Merbau Decking Point Cook, Classic Hardwood Decks Built to Last

Merbau is the hardwood most Point Cook homeowners picture when they think of a timber deck: a deep red-brown board that is hard, stable and naturally durable. It is the most searched timber decking species in Wyndham. It does need the right handling, because new merbau bleeds tannin in the first rains and, like any timber, greys in strong sun if it is not oiled. Laverton RAAF, the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station, records about 8.5 hours of sun a day in January and steady afternoon wind. Peak Decking builds merbau decks across Point Cook, Williams Landing, Werribee and the rest of Wyndham, with the tannin managed, the boards oiled on every face and the frame set on stumps sized to the soil.

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Decking services

Point Cook and nearby suburbs covered

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Measure and written quote

3 steps

Measure, permit, build

Why Choose Peak Decking for Merbau Decking

Free on-site measure
Written, itemised quotes
Footings sized to a soil test
Boards fixed for sun and wind
Permits handled

Peak Decking Point Cook

Merbau Decking Point Cook: Why Merbau Is So Popular

Merbau has been a favourite decking timber in Melbourne for decades, and three qualities keep it popular in Wyndham.

Colour, hardness and durability

Merbau starts a warm orange-brown and darkens to a deep red-brown once oiled. It is a dense hardwood that resists dents from furniture and foot traffic better than pine, and it is naturally durable above ground, with good resistance to rot and termites. It is also stable, so it moves less with the seasons than many timbers, which helps on Wyndham's hot, dry summer days.

Merbau compared with spotted gum and pine

Compared with spotted gum, merbau is darker and more even in colour, while spotted gum is lighter, harder and has more grain variation. Compared with treated pine, merbau is harder, more stable and better looking unstained, but costs more. For a low-upkeep alternative with a similar colour, see composite decking.

Peak Decking Point Cook

Merbau Decking Boards: Sizes, Grades and Sourcing

Merbau decking boards come in a few standard sizes and grades. The choice affects how the deck looks and how it behaves in the sun.

90 and 140 millimetre boards

The most common merbau boards are 90 mm and 140 mm wide and about 19 mm thick. Narrow 90 mm boards are the traditional choice, move less and are less likely to cup in hot, dry weather, which suits fully exposed decks in Wyndham. Wide 140 mm boards give a modern look and cover the deck faster but need careful fixing.

Select and standard grades

Merbau is sold in grades that allow different amounts of natural features such as gum veins, pin holes and colour variation. Select grade boards are cleaner and more even, while standard grade boards show more character and cost less. Samples of each are compared at the measure.

Responsibly sourced merbau

Merbau is an imported hardwood, grown mainly in South-East Asia and the Pacific. Under Australia's illegal logging laws, importers must carry out due diligence on where timber comes from, and boards can also be bought with certification from forest schemes. Supply and certification for the chosen boards are confirmed with the quote.

Peak Decking Point Cook

Merbau Deck Builders in Point Cook: How the Deck Is Built

Merbau deck builders in Point Cook need to build for the ground underneath as much as the boards on top. Peak Decking measures, draws and builds each deck with the same team.

Stumps and footings sized to a soil test

Wyndham sits on the western basalt plains, where the clay can shrink and swell with the seasons. A soil test sets the AS 2870 site class, and the stumps or posts sit on concrete footings sized and set to the depth that class calls for, so the deck stays level year after year.

Frame, joist spacing and board gaps

Bearers and joists are spaced to suit 19 mm hardwood boards, typically with joists at about 450 mm centres, closer on a diagonal board layout. Every board is laid with a gap, usually around 3 to 5 mm depending on how dry the boards are on the day, so it can swell in a damp winter and shrink in a dry summer without buckling or opening wide cracks. Boards that arrive wet are laid tighter, because they shrink as they dry. Joints are staggered and always land on a joist, with two screws at each end. Air is kept moving under the deck, even a low one, so the underside of the boards dries out evenly and they stay flat.

