Browse Forums Outdoor Living 1 Mar 05, 2009 9:13 pm The back of our house is pretty ugly looking and we really wanted to cover the base with a deck, which would sit around 80cm off the ground. The size of the deck would be 3.5m x 11m and the cheapest quote we've had is $17,200, and this is from a friend of a friend so is probably a pretty good price? This is just for the deck, no form of cover.
So, we're now having to think about what our other options are. The house sits 80cm off the ground, and we can have a deck of that size, at that height without having planning permission (which obviously we were really pleased about). If we want a roof however we'd have to apply for permission because the roof can only be 2.4m off the ground without permission (if our house wasnt 80cm off the ground this would also be great!)... bugger! Any thoughts people on an alternative to deck? Any help or advise is very much appreciated. Thanks Rach xxxx Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 2Mar 06, 2009 9:13 am Not sure about pricing of decking im guessing it be about right cause us we have been quoted over $3500 for a really small area!
The other option is to use treated pine not the good stuff, requires more up keep but looks just as good! (so im told, my step dad has treated pine out the back and the good stuff at the front, for him the treated pine is actually out lasting the good stuff strange ) OR pave it, lots of nice choices there OR just concrete it with a pattern. Not sure of costing, but you'd think it wouldn't be 'as expensive' could be wrong! Hope that helps! Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 3Mar 06, 2009 10:31 am woodsey Not sure about pricing of decking im guessing it be about right cause us we have been quoted over $3500 for a really small area! The other option is to use treated pine not the good stuff, requires more up keep but looks just as good! (so im told, my step dad has treated pine out the back and the good stuff at the front, for him the treated pine is actually out lasting the good stuff strange ) OR pave it, lots of nice choices there OR just concrete it with a pattern. Not sure of costing, but you'd think it wouldn't be 'as expensive' could be wrong! Hope that helps! Thanks Woodsey Yep this quote is for 'treated pine' so no chance of making the deck any cheaper I'll look into the other options - thanks for that. I seem to be getting surprised all the time when it comes to costs (renovating the kitchen at the moment too... ouch!! Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 4Mar 06, 2009 10:45 am You should be able to do much better than that.
that's 38.5sqm. I recently did a 40sqm deck, about 60cm off ground, and materials were less than $4000(approx $100/sqm). Treated pine posts, bearers and joists, and merbau(hardwoord) decking. It would have been easily $1000 less with treated pine boards. So say $3000 in material costs for t/pine(I paid retail, not doubt they could get it for less). So they are charging $14000 for labour!!! A deck of this size should not take any more than 4 days of labour costs for 1 person(because pine is quicker to put down than hardwood-no pesky predrilling each screw), so it may take longer with hardword. Thats $3500 per day or over $400 per hour. Tell 'em their dreaming. You should be able to get a reasonable mob in for half that price. Btw. Personally, spend the extra and go hardwood boards if it's in the budget. MUCH better... Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 5Mar 06, 2009 10:50 am Art You should be able to do much better than that. that's 38.5sqm. I recently did a 40sqm deck, about 60cm off ground, and materials were less than $4000(approx 100sqm). Treated pine posts, bearers and joists, and merbau(hardwoord) decking. It would have been easily $1000 less with treated pine boards. So say $3000 in material costs for t/pine(I paid retail, not doubt they could get it for less). So they are charging $14000 for labour!!! A deck of this size should not take any more than 4 days of labour costs for 1 person(because pine is quicker to put down than hardwood-no pesky predrilling each screw), so it may take longer with hardword. Thats $3500 per day or over $400 per hour. Tell 'em their dreaming. You should be able to get a reasonable mob in for half that price. Btw. Personally, spend the extra and go hardwood boards if it's in the budget. MUCH better... Wow thanks for that!! I assumed that because it was a friend of a friend we were getting a good deal!! Seems that may not be the case!! dont suppose you fancy doing another deck in Sydney do ya?!! Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 7Mar 06, 2009 10:53 am The original quote is obscene to be honest. ! have put in about the same size in merbau for a quarter of this. I agree about not using treated pine, there are other options which are better, nicer and longer lasting.
