Christchurch builder recommendations for decking.

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Paul1977

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#272305 18-Jun-2020 18:06

I have been quoted what seems like a very high price for getting some decking built.

Can anyone recommend a good (but affordable) builder in Christchurch I could get a second opinion from?

Thanks

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billgates

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#2507690 18-Jun-2020 19:38

Depending on the sqm, decking material and height of deck you require, I have found that it is quite a laborious task. Does the cost also includes decking timber, nails, screws etc which are not cheap by any means depending on the quality they are going with. I can imagine just like most of Waikato, Canterbury also has a build rush and availability of builders would be scarce.

Do whatever you want to do man.

Elmoz

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#2507699 18-Jun-2020 19:51

Don’t know about cost but my brother in law is a builder in Christchurch and does decks.

Search for Rjs Building Services on Facebook. He has pics of the work he has done on there.

Paul1977

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#2507711 18-Jun-2020 20:22

billgates:
Depending on the sqm, decking material and height of deck you require, I have found that it is quite a laborious task. Does the cost also includes decking timber, nails, screws etc which are not cheap by any means depending on the quality they are going with. I can imagine just like most of Waikato, Canterbury also has a build rush and availability of builders would be scarce.

Not a high deck. All fixings etc included. The labour portion was just a lot more than I expected, didn’t think it could take that long, but I’m not a builder...

Paul1977

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#2507721 18-Jun-2020 20:23

Elmoz:
Don’t know about cost but my brother in law is a builder in Christchurch and does decks.

Search for Rjs Building Services on Facebook. He has pics of the work he has done on there.

Thanks, I’ll look him up.

snnet

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#2507742 18-Jun-2020 21:02

6k isn't unheard of for a medium sized deck, maybe 10m x 4m

Not sure what you were quoted

Dial111

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#2507746 18-Jun-2020 21:15

snnet:
6k isn't unheard of for a medium sized deck, maybe 10m x 4m

Not sure what you were quoted

The cheapest quote I got was 10k for a deck that was 8m x 3m this is in Canterbury, my brother who is a builder by trade said that same deck will be about 6-7k in Auckland. I ended up buying the materials myself for just over $2000 at trade and spent 2 weekends doing it with a work mate, turned out just like a bought one.

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snnet

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#2507760 18-Jun-2020 21:32

Dial111:
snnet:

6k isn't unheard of for a medium sized deck, maybe 10m x 4m

Not sure what you were quoted

The cheapest quote I got was 10k for a deck that was 8m x 3m this is in Canterbury, my brother who is a builder by trade said that same deck will be about 6-7k in Auckland. I ended up buying the materials myself for just over $2000 at trade and spent 2 weekends doing it with a work mate, turned out just like a bought one.

Yeah, there are going to be variations in pricing, a lot of decks get screwed down now with stainless fixings not just nailed down. The screws I've seen being used (I work closely with builders in my trade) are always changing too, ones that are designed not to pop back up after the sun has hit the deck etc. Not making excuses, but everyone has to make a living. I laugh at clients who claim poverty but are asking me for a cut price (on my already competitive price) while standing on their deck surrounding their new swimming pool with their gym building off to the side next to the new spa.

Dial111

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#2507767 18-Jun-2020 21:49

I was fully expecting to pay around 6-7k but not 10k, everyone I spoke to said, you cannot expect to pay the same in another market which is much more competitive and I agree but a 3-4K difference didn’t sit well with me and if I could source the materials for 2k myself, at a minimum where was the other 8k going?

For reference the dearest quote came back at $14,500 or thereabouts. That’s ludicrous.

In my case it worked out for me but OP make sure you shop around and don’t take the cheapest builder but I’m sure you’ll do your due diligence.

Wheelbarrow01

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#2507807 19-Jun-2020 00:50

My mate might be able to help you out. He's currently working for a building firm, however he is a licensed building practitioner himself. I also know for a fact that he does beautiful decks as I watched him build a massive kwila one for his parents out in Swannanoa. A challenging one that was too with diagonals, criss-crosses and the like. He's also done a lot of reno build work for me over the years.

Worth having a chat to if you just want a second opinion on price. Shanon is his name - 0275877721. Tell him Mr Woodley referred you and he'll look after you 👍

Paul1977

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#2507902 19-Jun-2020 09:55

They said averaged 2hrs per m2. I'm not sure if that's 2 actual hours or 2 man hours (i.e. 2 tradies take 1 hour). But that means for 50m2 of decking it's 100 hours? Is that really how long it takes?

Paul1977

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#2507903 19-Jun-2020 09:58

Wheelbarrow01:

My mate might be able to help you out. He's currently working for a building firm, however he is a licensed building practitioner himself. I also know for a fact that he does beautiful decks as I watched him build a massive kwila one for his parents out in Swannanoa. A challenging one that was too with diagonals, criss-crosses and the like. He's also done a lot of reno build work for me over the years.

Worth having a chat to if you just want a second opinion on price. Shanon is his name - 0275877721. Tell him Mr Woodley referred you and he'll look after you 👍

Thanks for that.

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Jase2985

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#2507960 19-Jun-2020 11:30

Paul1977:

They said averaged 2hrs per m2. I'm not sure if that's 2 actual hours or 2 man hours (i.e. 2 tradies take 1 hour). But that means for 50m2 of decking it's 100 hours? Is that really how long it takes?

there is a lot of work in setting it out, leveling/squaring everything.

most people just think its screwing off or nailing in a few boards and its done. way more complicated than that.

Paul1977

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#2508044 19-Jun-2020 12:46

Jase2985:

there is a lot of work in setting it out, leveling/squaring everything.

most people just think its screwing off or nailing in a few boards and its done. way more complicated than that.

I'm sure there's a lot more to it than I think, which is why i wouldn't even attempt it myself.

Does that 2hrs/m2 estimate sound correct? Genuine question because I honestly wouldn't know, have I just grossly underestimated the amount of time it takes to build a deck.

eracode

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#2508069 19-Jun-2020 13:26

Jase2985:

Paul1977:

They said averaged 2hrs per m2. I'm not sure if that's 2 actual hours or 2 man hours (i.e. 2 tradies take 1 hour). But that means for 50m2 of decking it's 100 hours? Is that really how long it takes?

there is a lot of work in setting it out, leveling/squaring everything.

most people just think its screwing off or nailing in a few boards and its done. way more complicated than that.

Absolutely right - much more to it than most people would think. I have built many pine, kwila and composite decks as a DIY’er at our various homes and for friends over the past 40 years. There’s a big difference between a deck that just been thrown down (or up?) to meet a budget or price quote and one that’s been carefully laid. Taking bow out of planks to make sure gaps are all parallel and straight takes a lot of time. The last one I did was for a friend of Mrs Code and we used the Sharkstooth hidden fixing system - looked fantastic but time-consuming, difficult and eventually became a PITA.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.