Everything You Need
to Know Before You Build.

Composite decking is made from a high-performance blend of recycled plastic and natural wood fibres. The combination creates a board that delivers the warmth and natural appearance of timber while eliminating most of the maintenance issues — no warping, no cracking, no rot, and no need for annual sanding and sealing.

It's also a more environmentally responsible choice than virgin timber, using recycled materials that would otherwise go to landfill.

Our composite decking products carry a 25-year residential warranty. When installed correctly on a sound structural frame, composite decking regularly outlasts the warranty period. Unlike timber, which degrades with UV, moisture and foot traffic over time, composite boards are engineered to resist these forces across the life of the deck.

All composite decking absorbs some heat in direct sunlight — this is a characteristic of the material (and timber also gets very hot in full sun). Our Deluxe and Premium collections use advanced co-extrusion technology with lighter-coloured surface coatings to reduce surface temperature compared to older-generation boards.

Choosing lighter colour tones helps significantly. Adding shade from a louvred pergola above makes the biggest practical difference in Melbourne's climate.

Very little. An occasional wash with mild soap and water is all that's required to keep composite decking looking its best. Unlike timber, there is no sanding, oiling, sealing or re-staining involved — ever. This is one of the primary reasons homeowners choose composite over hardwood, particularly when they calculate the full lifetime cost of both options.

Fast Clips are metal fastening clips with a stainless steel gusset that secure each board from the side — not through the face. No screws are visible on the surface. The stainless gusset grips each board firmly as it's screwed to the joist, while the hook clips lock the joist without partial installation — ensuring a perfectly consistent 5mm gap between every board, across the full length of the deck.

Standard plastic clips exist and are cheaper, but they can be inconsistent and shift over time. We use Fast Clips on every project because the result is visibly better.

All four collections are fully composite and backed by a 25-year warranty. The differences are in surface texture depth, colour range and co-extrusion quality. The Deluxe has the richest grain and widest palette. Premium delivers excellent quality at a slightly lower tier. Classic is a reliable entry-level option. Coastal is engineered specifically for salt-air coastal environments. All collections are installed to exactly the same structural standard — the Elevated Build Standard™ applies to every project regardless of which board you choose.

Yes — composite is one of the best materials for pool surrounds. It won't absorb water, won't rot when consistently wet, and doesn't require the chemical treatments timber needs in pool environments. Our boards also have a textured non-slip surface, which is an important safety consideration for wet areas. Pool surround installations may have specific slip-resistance requirements under the Building Code — we check this as part of the site assessment.

Composite cladding uses the same recycled plastic and wood-fibre technology as composite decking, applied to external wall panels. Unlike traditional timber weatherboards, composite cladding won't rot, warp, crack or require painting. It's UV-stabilised to resist colour fade and carries a 25-year warranty — a significantly lower-maintenance alternative that also looks better for longer.

We offer three profiles: Castellated (a deep shadow-groove channel running along each board, creating architectural depth and strong visual character), Weatherboard (smooth flat horizontal boards for a classic Australian look or a clean contemporary finish), and Slatted (evenly spaced slats that work beautifully as privacy screens, feature walls or full facade cladding). All profiles come in seven colour options. We can arrange physical samples delivered to your door.

Composite cladding can be installed on most residential homes — new builds as well as renovation projects. We assess the existing wall substrate during the site visit to determine the correct installation method. In most cases, cladding is fixed to a batten system to allow for drainage and ventilation behind the boards, which is also best practice for long-term performance.

In many cases, exterior cladding falls within permitted development — but this depends on your local council, whether your property has a heritage overlay, and the extent of the works. We assess permit requirements as part of every site visit and advise you on your specific situation. If a permit is required, we can guide you through the process.

A louvred pergola features a roof made of adjustable aluminium blades (louvres) that can be angled from fully open to fully closed. When open, they allow sunlight and airflow through. When closed, they form a weatherproof roof that keeps rain out completely. Motorised systems open and close at the touch of a remote or via a smartphone app. Integrated drainage channels within the frame carry water away silently — no drips into the space below.

The S3 features manual louvre adjustment — ideal where motorisation isn't required and you want a clean, cost-effective system. The Sundream S3 is electrically motorised with remote control; this is our most popular system and the one most Melbourne homeowners choose. The Skydance S3 is motorised with integrated LED lighting built into each louvre blade — the most premium system, designed for spaces that are used day and night.

