How long does a deck take to build?

A standard 30-50sqm hardwood or Modwood deck typically takes 2-4 weeks including substructure. Larger decks with pergolas or steps take 4-6 weeks. We'll give you a programme in the quote.

Hardwood or Modwood — which is better?

Hardwood (Merbau, Spotted Gum) looks beautiful but needs annual oiling. Modwood is composite, low-maintenance, 25-year warranty, slightly more expensive up front but much less work over time. We'll talk through both at the quote.

Do I need council approval for a deck or pergola?

Most ground-level decks and small pergolas don't (under exempt and complying development rules) but raised decks, larger pergolas and any structure within 900mm of a boundary usually do. We handle the approvals.

Can you build a deck on a sloping block?

Yes — that's a lot of what we do in Sydney. We engineer the substructure (timber or steel posts, footings) to handle the slope and any required council certification.

Is there a warranty on decks?

Yes — 25-year structural warranty on Modwood installations, plus our workmanship guarantee on the build itself.

Decks · Pergolas · Outdoor · Sydney

Decks & outdoorbuilt to last.

Q: How much does a deck cost in Sydney?

Hardwood from around $400–$600/sqm installed. Modwood from around $450–$650/sqm installed. Pergolas from around $8k for a simple over-deck cover. All quotes are written and fixed-price.

Licensed Sydney deck and pergola builder. Modwood Certified Installer and specialists in Australian hardwoods — Merbau, Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Ironbark. Council-approved pergolas, carports and outdoor structures. Free quote in 48 hours.

Book a free site visit → Call 0437 477 855

NSW Lic. 393831C Modwood Certified Installer Family Business of the Year 2024 Fully Insured

Custom hardwood deck and outdoor structure built by Tillow Built

What We Do

Hardwood, composite and outdoor structures — designed, certified and built.

Hardwood Decks

Merbau, Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Ironbark. Hand-selected boards, hidden fasteners, full substructure in treated pine or hardwood.

Modwood Decking

Certified Modwood installer. Flamewood, Natural, Sahara and Silver Gum. Low-maintenance, 25-year structural warranty.

Pergolas & Carports

Custom-designed timber and steel pergolas, freestanding or attached, with council-compliant engineering and certification.

Verandahs & Alfresco

Covered outdoor living spaces, screens, louvred roofs, integrated lighting and fans.

Balustrades & Handrails

Glass, wire, timber and mixed-material balustrades. BCA-compliant with certification.

Gazebos & Outdoor Rooms

Custom-built gazebos, cabanas, BBQ zones and full outdoor-room builds.

Process

How We Work

Hardwood deck substructure in progress — Tillow Built joists and DeWalt mitre saw setup, Sydney — On the tools — substructure detail on a recent Sydney deck build.

On-Site Quote

We visit, measure, photograph and scope properly. Written fixed-price quote within 48 hours.

Material Selection

Board samples on site — hardwood or Modwood. Clear comparison on cost, maintenance and lifespan.

Build & Certify

Substructure, boards, balustrading and finishes. Council compliance paperwork where required.

Handover

Final walk-through, maintenance guide, written structural warranty — 25 years on Modwood installations.

Recent Work

A few we're proud of.

道具The Tools of the Trade

A deck is built
before it's screwed down.

Every great deck starts hours before the first board is laid — in the setting-out, the sub-frame, the hand-cut bearer notches, the way the joists land square to the house.

The tools we keep sharp don't show up in the finished photo. They show up twenty years from now, when the deck is still flat, still tight, still quiet under your feet.

Setting-out, then setting-out again — we measure twice on every bearer line.
Hand-cut notches at posts — not chopped with a circular saw and called good.
Concealed fixings where the eye lands — deck face stays clean, no screw heads.

Hand-cut stone footing supporting a light cypress timber post — ishibadai foundation reference — Foundation joint — light timber cut to fit hand-shaped stone.辻

Try It Yourself

Get an instant indicative deck price.

Use our deck designer to sketch your space, pick a board, and see a ballpark figure in seconds — no email required. Then book a free site visit to lock it in.

Open full designer ↗ Or book a free site visit

Latest Updates

See What We're
Working On.

We post regular project updates, educational content, and behind-the-scenes videos on Instagram. Follow along to see our latest builds.

38Posts

1,558Followers

127Following

Follow @tillowbuilt

Recognition

Award-Winning
Craftsmanship.

Tillow Built was founded on one belief: every home deserves the same care and precision you'd give your own. That commitment — passed down from father to son — has been recognised by Australia's leading industry bodies.

Hubert's father Stephen J. Auld won the MBA NSW Excellence in Building Award for a $4M+ residential design & construct in Bronte — a project the judges praised for its exceptional design, execution, and precision. That same standard runs through every Tillow Built project today.

