very specific advantages and disadvantages.

composites

Price of the construction of a wooden deck

Composite materials are more and more popular for wooden decks because of the low maintenance they require. These are most often wood-based composites mixed with polyethylene (average price of $ 30 / m2), or polypropylene (average price of $ 35 / m2) or polyvinyl or PVC planks (average price of $ 45 / m2 for honeycombed slats and $ 60 / m2 for solid slats)

Benefits

• Composite materials are particularly resistant; there is no risk that they will crack or rot over time.

• Most PVC is not subject to mold.

• No stain or waterproofing is necessary, except for polyethylene and polypropylene which contain natural wood and can therefore be stained to obtain a particular color.

• Each material is available in honeycombed blades, more mechanically resistant and which allow the passage of audio cables or electrical connections.

• Composite materials exist in a wide range of colors and can be lacquered to take on the appearance of natural wood.

disadvantages

• Polyethylene is less resistant than PVC or polypropylene.

• It is impossible to stain PVC since it is a completely synthetic material.

• Composite materials require a larger budget than natural wood, but for the most part require no maintenance.

• The marks of blows and wear cannot be sanded.

• The cavities in the honeycomb blades make them more fragile over time.

Composite materials retain and emit heat at high temperatures, which can be uncomfortable if you live in a very sunny region in summer.

A composite material deck builders auckland costs between $ 60 and $ 120 / m2, fixings, railing (s) and structure included. Be aware that the wood and plastic they contain are agglomerated with glue and other chemicals. In the event of a fire, these products inevitably release toxic gases into the atmosphere.

Finally, composite materials are much more combustible than wood, unless treated with flame retardants. This aspect should not slow you down if your deck is above all a space for relaxation. However, consider your choice twice if you intend to install a barbecue or a brazier there.

Natural wood

We can only approve of the choice of natural wood for its aesthetic qualities. Some species are less costly than composite materials, but in any case require more maintenance to maintain their shine. The woods most frequently used for the construction of decks remain:

Redwood - softwood from California (approximate price of $ 35 / m2)

Benefits

• Naturally flame retardant and pest resistant

• Takes over time a nice silver gray hue

• Does not deform

• The stains and paints adhere to it particularly well

• Can last for decades

disadvantages

• Most often from primary forests

• Has versatile properties, depending on whether it is young or mature wood

• Implies a larger budget, especially if it is directly imported from California

• Prone to mold and sensitive to ultraviolet radiation if left untreated

Ipe - hardwood from Brazil (approximate price of 80 $ / m2)

Benefits

• Extremely robust, also called ironwood

• Resistant to fire, mold, blows and weather

• Has a lifespan of more than 25 years

• From sustainable operations

disadvantages

• Must imperatively be pre-drilled before being fixed

• Protective products hardly adhere to it

• Much more upscale than traditional local woods, in terms of budget

Tiger wood - hardwood from Africa or Brazil (approximate price of $ 50 / m2)

Benefits

• As weather resistant as ipé while remaining more affordable, in terms of budget

• Intense color with stripes, which explains the name tiger wood

• Has a lifespan of more than 25 years

disadvantages

• Requires frequent maintenance to preserve its color

• Must imperatively be pre-drilled before being fixed

• Requires stainless steel fixings to prevent discoloration on the blades

Cedar - soft wood (approximate price of 25 $ / m2)

Benefits

• Resistant to rot

• Particularly breathable, it allows moisture to evaporate if it is in the open air

• Very accessible in terms of budget

disadvantages

• Not suitable for shaded or level decks

• Cracks and scratches easily

• Requires to be cleaned and stained every year or every two years maximum

Bamboo - plant similar to hardwood (approximate price of $ 60 / m2)

Benefits

• Extremely robust, harder than oak and maple

• Clear and uniform grain, has few knots or irregularities

• Ecological - harvested every 3 to 5 years, whereas it is estimated 15-20 years for most woods

• Absorbs four times more carbon dioxide than other hardwoods, making it an eco-responsible material

• Stains and waterproofing products adhere easily

disadvantages

• It is difficult to estimate the lifespan of this material, which appeared relatively late on the market. The first results are, however, rather complimentary.

• Unless coating each strip with waterproofing, it hardly resists snow and frost

• Requires to be treated once a year with a waterproofing agent to keep it in good condition.

• Bamboo has recently been used for coating decks. Make sure that the wood comes from sustainable farms and not from wilderness areas where its extraction would endanger the ecosystem. The quality of the bamboo could also not be certified, even though sustainable farms give the guarantee. Apart from the redwood, most of the natural wood used for the decks comes from eco-responsible productions.

• Obtaining exotic wood can be complicated because of strict regulations and the control that manufacturers exercise. For some owners, their resistance remains a sufficient argument to justify their cost to build a deck.

Pressure treated wood (PT)

Pressure treated wood is an attractive alternative for homeowners who have a limited budget. In particular, care must be taken to waterproof it every year, or even every two years, to avoid being in contact with the chemical substances it contains; however, they are much less toxic today than they were a few years ago.

Benefits

• Particularly accessible, in terms of budget

• Robust and supplied, for the most part, with a 40-year warranty.

• Resistant to scratches and knocks

• Suitable for both raised and walk-in decks

• Does not attract insects because of the chemicals it contains.

disadvantages

• Hardly recyclable.

• It can release toxic gases into the atmosphere during combustion. Its treatment must therefore be entrusted to specialists.

• Requires galvanized fasteners to prevent metal corrosion

• Better to avoid walking barefoot (or letting animals run) on PT if it is not waterproofed.

PT decks built before 2003 have an extremely toxic chemical component, chromated copper arsenate. Arsenate is comparable to poison for rats by its arsenic content. PTs containing arsenate have since been withdrawn from sale - for residential projects - and the arsenate replaced by copper azole and quaternary amine copper. They are just as effective as the arsenic-based components and less dangerous, however, because copper does not bind in the body. It is however strongly recommended to apply a waterproofing agent on PT coverings.