New deck builders & fencing services

We strongly recommend staining over painting when it comes to protecting your deck. Decks are exposed to harsh conditions year-round, from intense summer sun to long periods of standing water in winter. They also endure constant wear from foot traffic, furniture movement, and general use. Paint simply isn’t designed to withstand these factors and will start peeling or chipping quickly.

Once a deck is painted, it’s nearly impossible to switch to stain later. Paint prevents stains from properly penetrating the timber, meaning your only option for maintenance is continuous repainting. Instead, we recommend using a high-quality linseed oil-based stain with UV protection to safeguard your deck from the elements. Without this protection, timber will turn grey within six months and become prone to mould growth.

New outdoor timber generally has a high moisture content, so it is recommend not to coat it with stain or paint for a few months to allow it to dry out. If it is coated too early the product may not penetrate or bond very well. Typically we say leave it 3-6 months.

This really comes down to your budget. Pine is by far the cheapest and most common option and is treated against rotting. It can be stained to look like kwila or another shade of your choice.

Hardwoods such as Kwila, Garapa, and Vitex are not treated and will deteriorate quickly if they are not protected by some sort of preservative.

All timbers will turn grey within about 6 months if they are not regularly treated with a UV resistance product.

Composite decking has become more prevalent and uses compressed timber fibres and synthetic resins. These are usually made in specific colours and should not fade or deteriorate for many years - making them as close to maintenance-free as possible.