Wooden & composite decking Prices in 2023 - Labour & Price per m2

Scale of project

One of the obvious and crucial factors that will affect installation costs in South Africa is the scale of the project.

You will require more supplies for your deck building project the larger the space. Furthermore, it's critical to remember that installing terraced decking would necessitate steps and balustrades, both of which can dramatically raise the cost of the job.

Wood type used

There are various timbers that can be used, but the most commonly used are:

Teak – a great timber to use for decking, especially in our climate.

Saligna – a good cost-effective alternative, however requires more maintenance.

Pine – if your deck will be exposed to full sunlight, Pine is not really recommended.

Balau – a very good choice for Coastal areas, but not for Gauteng or other dry climates.  Balau is naturally moist as it is not kiln dried.

Wooden decking vs. composite decking

Wooden decking sports a rustic beauty perfect for the outdoors. Before making an investment in a wooden deck, homeowners should always take a few things into account, just like with any project. While installing wood is less expensive than installing composite decking, annual maintenance is still necessary to minimize the danger of structural and aesthetic deterioration. A 20–30 year wood deck should last with proper maintenance.

Composite decking is a blend of wood fibers and plastic compounds. The final product resembles the shape and size of natural wooden boards. It often has a wood grain pattern stamped onto the exterior to increase the resemblance. Wood composite deck boards have become a popular alternative to natural wood decking flooring. This decking option requires minimal upkeep, and homeowners can enjoy the longevity of composite decking.  The upfront cost, however, is much greater than its natural wood counterpart.

Factors to consider

Prices may also include other things outside the installation project itself, remember that it is important to abide by the local planning laws.

Although composite and other decking materials aren't regarded as permanent structures, many councils have restrictions on the amount of garden space that can be covered. Building clearances can also be required because the installation is elevated and could interfere with the privacy or residence of the neighbor.

A simple garden project could become extremely costly if you accidentally break the law, which may impact prices immensely.

Necessary decking installation requirements

It is so important to get a Pro in to install the decking.  There are important installation requirements which need to be adhered to, to ensure you maintain a guarantee, as well as enjoying the longevity of a well-installed deck.

• The spacing between the joists (joists serve to provide stiffness to the subfloor sheathing, allowing it to function horizontally) on a residential deck must be 350mm from the center of the joist to the center of the next joist. The closer the better, this will increase the strength.
• Because you cannot put screws through the deck planks, you have to have clips everywhere.
• When laying the planks, it is important that you understand what to do to butt the planks together.
• No matter how short the plank is, you have to use a full clip at the beginning and at the end of the plank. The ends of the plank have to sit on the support structure, and cannot be floating.
• Planks need to be supported with a batten or beam, they cannot sit straight onto the surface.
• Where planks are back-to-back, the support beams need to be joisted or wide enough to accommodate 2 full clips with 5mm gap.

Finding the right Pro

Kandua.com has a list of vetted, background checked decking installers all over South Africa that are perfect for the job. You can get multiple quotes in 1 minute or less. All you need to do is:

• Answer some questions about the job
• Share your contact details so no more than 5 Pros can contact you directly
• You’ll be contacted with quotes or a request for more info by affordable, experienced and trusted Pros
• Read their online reviews
• Areas we service: Johannesburg decking installation – Pretoria decking installation – Cape Town decking installation – Durban decking installation

Choose the Pro that best suits your requirements. Then invite your Pro to discuss details of the installation.