🏅

MBA NSW Excellence in Building — Winner 2019 Housing (Residential) · Design & Construct · $4M+ · Bronte · View Award →

Hubert Auld and his father at the MBA NSW Excellence in Building award ceremony

🏅 MBA NSW Award Winners

Reviews

What Sydney homeowners say.

4.8 ★ from 16 Google Reviews

★★★★★

"Hubert is professional and kind. He gets straight to business no fluffing around."

Max Bellaiche

Google Review

★★★★★

"So so happy with my pergola that Hubert built. Very skilled and friendly carpenter."

Alistair Stokes

Google Review

★★★★★

"Hubert from Tillow Built is an exceptional craftsman and creative professional. He went above and beyond."

Adam Marks

Google Review

★★★★★

"I highly recommend his work. He and his team started work on my deck on a Monday in torrential rain and the job was completed the following Monday. Hubert is a diligent, knowledgeable and skilled workman and is articulate as well."

Heather Jessurun

Client Review

Common Questions

Frequently asked.

Hardwood or composite — which should I choose?

Hardwood (spotted gum, blackbutt, ironbark, Merbau) gives a natural look but needs annual oiling. Composite (Modwood, Trex, NewTechWood) costs ~30% more upfront but needs almost no maintenance. We're a Modwood Certified Installer and can show samples on the site visit.

Do I need a council approval for my deck?

Decks under 25 m² and under 1 m above ground are usually exempt development in NSW. Larger or higher decks need a Complying Development Certificate (CDC) or DA. We manage the engineering, certifier and council paperwork as part of the build.

How long does a typical deck take?

A simple 20–30 m² ground-level deck: 5–8 working days. Elevated decks with stairs/handrails or composite installs: 8–14 days. Pergolas and roofing add 3–5 days. We give a fixed end-date in the contract.

Do you handle stairs, balustrades and pergolas as part of the deck?

Yes — we build the whole outdoor structure end-to-end. Stairs, glass or aluminium balustrade to AS1170, timber or steel pergola, integrated lighting and power. One contract, one accountable team.

Can you replace boards on an existing deck?

Yes — full re-board, partial repair, or strip-and-refinish if the bearers and joists are sound. We assess the substructure on the site visit and quote accordingly.

How much does a deck cost in Sydney?

Hardwood ground-level decks typically run $400–$650/m² supplied & installed. Composite is $550–$850/m². Elevated decks with stairs and balustrades add $5k–$15k. Use the deck designer above for an instant indicative figure.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes — NSW Builder's Licence 393831C, Modwood Certified Installer, full public liability and workers compensation.

Where We Work

Proudly servicing
across Sydney.

Inner City

Surry Hills · Newtown · Glebe · Leichhardt · Rozelle · Paddington · Redfern · Alexandria · Erskineville · Balmain · Annandale · Forest Lodge · Ultimo · Chippendale · Darlinghurst · Pyrmont

Eastern Suburbs

Woollahra · Edgecliff · Double Bay · Darling Point · Rose Bay · Bellevue Hill · Point Piper · Bondi · Bondi Junction · Tamarama · Bronte · Coogee · Randwick · Maroubra · Malabar · Little Bay · La Perouse

Inner West

Haberfield · Five Dock · Drummoyne · Concord

Lower North Shore

Kirribilli · Milsons Point · Lavender Bay · McMahons Point · North Sydney · Waverton · Wollstonecraft · Cammeray · Crows Nest · Neutral Bay · Cremorne · Mosman

Get in Touch

Want a new deck or pergola?

Tell us about your space and we'll come measure up. Written fixed-price quote within 48 hours.

Call: 0437 477 855

Email: tillowbuilt@gmail.com

Servicing: Greater Sydney & Northern Beaches

NSW Licensed Builder · Licence No. 393831C · Fully Insured

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Tell us about your project

📞 Call 0437 477 855

Decks & outdoorbuilt to last.

Hardwood, composite and outdoor structures — designed, certified and built.

Hardwood Decks

Modwood Decking

Pergolas & Carports

Verandahs & Alfresco

Balustrades & Handrails

Gazebos & Outdoor Rooms

How We Work

On-Site Quote

Material Selection

Build & Certify

Handover

A few we're proud of.

A deck is builtbefore it's screwed down.

Get an instant indicative deck price.

See What We'reWorking On.

Award-WinningCraftsmanship.

What Sydney homeowners say.

Frequently asked.

Proudly servicingacross Sydney.

Inner City

Eastern Suburbs

Inner West

Lower North Shore

Want a new deck or pergola?

A deck is built
before it's screwed down.

See What We're
Working On.

Award-Winning
Craftsmanship.

Proudly servicing
across Sydney.