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Deck builder

Custom decks by a Newcastle builder you can rely on

I’m Liam Sharpe, a licensed carpenter. I build timber, merbau and composite decks for homes across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Maitland.

Book a free on-site quote 0402 499 810

5.0 on Google
Licence 383930C
10+ years in the trade

Liam Sharpe and his apprentice in Sharpe shirts and tool belts — Pictured: Liam Sharpe and his apprentice

Decks built by a licensed carpenter

Sharpe Building & Constructions designs and builds new decks for homeowners in Newcastle and the Hunter region. We work out the design together on site, then I build the frame and lay the decking myself with my apprentice, and you get the price before any work starts. My NSW licence, 383930C, is in the Carpenter class, which covers decks.

Decks are a big part of the carpentry work I do across Newcastle, along with pergolas, framing, cladding, windows and doors. Before building for homeowners I spent years framing houses for builders around the Hunter, so the part of a deck you never see, the posts, bearers and joists, gets the same care as the boards on top.

What our customers say

Google5.0 See all reviews

tom payne

3 months ago

Really happy with the work from Sharpe Building & Construction. We had a pretty tight timeline, and even when a few unexpected issues came up, they handled everything without any fuss. The job was completed by the deadline, and the whole process was smooth and stress-free. Would definitely recommend them

Response from the owner3 months ago

Thank you, Tom! We really appreciate your kind words and are glad we could deliver the project on time despite the unexpected challenges. It was a pleasure working with you, and we are thrilled you’re happy with the result. Thank you for choosing Sharpe Building & Constructions. We truly appreciate your recommendation !

Dot Hodder

3 months ago

Thanks Liam. You did a beautiful job of working out what I wanted. My home feels complete with the new additions, plus the pergola. I found you by word of mouth and you certainly didn't disappoint.

Response from the owner3 months ago

Thank you so much, Dot! It was a pleasure working with you and bringing your ideas to life. I’m really glad you’re happy with the end result and that your home feels complete with the new additions and pergola. Thank you for trusting Sharpe Building & Constructions. We truly appreciate your kind words and support!

Renee & Brendon Harley

3 months ago

Needed some windows installed. Easily done, no fuss. Polite crew.

Response from the owner2 days ago

Thanks Renee and Brendon. Glad the new windows went in smoothly. If there is anything else you need done around the house, Sharpe Building & Constructions is happy to help across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. Liam

Recent decks

ModWood entry deck and roof: roof and posts — **ModWood entry deck and roof**Roof and posts · Deck frame · Finished deck

ModWood entry deck and roof: deck frame — **ModWood entry deck and roof**Roof and posts · Deck frame · Finished deck

What decks do you build?

Ground-level decks
A deck off the back door, level with the home, as outdoor space for a table and chairs, with steps or a wide landing down to the lawn. The merbau spa deck has a step that runs its full width.
Upper-level decks
A deck off a first floor or a high-set house, on taller posts with bracing, a balustrade around it and stairs down to the yard.
Pool surrounds and spa decks
Decking that wraps around a spa or forms a pool surround, with the frame built to suit the height of the spa or pool edge.
Entry decks and landings
A smaller deck at the front door, with or without a roof over it. The ModWood entry went from bare tiles to posts and a roof, then the frame, then composite boards.
Balustrades, handrails and stairs
Timber balustrades, handrails and stairs for new decks and old ones. Under the National Construction Code, a deck you could fall 1 metre or more from needs a balustrade.
Deck repairs and re-boarding
Replacing rotten joists, bearers and boards, re-fixing loose boards and rebuilding tired steps, so an old deck is safe to use again.

What is the difference between merbau, hardwood and composite decking?

Most decks in Newcastle use one of three kinds of decking: merbau, Australian hardwood or composite decking. Each one looks different, weathers differently and needs different maintenance.

Merbau

A dense hardwood with a deep red-brown colour, and the timber decking on the spa deck in 140 x 18 boards. Merbau bleeds a brown tannin when it first gets wet, so the colour settles after a few rains or a wash, and a coat of decking oil keeps it rich.

Composite

Composite decking boards are made from recycled wood fibre and plastic, such as the ModWood on the entry deck. Composite decking never needs oiling or sanding, just a wash now and then, so it is the least maintenance of the three. It costs more up front than most timber decking.

Australian hardwood

Spotted gum and blackbutt are local hardwoods with a lighter, warmer colour and strong natural durability. Like merbau, hardwood timber decking looks its best with a coat of decking oil when the colour starts to fade.

Do I need council approval to build a deck in NSW?

Many decks in NSW are exempt development, which means they need no council approval as long as they meet every rule in the state’s planning code. These are the main limits on the NSW Government page on decks and patios:

No more than 25 m² in area, and all decks, patios and pergolas on the block together no more than 15% of the house’s ground floor area (25 m² on a block up to 300 m²).
Floor no more than 1 m above the ground, and no part higher than 3 m.
Set back at least 900 mm from the side and back boundaries (5 m in rural zones), and behind the building line of the street.
No enclosing wall higher than 1.4 m.
On bushfire prone land within 5 m of the house, built from non-combustible materials.

A deck bigger or higher than that needs a complying development certificate or a development application through your council: City of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland or Cessnock. When I measure up for your quote, we check your deck against these rules first.

What changes the price of a deck?

Every deck is priced on site, because a few things move the cost more than anything else:

Size: The area of the deck in square metres, which sets how much frame and how many boards it takes.
Height: A deck high off the ground needs taller posts, bracing, a balustrade and stairs.
Decking: Merbau, other hardwoods and composite decking all cost different amounts per metre.
The ground: A sloping or rocky yard, or a tight side path for carrying materials in, adds time.
Extras: Stairs, balustrades, building around a spa, or a roof over the deck.

The quote is free, and you get the price before any work starts. Residential building work over $5,000 also needs a licensed contractor and a written contract under NSW law, as NSW Fair Trading sets out. Every job over that amount comes with one.

How a deck job runs

1Send the job
Use the form or call 0402 499 810. Photos of the spot help.
2Free on-site quote
I come out, measure up, talk through boards and height, and give you a price.
3Frame, then boards
Posts, bearers and joists first, then the boards, balustrades and steps.
4Walk-through
We look over the finished deck together.

Get a free on‑site quote.

Tell me the job and your suburb. I’ll call you to book a time, come out, measure up and give you a price before any work starts. Or call 0402 499 810.

5.0 on Google reviews
Licence 383930C, check it on the NSW register
Free on‑site quote

Questions about decks

Do you build decks in Lake Macquarie and Maitland?

Yes. I build decks across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Maitland and the surrounding areas of the Hunter, from my base in Cameron Park.

Can you fix or re-board an old deck?

Yes. I replace rotten frames and boards and rebuild steps and balustrades. Send photos through the form and I’ll tell you whether it can be repaired or is better rebuilt.

Do you build composite decking?

Yes. I built a ModWood composite entry deck with a new roof over it, and I build custom timber decking in merbau and hardwood too.

Is the quote free?

Yes. I come out, measure up and give you a price before any work starts. Send the job through the form or call 0402 499 810.

Can I check your licence?

Yes. Licence 383930C is on the NSW licence register, Carpenter class, current until 2030.

Where do you build decks?

I’m based at 4 Nightingale Crescent, Cameron Park NSW 2285 and build across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Maitland. There’s no showroom: I come to you to look at the job.

Call 0402 499 810 or email sharpeconstructions@aol.com. Licence 383930C, ABN 27 866 451 671.