Screws and fixing for a hardwood deck

Merbau is hard, so every screw hole is pre-drilled to stop the board splitting. Stainless steel decking screws are used, because merbau's tannins react with plain steel and leave black stains around the screw heads. Cut ends are sealed before the boards go down.

Peak Decking Point Cook

Merbau Tannin Bleed and How It Is Managed

Tannin bleed is the one thing every merbau owner should know about before the deck is built.

Why new merbau bleeds

Merbau contains natural tannins and oils. When new boards get wet, those tannins wash out as a red-brown stain. The bleed is strongest in the first few rains and fades as the boards weather and are oiled. Rain at Laverton RAAF falls on about 87 days a year, so most new decks go through this in the first months.

Protecting paving and render

Tannin stains concrete, pavers, render and pool coping. Before the deck is built, the run-off path is planned so water drains away from light-coloured surfaces, and boards can be washed down with a deck cleaner before and after laying to remove much of the surface tannin early. Nearby paving can be sealed or covered until the bleed settles.

Peak Decking Point Cook

Oiling Merbau in Wyndham Sun

Wyndham's sunny, windy summers, with a mean January maximum of 25.8 °C at Laverton RAAF, dry timber quickly. Oil keeps merbau stable and keeps its colour.

The first oil coats

New merbau is oiled on all four faces, ideally before laying, so the underside and edges are sealed as well as the top. A second coat goes on once the boards have weathered for a few weeks and the surface oils have washed out. A penetrating decking oil with UV protection is used, so the timber can breathe while the colour is protected.

Re-oiling, staining and keeping the colour

A merbau deck in full Wyndham sun usually needs re-oiling every six to twelve months, and less often under a roof. A tinted oil or merbau-toned stain can deepen the colour and add UV protection, while a clear oil lets the natural colour slowly silver. When the oil wears through and the deck greys, it can be cleaned, sanded and re-oiled to look new. See deck restoration and oiling.

Peak Decking Point Cook

What Sets the Price of a Merbau Deck in Point Cook

Every merbau deck is priced from a free measure and a written, itemised quote, so each part of the job is listed on its own line.

Deck area, board grade and height

The area of the deck sets how much frame and decking is needed. Merbau costs more than treated pine and less than most composite and premium Australian hardwoods, with select grade and wide boards at the higher end. A taller deck needs longer stumps, bracing and a balustrade. See elevated decks.

Steps, edging and removing an old deck

Merbau steps, a picture-frame border around the edge, fascia boards to hide the frame and the first oil coats are each priced separately. Where an old deck has to come up first, removal and disposal are listed on their own line, and a building permit, where needed, is shown too. See deck permits.

TESTIMONIALS

What Our Merbau Decking Customers Say About Us

The Process

3 Step Process For Your Merbau Decking Needs

1. Free measure and written quote

A visit to measure the house and the yard, talk through boards, layouts and finishes, and then a written, itemised quote.

2. Drawings, engineering and permit

Drawings, engineering and a soil test are prepared, overlays are checked and the building permit is lodged.

3. Build, inspect and hand over

Footings, frame and boards are built and inspected at each stage, the site is cleaned up and the finished deck is handed over.

Merbau Decking In Point Cook

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything you need to know about our Merbau Decking In Point Cook

How much does a merbau deck cost in Point Cook?

The cost depends on the deck size, the board grade and width, the height and the site. Merbau costs more than treated pine and less than most composite boards. Steps, edging, oiling and removal of an old deck are priced separately. A free measure gives a written, itemised quote.

Why does merbau bleed?

Merbau contains natural tannins that wash out as a red-brown stain when the new boards get wet. It is strongest in the first few rains and settles as the boards weather and are oiled.

How often does a merbau deck need oiling?

In full Wyndham sun, usually every six to twelve months. A deck under a roof or in shade can go longer.

Is merbau better than spotted gum?

Merbau is darker and more even in colour. Spotted gum is lighter, harder and more varied. Both are durable hardwoods, and the choice usually comes down to colour.

Do I need a permit for a merbau deck?

Most decks need a building permit, and a deck more than 800 mm above the ground can also need a planning permit on a smaller lot. This is checked at the measure.