There’s something about a freshly oiled Merbau deck in the rain that stops you in your tracks. The grain deepens, the colour intensifies, and you realise why hardwood has been the go-to choice for Australian outdoor builders for decades. This is the story of a recent balcony deck we completed for a client in Alexandria, inner Sydney — and it turned out exactly as good as it looks.
The Project: Alexandria Balcony Deck Replacement
Our client in Alexandria had a tired, sun-damaged balcony that had seen better days. The existing decking was splintering, the gaps had widened, and the whole surface needed to come out. The brief was straightforward — replace it with something that looks great, lasts decades, and doesn’t need constant upkeep.
After discussing the options, we recommended Merbau hardwood decking. For inner-city balconies that cop Sydney’s rain, UV and reflected heat off surrounding buildings, Merbau is one of the best performers available. It’s a Class 1 hardwood — the highest outdoor durability rating in Australia — and its natural oil content means it handles moisture without warping or cracking.
Why We Specified Merbau for This Build
We get asked a lot about the difference between Merbau and other hardwoods like Spotted Gum or Blackbutt. For this Alexandria build, Merbau was the right call for three main reasons:
1. Natural durability without chemical treatment
Merbau is naturally resistant to rot, fungal decay and termites. Unlike treated pine, it doesn’t rely on chemical preservatives to survive outdoors — the timber does the work itself. In a dense urban environment like Alexandria where you’re surrounded by concrete and moisture, that matters.
2. It handles wet-dry cycles exceptionally well
Sydney’s climate swings between dry summers and wet winters. Merbau’s natural oil content helps it absorb and release moisture evenly, reducing the expansion and contraction that causes splitting and warping in lesser timbers. After the June rain this balcony experienced its first real test — and it passed with flying colours.
3. The appearance is exceptional
No artificial stain or paint matches the depth of colour in a freshly oiled Merbau board. That rich reddish-brown tone with interlocking grain is something you simply can’t replicate with composite or pine. Our clients always comment on how much better it looks in person than in photos — and the photos are already pretty good.
How We Built It: The Process
The existing deck was stripped back to the subframe. We inspected every bearer and joist, replaced two sections that had softened, and ensured the frame was level and properly flashed before a single new board went down.
Boards were laid with marine-grade stainless steel fixings throughout — no standard galvanised screws in an urban environment where condensation and runoff are part of daily life. We maintained a consistent 5mm gap between boards for drainage and air movement, and finished the perimeter with a clean mitre-cut border board that gives the balcony a neat, defined edge.
On completion, the entire deck was given two coats of penetrating Merbau oil — bringing out the colour, sealing the surface, and setting the timber up for years of easy maintenance.
The Detail Work
The thing that separates a good deck from a great one is usually in the details — the corners, the edges, the fixing pattern. On this Alexandria build we’re particularly proud of the corner junctions. Clean 45-degree mitres on the border board, consistent board spacing all the way to the edges, and no visible fixings on the walking surface.
The balcony wraps slightly around the building’s corner, which required careful planning to maintain the board direction and keep the spacing consistent across the change in angle. It’s the kind of thing most people won’t notice — but the ones who know, notice.
Merbau Decking Cost in Sydney — 2026
One of the most common questions we get is: how much does a Merbau deck cost? Here’s a realistic guide for Sydney in 2026:
- Supply and install (ground level or existing subframe): $350–$500 per m²
- With new subframe: $480–$650 per m²
- Small balcony (10–15m²): $3,500–$7,500 fully installed
- Medium balcony (20–30m²): $7,000–$15,000 fully installed
- Annual oiling maintenance: $300–$600 DIY, $600–$1,200 professionally applied
For this Alexandria project, the existing subframe was in reasonable condition after reinforcement — which kept the overall cost in the lower range. Getting a site inspection early is always worth it, as the subframe condition has the biggest impact on final price.
Thinking About a New Deck in Alexandria or the Inner South?
We work regularly across Alexandria, Erskineville, Newtown, St Peters, Waterloo, Zetland, Mascot, Rosebery and Botany. Whether it’s a balcony replacement, a ground-level entertainment deck, or a complete outdoor renovation, we’d love to come out, see your space, and give you a straight-talking written quote.
📞 0433 334 415
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📍 Licensed NSW Builder — Licence No. 395250C
5 Star Decking builds premium timber and composite decks across Greater Sydney. All projects carry a 2-year workmanship guarantee and are completed by our licensed team.
