Hillarys is one of Perth’s premier coastal suburbs, sitting 22km north of the CBD on the Indian Ocean coastline. With properties ranging from established 1980s homes near Hillarys Boat Harbour to luxury builds fronting the coastal strip, it’s an area where outdoor living is built into the lifestyle — and a quality deck is essential for making the most of that sea breeze.
If you’re in Hillarys, Sorrento, Duncraig, or Padbury and considering a new deck or composite upgrade, here’s what matters for building in Perth’s coastal north.
Coastal Decking Challenges in Hillarys
Building a deck within 1km of the coast in Hillarys means dealing with conditions that inland Sydney builds never face:
- Salt spray corrosion: Standard galvanised fixings will rust within 2–3 years. We use 316 stainless steel screws and hidden clips on all coastal builds.
- Wind loading: Perth’s afternoon sea breeze (the “Fremantle Doctor”) regularly hits 30–40km/h. Raised decks and balustrade designs need to handle lateral wind loads that inland builds don’t experience.
- UV exposure: Open coastal blocks get unobstructed sun all day. Timber decks fade faster — composite boards with UV-stable caps (like Modwood or Trex) hold their colour far longer.
- Sand ingress: Fine beach sand works its way into board gaps and fixings. Wider gap spacing (6mm) and hidden-clip systems prevent sand from packing tight and causing moisture traps.
BAL Ratings in Hillarys
Parts of Hillarys and the immediate coastal strip fall within BAL-12.5 to BAL-19 zones due to surrounding vegetation and parkland. If your property is rated:
- BAL-12.5: Standard composite and timber is fine — most Hillarys residential blocks fall here.
- BAL-19: Composite decking with fire-rated certification is the simplest path. We’ll verify your rating during the site visit.
Material Recommendations for Hillarys Homes
For most Hillarys properties, we recommend:
- Composite (Modwood, Trex, Eva-Last): Best for low maintenance near the coast. No oiling, no staining, UV-stable. Ideal for busy professionals who want to enjoy their deck, not maintain it.
- Merbau: The classic Perth choice. Beautiful grain, naturally termite-resistant, handles the heat. Needs annual oiling to keep its rich colour — otherwise it greys within 12 months.
- Spotted Gum: Premium hardwood with a stunning varied grain. Higher fire rating makes it suitable for BAL-19 zones. More expensive but worth it for a feature deck.
Hillarys Decking Pricing
- Composite/Pool decking: from $550/m² installed (includes 316 stainless fixings for coastal builds)
- Hardwood (Merbau, Spotted Gum): from $440/m² installed
- Deck restoration (sand + oil): from $153/m²
City of Joondalup Permit Requirements
Hillarys falls under the City of Joondalup. Most ground-level decks under 30cm don’t need a building permit, but decks attached to the house or over 30cm high will. We handle all permit applications as part of the build.
Serving Hillarys and Perth’s Coastal North
Our Perth service area covers Hillarys and neighbouring suburbs including Sorrento, Duncraig, Padbury, Mullaloo, Ocean Reef, Kallaroo, and Craigie. We also service the Joondalup central corridor — see our Joondalup decking guide for more details.
Get a Free Quote for Your Hillarys Deck
📞 Call us on 0433 334 415 or email info@5stardecking.com
5 Star Decking — BG Haute Pty Ltd | NSW Contractor Licence 395250C | Over 4,000 projects completed across Sydney and Perth
By the 5 Star Decking Team
