Decking8 min read
Timber or composite — a clear-eyed comparison
Both serve. Both fail. The question is rarely material; it is maintenance, climate and intent — and almost no decking firm will tell you the truth of it.
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§ 01
The House
The House
We do not build to a deadline. We build to a standard — and we have been doing so, in the same workshop, for fifteen years.
I.
One workshop
Every job begins and ends with the same hands. No subcontractors, no brokerage, no stranger walking your site.
II.
One price
The quote is the price. Variations only on your written instruction. We refuse the trade's habit of creeping invoices.
III.
One decade
A written ten-year guarantee on workmanship. Should anything fail in that time, we return — without argument or charge.
§ 02The Disciplines
Six trades, one hand.
№ I
Decking
Merbau · Spotted gum · Composite
$3,500 — $24,000+
№ II
Pergolas & Verandahs
Free-standing or attached
$5,000 — $25,000
№ III
Carpentry
Doors · frames · trims · structural
On application
№ IV
Renovations
Bathroom & kitchen, full project
From $10,000
№ V
Flooring
Hardwood · engineered · floating
$40 — $100 / m²
№ VI
Carports & Sheds
Custom residential structures
From $4,000
§ 03The Method
Five movements, from the first call to the final handover.
01
The Visit
We come to you. A qualified carpenter — never a salesperson — measures, photographs, and listens. No charge, no obligation.
02
The Quote
A fixed-price written proposal arrives within forty-eight hours. Plain language, full inclusions, every material specified.
03
The Permit
Decks, pergolas and structural work often require council approval. We prepare and lodge the application on your behalf.
04
The Build
Our own carpenters arrive on the agreed day. The site is kept clean. You are updated. We do not vanish for a week.
05
The Handover
We walk the finished work with you before sign-off, and issue the written ten-year workmanship guarantee in your name.
§ 04Selected Works
A portfolio.
Merbau Deck
Narre Warren
2025 · DECKING
Composite Deck
Berwick
2025 · DECKING
Attached Pergola
Dandenong
2024 · PERGOLAS
Freestanding Pergola
Frankston
2025 · PERGOLAS
Bathroom Renovation
Rowville
2024 · RENOVATIONS
Kitchen Fit-out
Cranbourne
2025 · RENOVATIONS
§ 05The Difference
i.01 / 04
A fixed price, kept
Every quote is written and held. The figure quoted is the figure paid. Variations occur only on your instruction, in writing.
ii.02 / 04
Permits, handled
Most decks and pergolas require council approval. We prepare the application, lodge it with the council, and supply all compliance documentation.
iii.03 / 04
No subcontractors
The carpenters who quote your project are the carpenters who build it. Every person on site is an Ironbark employee.
iv.04 / 04
A decade, in writing
A written ten-year workmanship guarantee, in your name, separate from manufacturer warranties. Should anything fail, we return.
§ 06In Their Words
★★★★★ 4.9 / 5 · 87 GOOGLE REVIEWS
“
Ironbark built our new deck and it is, simply, beautiful. On time, considered, and the finish is faultless. They handled the council permit without us having to lift a finger — we did not even know we needed one.
James T.
Narre Warren · Decking
§ 07The Ledger
Costs, plainly.
Real market ranges for Melbourne, 2025–26. Your final figure depends on materials, site access, and scope. All quotes obligation-free.
CHAPTER
Decking
Treated pine$120 — 200 / m²
Merbau hardwood$200 — 400 / m²
Composite (ModWood)$200 — 580 / m²
Small deck — 15 m²from $3,500
Medium deck — 25 m²from $6,000
Large deck — 40 m²+from $12,000
Steps, balustrades and permits quoted separately. Elevated decks (>1m) carry a 40–60% premium.
CHAPTER
Outdoor Structures
Pergola$5,000 — $25,000
Carport$4,000 — $15,000
Verandah$6,000 — $20,000
Fencing$80 — $180 / lm
Price varies by size, span, materials, and whether roofing is included.
CHAPTER
Carpentry & Renovations
Bathroom renovation$10,000 — $40,000
Kitchen (structural)$8,000 — $25,000
Timber flooring$40 — $100 / m²
Door installation$300 — $1,200
Built-in wardrobes$1,000 — $5,000
Renovation work carries a 20–40% premium over new build due to access and rework.
ALL WORK PERFORMED BY VBA-REGISTERED BUILDERS · DOMESTIC BUILDING INSURANCE INCLUDED FOR CONTRACTS OVER $16,000 AS REQUIRED BY LAW
§ 09The Journal
Notes from the workshop.
Permits6 min read
Why your council probably needs to know about your deck
Most homeowners discover the permit obligation too late. The thresholds vary by council and they will catch you. A short field guide.
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Selection5 min read
Five questions that separate a tradesperson from a salesperson
Three quotes is good advice. Asking the right questions of those quotes is the advice that protects you. These five surface the difference.
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§ 10Enquiries
Things people ask.
§ 11Commission
Begin a conversation.
Tell us a little about your project. We will respond, by phone, within four business hours.
MON — FRI · 7AM — 6PM
SAT · 8AM — 2PM
ATELIER · DANDENONG SOUTH
SAT · 8AM — 2PM
ATELIER · DANDENONG SOUTH
— FIN —
"We measure twice. We cut once. We return only when invited — and we are, often, invited."
Ironbark
EST · 2009
CARPENTRY · DECKING · JOINERY · MELBOURNE