Planning a deck

A good deck starts long before the first footing is dug. Planning covers four things: what you want to build, whether it needs approvals, who will build it and on what terms. Getting these right protects your budget, your relationship with your builder and, most importantly, the safety of everyone who uses the deck. The guides in this section walk you through each step, using official information from Victorian agencies.

The guides in this section

• Do you need a permit for a deck? Building and planning permits, siting rules, who to ask and what an application involves.
• How to choose a deck builder Registration, insurance, questions to ask and warning signs.
• Deck quotes and contracts What a good quote includes, major domestic building contracts, deposits and variations.
• Designing your deck Size, height, access, sun and shade, privacy, drainage and underground services.

The four steps

1. Work out what you want

Start with how you'll use the deck: dining, lounging, entertaining, a spa, a play space. Mark the size out on the ground with string or hoses and put your furniture in it. Think about height, access from the house, sun, shade, wind and privacy. Our designing your deck guide has a full checklist.

2. Check approvals

The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) says that building or replacing a deck usually means applying for a building permit and having the deck appropriately designed and documented. Building permits are issued by registered building surveyors. Some properties also need a planning permit, for example under heritage or bushfire overlays; check VicPlan and ask your council. Decks close to boundaries may raise siting issues.

3. Choose a builder

Consumer Affairs Victoria says builders must be registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) to carry out work worth more than $10,000. Check registration online, ask for proof of insurance where required, compare written quotes for the same scope and ask plenty of questions.

4. Get it in writing

For work over $10,000, Consumer Affairs Victoria says the builder must use a major domestic building contract. Make sure the contract covers the full scope, price, payment stages, timing and how variations are handled, and agree every variation in writing.

Estimate your materials

Our free deck calculator estimates deck area, rows of boards, linear metres, board count, joists and screws for a simple rectangular deck. It's useful for sense-checking quotes and talking to suppliers. Everything stays in your browser.

Who does what

• You decide what you want, choose the builder and sign the contract.
• A designer or draftsperson prepares drawings.
• A structural engineer checks or designs the structure. The VBA notes that an engineer can make sure an attached deck can be supported by the building.
• A registered building surveyor issues the building permit and carries out inspections.
• Your council handles planning permits and, where needed, Report and Consent for siting.
• Your builder builds the deck to the approved plans.

Common planning mistakes

1. Starting without checking permits. Consumer Affairs Victoria warns that both builders and owners can face fines for work done without a required permit.
2. Choosing on price alone. The cheapest quote may leave out important work.
3. Forgetting underground services. Check with Before You Dig Australia before digging.
4. Ignoring height. Higher decks need more structure, balustrades and attention to privacy.
5. Adding a roof later. Plan any pergola or roof with the deck.

About the old Deck Builders Melbourne

This web address was once used by a single deck building business to advertise its services, and later lapsed. Deck Builders Melbourne is now an independent homeowner guide with new content. We aren't connected with the previous operator and we don't build decks.

Planning a realistic budget

We don't publish prices, because they vary with design, materials, site and timing. Instead, think about the things that drive cost so you can plan sensibly and compare quotes:

• size and height: larger and higher decks need more materials and more structure;
• site: slopes, poor access, rock or reactive soils add work;
• materials: board type, species or product, and fixing system;
• extras: stairs, balustrades, built-in seating, lighting, screens, roofing;
• demolition of an existing deck and rubbish removal;
• design, engineering and permit fees.

Allow a contingency for surprises, such as rock in footing holes or rot found when an old deck is removed.

Five habits for a deck that lasts

1. Check permits before you start. Most decks in Victoria need a building permit.
2. Use a registered builder for work over $10,000, and check their registration with the Building and Plumbing Commission.
3. Match materials to exposure: the right treatment class near the ground, suitable fixings and, in bushfire prone areas, materials that suit the BAL.
4. Design for drainage and airflow so the deck and the house wall can dry out.
5. Maintain it: sweep, keep gaps clear, re-coat as needed and check balustrades and fixings every year.

About these guides

Deck Builders Melbourne is an independent information site. We aren't a builder, deck company, building surveyor or government agency, and no business pays to appear in our guides. We don't publish prices or rank builders or products. We write every guide in our own words and list the official sources we used, such as the Victorian Building Authority, Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Building and Plumbing Commission, the Australian Building Codes Board and Victorian planning guidance. Rules and thresholds change, so check current details with your building surveyor, council and the relevant agency.

How we keep these guides current

We review each guide against official sources and show the date it was last checked. If you notice something out of date, please tell us through our contact page, and we'll check and correct it.