I would suggest that the $4-6k mark is closer to the truth. Adrian B Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 8Mar 06, 2009 10:54 am tygwyn Art You should be able to do much better than that. that's 38.5sqm. I recently did a 40sqm deck, about 60cm off ground, and materials were less than $4000(approx 100sqm). Treated pine posts, bearers and joists, and merbau(hardwoord) decking. It would have been easily $1000 less with treated pine boards. So say $3000 in material costs for t/pine(I paid retail, not doubt they could get it for less). So they are charging $14000 for labour!!! A deck of this size should not take any more than 4 days of labour costs for 1 person(because pine is quicker to put down than hardwood-no pesky predrilling each screw), so it may take longer with hardword. Thats $3500 per day or over $400 per hour. Tell 'em their dreaming. You should be able to get a reasonable mob in for half that price. Btw. Personally, spend the extra and go hardwood boards if it's in the budget. MUCH better... Wow thanks for that!! I assumed that because it was a friend of a friend we were getting a good deal!! Seems thats maybe not the case!! dont suppose you fancy doing another deck in Sydney do ya?!! haha. I'm a weekend warrior myself. That was my first deck, so I wouldn't recommend myself, even though I'm more than happy with the job I did. I just think it's criminal when guys come out and charge ridiculous prices(more than a doctor charges ) for jobs that really aren't that hard. That said, there is a certain element of skill to it, and you have to have a fair bit of woodwork nous to you to get the levels right. But after thant it's just persistance. Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 9Mar 06, 2009 10:57 am Tam - that stencling is fantastic! You'd never know from the photos that it wasn't deck... love it! I'll definitely look into this! Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 10Mar 06, 2009 10:59 am Adrian and Art - thanks once again! I think we'd better look at getting another quote! We actually had one before this which was $26k but this included a colorbond roof and cutting and fitting french doors... even so... hell of a lot of money isnt it!
Anyone in the Sydney area can give me a recommendation please??? Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 11Mar 06, 2009 11:01 am Tam, that looks great! What did that set you back per sq/m? Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 12Mar 06, 2009 11:05 am I think it was approx $60 per sq which totalled to $3000 for the whole job.
It does still need a clear coat over it every year but that brings it up new again, it hasn't faded and won't splinter. Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 13Mar 06, 2009 11:07 am Tam I think it was approx $60 per sq which totalled to $3000 for the whole job. It does still need a clear coat over it every year but that brings it up new again, it hasn't faded and won't splinter. I'm soooo loving that Tam. so did you have to build it up to that level? If so, what was the cost of that please? Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 14Mar 06, 2009 11:11 am we only had a bit of blue metal there first as it took a couple of months after we moved in and we were sick of the mud coming into the house.
The concreter finished building it up and all the rest. Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 15Mar 06, 2009 3:19 pm Just adding some info that may help you from my experience.
I just built a 8mx4m deck with a colorbond roof that covered an area of 10mx4m. I did it all myself and the cost of materials was $6500 total. Thats with Merbau boards and treated pine for joists and bearers & concrete, nails, posts, hangers etc. I would add 10% to that price for increase in material cost in the last 6months etc. + yours is bigger so add more again... so lets say your material cost is $9000ish. Add labour cost and profit margin for the builder and that's how much you should expect to pay... Good luck with it! Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 16Mar 06, 2009 4:55 pm Thanks ever so much for that. Ours will actually be slightly smaller than yours as its only 38.5sqm rather than your 40sqm so that gives us a great idea of the costs - very much appreciated! Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 17Mar 06, 2009 5:59 pm Oh my god, I got a quote today for our deck and Pergola - $60,000!!!
The one I got yesterday was $15k, can't believe the second lot tried on 60! Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 18Mar 06, 2009 6:25 pm OH my god Rachelle, thats shocking!
By the way... I'm also Rachelle Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 19Mar 07, 2009 7:42 pm recently got a quote for 7.5 x 7.0m deck @ 200mm (52m2) - with treated pine subframe and balau deck. Materials cost $5200 (inc GST).
will probably do the deck with grey ironbark though but the subframe cost without deck top was $2032 (excluding concrete to set stirrups in ground) Balau deck was $3168 (640m @ $4.95). not actually in a position to build the deck for 7 months or so but pricing needed for bank. ’’Quondo Omni Flunkus Mortati ’’ If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy. Stila BK1 Build Thread The best place to talk about sport Re: Deck quotes coming in too expensive... cheaper alternatives? 20Mar 10, 2009 6:46 pm The ironbark is a much better timber than the balau/batu 11 23161 Get some long brass machine screws and bolt right through the gate and put brass acorn nuts and washers on the other side. It will never come off 1 9074 Chemtrails, only the most disproven conspiracy theory in the history of conspiracy theories. You've gone in the deep end, drowned, and are now a mindless bloated… 5 86569 |