All three feature the same powder-coated aluminium frame construction, integrated rain drainage, and are available in a range of sizes. We visit every site before recommending a system — the right choice depends on your space, how you'll use it, and what accessories you need.

Pergolux systems come in preset sizes: 3×3m, 3×4m, 3×5m, 3×6m, 4×4m, 4×5m, and 4×6m. Custom dimensions are available for spaces that don't fit standard sizing. For larger entertaining areas, multiple units can be installed side by side or in an L-configuration to cover almost any footprint without compromising the clean aesthetic of the frame.

Yes — when the louvres are fully closed, they form a weatherproof roof. The system includes integrated guttering and downpipe channels within the aluminium frame, so water is directed away quietly without any dripping into the space below. Some systems also support an optional rain sensor that automatically closes the louvres the moment rainfall is detected.

This depends on the size, height and location of the structure relative to your property boundaries, as well as your local council's planning scheme. Structures under certain dimensions often fall within exempt development in Victoria, but requirements vary by council and property. We assess permit requirements as part of every site visit and can guide you through the process — it's part of the job, not an add-on.

Yes — and this is one of the most popular configurations we install. We assess whether the existing deck framing is suitable to support pergola post footings. In many cases the deck needs reinforcement at the post locations, which we include in the project scope. When engineered and installed properly, the two structures integrate cleanly and feel like they were designed together from the start.

It starts with a free site visit. We come to your property, walk the space, discuss your brief and requirements, and then prepare a detailed, itemised written quote. We don't provide ballpark figures sight unseen — accurate pricing requires seeing the actual site. After the site visit, you'll receive a quote covering materials, labour and all inclusions. What's in the quote is what you pay. No hidden extras, no surprises when the invoice arrives.

Build times vary by scope. A standard composite deck takes 2–5 days. A combined deck-and-pergola project typically runs 5–10 days. Louvred pergola installations are generally 1–3 days once materials are on-site. We provide a detailed schedule before work begins so you know exactly what to expect each day — including material delivery dates and any required access arrangements.

Yes — we can include the demolition and removal of existing decks, pergolas or structures in the project scope. This is assessed during the site visit and quoted accordingly. In some cases the existing subframe can be retained if it's structurally sound; in others a full rebuild from the ground up is the right approach. We'll advise you honestly on which is appropriate — and we won't recommend a full rebuild if a partial solution is genuinely sufficient.

Yes — we can arrange composite decking and cladding samples in your preferred colours and grades. Seeing and feeling the material in your own space and natural light makes a significant difference when choosing between collections and colours. Ask us about samples via the contact form or during your consultation.

The composite boards and cladding carry a 25-year residential manufacturer's warranty. Pergolux louvred systems carry a 10-year structural warranty and 2-year electrical warranty. Our installation workmanship is also covered — if something isn't right with how a job was done, we come back and fix it. We stand behind every project we build.

We specialise in Melbourne's eastern and south-eastern suburbs — including Balwyn, Camberwell, Hawthorn, Kew, Malvern, Toorak, Box Hill, Blackburn, Templestowe, Doncaster, Brighton, Hampton, Cheltenham, Bentleigh, Wheelers Hill and Rowville. Occasionally we take on projects outside this range when the travel time and project scope make sense for both parties. Not sure if we can get to you? Get in touch — we'll give you a straight answer.

The Elevated Build Standard™ is the construction methodology we apply to every project — not a marketing term, a defined process. It covers substructure requirements (laminated framing, joist protection tape, correct bearer spacing for the specific board being installed), installation method (Fast Clip concealed fixing system, consistent gap control), and finishing (fascia boards, edging, edge detail at every exposed perimeter).

Most of this work is structural and invisible once the deck is down — but it's exactly what determines whether your outdoor space still looks and performs correctly in fifteen years.

Because the substructure accounts for a significant portion of a well-built deck's cost — and it's also the first thing cheaper builders cut to win the job. A quote that looks low often reflects single-ply framing instead of laminated, no joist protection tape, wider joist spacing than the board manufacturer specifies, and plastic clips instead of stainless Fast Clips.

The boards look identical on day one. The difference shows up in years three, five and ten. Our blog article on why two composite deck quotes can look so different explains this in detail.

Every project. A small courtyard deck in Lilydale gets the same laminated subframe, the same joist protection tape, the same Fast Clip fixing system and the same edge finishing as an elaborate deck-and-pergola build in Brighton. That's the point of having a standard — it removes the variable of project size or budget from the structural approach. What changes with scope is the board collection and the accessories. The build methodology doesn't change.