From The Workshop WoodEvo PVC Decking: What Makes It Different By Greg Weinbren · 3 min read · 25 July 2026 What WoodEvo Is WoodEvo decking is a PVC decking product — a wood-free board built around a foamed PVC core with a tough ASA (ASARMOUR) protective cap. It’s Australia’s first CodeMark-certified PVC decking, engineered […]

From The Workshop Blackbutt Decking Guide for Sydney Homes By Greg Weinbren · 3 min read · 25 July 2026 What Blackbutt Is Blackbutt is a light-coloured Australian hardwood, ranging from pale straw to light brown, popular for a brighter, more contemporary decking look than darker species like spotted gum or ironbark. Durability Rating Blackbutt […]

From The Workshop Trex Composite Decking in the Australian Climate By Greg Weinbren · 3 min read · 25 July 2026 What Trex Is Trex decking Australia demand has grown fast, and for good reason. Trex is a widely recognised US-origin composite decking brand made from recycled wood fibre and plastic, sold in Australia through […]

From The Workshop Spotted Gum Decking: Specs, Cost, and Where It Works Best By Greg Weinbren · 3 min read · 25 July 2026 What Spotted Gum Is Spotted gum is one of Australia’s most popular hardwood decking species — a durable native timber known for its rich colour variation, from light honey to deep […]

From The Workshop Millboard Composite Decking: Full Review and Install Notes By Greg Weinbren · 3 min read · 25 July 2026 What Millboard Is Millboard is a UK-engineered composite decking product using a mould-formed manufacturing process that replicates real timber grain in fine detail, rather than the extruded, more uniform look of standard composite […]

From The Workshop Iron Deck Hardwood Decking: Specs, Cost, and Where It Works Best By Greg Weinbren · 3 min read · 25 July 2026 What Iron Deck Is Iron Deck is a specialty hardwood decking product from Ironwood — a dense, durable timber decking option positioned for strength and longevity in demanding outdoor conditions. […]

From The Workshop Deck vs Pergola: Which Adds More Value to Your Sydney Home By Greg Weinbren · 4 min read · 24 July 2026 What Each Structure Actually Does A deck extends usable floor space — flat, level ground for furniture, dining, entertaining. A pergola adds shelter and definition to that space, or to […]

From The Workshop How Much Does a Pergola Cost in Sydney By Greg Weinbren · 4 min read · 24 July 2026 What Drives Pergola Pricing Pergola cost comes down to four factors: material (timber vs aluminium vs steel), roof type (open lattice, louvred, solid), size, and site complexity — sloped ground, existing structures to […]

From The Workshop Composite vs Hardwood Decking: Real Cost Comparison By Greg Weinbren · 4 min read · 24 July 2026 Upfront Cost: Hardwood Usually Wins Standard Australian hardwoods like spotted gum and blackbutt typically cost less per square metre installed than composite decking. If upfront budget is the only factor, hardwood comes out ahead […]

From The Workshop Can My Deck Hold a Pool, Spa, or Big Planters? A Sydney Builder’s Guide By Greg Weinbren · 8 min read · May 2026 There are really only two spa enquiries I get. The first is from someone who’s bought a new spa and wants a deck built around it. The second […]

From The Workshop When to Replace vs Repair Your Deck in Sydney By Greg Weinbren · 9 min read · May 2026 I get it. I’d wonder the same thing. So this post is the honest version. When a repair makes sense, when it doesn’t, and the one trap that catches most homeowners — the […]

From The Workshop Deck Builder Warranty in Sydney: What Should Be Included? By Greg Weinbren · 9 min read · May 2026 A warranty is only as good as the people standing behind it. Most homeowners ask about warranty length and stop there. The real questions are who holds what, what NSW law already gives […]

From The Workshop How Long Does It Take to Build a Deck in Sydney? By Greg Weinbren · 8 min read · May 2026 For a standard Sydney deck, the answer is usually about a week on site. But that’s the easy part of the question. The harder part — and the one that actually […]

From The Workshop What to Look for in a Deck Builder in Sydney By Greg Weinbren · 8 min read · May 2026 A new deck is a major investment in your home — often $20,000, sometimes more. The person you let onto your property to build it should clear the same bar you’d apply […]

If you’re wondering how to get multiple deck quotes without getting burned, start here. “What’s your square metre rate?” If that’s your first question on a first call to a deck builder, this is the post explaining why it’s the wrong question — and what to ask instead. After 500+ projects across Sydney since 2013, […]

There’s a real answer to this question, and it’s not the one most articles give you. Most DIY-vs-contractor guides treat decking like a hobby project — pick the path that suits your weekend. That framing misses what’s actually going on for most Sydney homeowners. A deck or pergola on a Sydney home isn’t a craft […]

From The Workshop Do I Need Permits for My Deck Project in Sydney? Exempt vs CDC vs DA Explained By Greg Weinbren · 9 min read · May 2026 “Do I need a permit for a deck Sydney?” is the question. Most clients ask me this in the first phone call, and most clients are […]

From The Workshop Deck Contractor vs General Contractor in Sydney: Who Should I Hire? By Greg Weinbren · 8 min read · May 2026 A good general contractor can build a deck. A good deck contractor can also build a deck. What separates them isn’t whether the boards go down — it’s what happens to […]

The biggest red flag isn’t the cheap quote or the cash-only pitch. It’s hiring a general builder or a landscaper to build your deck. Most clients who get burned didn’t fall for a scam. They hired a competent tradesman from the wrong trade, and three years later the boards are cupping, the frame is sagging, […]

From The Workshop What Questions Should I Ask a Deck Contractor in Sydney? By Greg Weinbren · 12 min read · May 2026 Most homeowners ask the wrong questions. They ask about price first, timeline second, materials third. Those matter — but they’re the questions every contractor is ready for, with answers polished to close […]

From The Workshop How to Find a Reliable Deck Contractor in Sydney By Greg Weinbren · 8 min read · May 2026 Reliable doesn’t mean cheapest, fastest, or loudest. It means the builder who shows up when promised, builds what was quoted, and stands behind the work twelve months later when something needs a second […]

  From The Workshop How Much Should a Deck Contractor Cost in Sydney? A Builder’s Honest Breakdown By Greg Weinbren · 8 min read · May 2026 If you’ve started getting quotes for a new deck, you’ve probably noticed something strange. One builder quotes you a number. Another comes back with nearly double. A third […]