Outdoor Living in Canberra

Decks, pergolas and outdoor rooms built to the same standard as the house they are attached to.

Covered patio with outdoor sofa and chairs beside a green lawn and wooden fence

What we do here

Built like part of the house

Outdoor work has a reputation for being the part of a job where standards drop. It is outside, it is not structural the way a house is, and it is often the last thing on the list when a budget gets tight.

I build it the same way I build the rest. Footings sized for the ground they are going into rather than for convenience. Flashing where the structure meets the house, because that junction is where water gets in. Timber and fixings chosen for Canberra weather, which means frost and real summer heat rather than something mild.

A well built outdoor room genuinely extends the house for a good part of the year here. A badly built one becomes a maintenance job you resent.

What this covers

  • Decking, pergolas, carports and covered outdoor areas.
  • Footings and structure sized properly for the site.
  • Flashing and detailing where the structure meets the house.
  • Building approval where the work needs it.
  • Licensed trades for any electrical work.
  • Salvage and reuse of material where we can.

What it does not

  • Architectural or landscape design.
  • Planting, turf and garden work.
  • Pools and pool structures.

Where it meets the house

The join between an outdoor structure and the house is the part that causes trouble years later. It gets flashed and detailed the same way a roof would be, not caulked and hoped for. And anything reusable that comes out of the old structure gets salvaged rather than skipped.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Do I need approval for a deck or pergola?

    Often yes, depending on size, height and how close it is to boundaries. I will tell you at the first conversation whether your job needs building approval, and I handle the lodgement if it does rather than leaving it to you.

  • What timber holds up best in Canberra?

    It depends on where the structure sits and how much sun and frost it gets. There is no single right answer, which is why it is worth choosing on site rather than off a brochure. I will talk you through the options and what each one costs to maintain.

  • Can this be done at the same time as other work?

    Usually, and it is often cheaper that way because the site is already set up and the trades are already there. If you are thinking about it, raise it while the main job is being priced rather than afterwards.

Modern kitchen with white island, wood accents, pendant lights, and open living space

Come and have a look at the work

The first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. If you have drawings, bring them. If you have not started, that is fine too.