Decks
Build a better outdoor space from the ground up
A great deck creates an easy transition between your home and backyard, giving you more space to entertain, relax and enjoy being outdoors.
Riverina Outdoor Living designs and builds custom decks in Wagga Wagga and across the Riverina, from standalone decks to complete outdoor living areas combining decking, patios, louvre roofs, screens and other features.
Choose from natural timber or low-maintenance composite decking, with a design created specifically for your home, site and lifestyle.
Decking designed around your home
A deck needs to do more than look good when it's first installed.
The size, height, orientation, materials and surrounding structures all influence how the finished space will look, feel and perform over time.
Before recommending a design, we consider your home's architecture, how you'll access the deck from inside, the level and condition of the site, sun exposure, how you plan to use the area and whether you want to incorporate roofing, screening or other outdoor living features.
Whether you're replacing an old deck or starting with a completely new outdoor space, we'll help you work through the options.
Timber or composite decking?
One of the biggest decisions when planning a new deck is what to build it from.
Natural timber and composite decking can both create a beautiful outdoor area, but they have different advantages.
The right choice comes down to the look you prefer, how much ongoing maintenance you're comfortable with and your project budget.
Timber decking
There's a reason natural timber remains such a popular choice.
Timber brings warmth, character and natural variation to an outdoor area and can work beautifully with both contemporary and traditional homes.
Depending on the timber selected, it can also provide greater flexibility in the colour and finish of the deck.
The trade-off is maintenance.
Timber decking generally requires regular cleaning and periodic oiling or staining to help maintain its appearance and protect it from the elements. Left untreated, timber will naturally weather and change colour over time.
Timber could be right for you if:
you love the appearance and feel of natural timber
you're happy to maintain the deck over its lifetime
you want the ability to change or refresh the finish
natural variation and character appeal to you
Composite decking
Composite decking is designed to provide the appearance of decking with less ongoing maintenance than natural timber.
Products such as Ekodeck don't require the regular oiling or staining associated with timber, making composite a popular choice for homeowners who would rather spend their weekends enjoying the deck than maintaining it.
Composite decking is available in a range of colours and finishes, allowing it to work with many different styles of homes and outdoor areas.
The initial material cost can be higher than some timber options, so it's worth considering both the upfront investment and ongoing maintenance when comparing the two.
Composite could be right for you if:
low maintenance is a priority
you don't want to regularly oil or stain your deck
you prefer a consistent colour and appearance
you're happy to invest more upfront to reduce ongoing upkeep
Decking for Riverina conditions
Decking in the Riverina can be exposed to intense summer sun, temperature changes, rain and frost, so material selection and good construction matter.
The orientation of the deck can also influence how it feels underfoot and how much weather exposure it receives throughout the year.
We'll consider the location of your deck, surrounding shade, exposure and how the space will be used when discussing suitable materials and design options.
More than just a deck
Often the best outdoor spaces are designed as a whole rather than as a collection of separate additions.
If you're planning a deck and know you'll eventually want a patio or other features, it makes sense to consider them together from the beginning.
Riverina Outdoor Living can incorporate your decking into a complete outdoor living design with features such as:
insulated patios
conventional patio roofing
louvre roofs
outdoor blinds
privacy screens and shutters
balustrades
steps and access
other outdoor living features
Planning these elements together can create better connections between the house, deck and backyard while giving the finished space a more cohesive appearance.
Decks for pools and entertaining areas
A new deck can completely change an underused section of the backyard.
Decking can be used to create entertaining areas, connect the house with the garden, provide access around a pool or deal with changes in ground level that make other forms of outdoor flooring less practical.
Where a deck is being incorporated around a pool or at height, there are additional considerations around access, balustrades, safety and material selection.
We'll assess the site and design the deck as part of the wider space rather than simply deciding where the boards should go.
Recent decking projects
How much does a deck cost?
The cost of building a deck depends on much more than its square metre size.
Factors that can affect the final price include:
overall deck size and shape
timber or composite material selected
height above ground
site access and ground conditions
subframe and structural requirements
stairs and changes in level
balustrades
integration with an existing home or structure
roofing or other outdoor living features
A straightforward ground-level deck will naturally be a different investment from an elevated deck with stairs, balustrades and a new patio overhead.
We'll assess your property, talk through the options and provide a detailed quote based on what your project actually requires.
Decking FAQs
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Neither is automatically better.
Timber provides a natural appearance and can be refinished over time, but requires ongoing maintenance. Composite decking requires less maintenance and doesn't need regular oiling or staining, although the initial material cost may be higher.
Your priorities, budget and the location of the deck will help determine which makes more sense for you.
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Modern composite decking is designed with colours, textures and grain patterns that create a timber-inspired appearance. It tends to have a more consistent finish than natural timber, which naturally varies from board to board.
If the character of genuine timber is important to you, timber may still be your preference. If consistency and low maintenance matter more, composite is worth considering.
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All decking can become hot when exposed to direct summer sun, particularly darker colours. The material, colour, orientation and amount of shade around the deck can all influence surface temperature.
This is particularly worth considering when planning a deck that will receive significant direct Riverina summer sun.
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The amount of maintenance depends on the timber, finish and exposure to the weather. Timber decks generally need regular cleaning and periodic oiling or staining if you want to maintain their colour and appearance.
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Composite decking is low maintenance rather than maintenance-free. It still needs cleaning to remove dirt, dust and organic material, but it doesn't require the regular oiling or staining associated with timber decking.
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Yes, depending on the condition of the existing structure. We'll inspect what's there and determine whether any part can be retained or whether rebuilding is the better option.
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Yes, in many situations the deck and patio can be designed together to create a complete outdoor entertaining area.
If you're considering both, we'd recommend discussing them at the same time so the structures, proportions and overall design can be planned together.
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Potentially, yes. Pool areas have additional design, material and safety considerations, so we'll need to assess the property and proposed design.
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Approval requirements depend on factors including the deck's size, height, location and the property itself. We'll discuss the requirements relevant to your project during the planning process.
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Riverina Outdoor Living is based in Wagga Wagga and builds decks and outdoor living areas throughout Wagga Wagga and surrounding Riverina communities.