CASE STUDY — MAROUBRA BEACH
Spotted Gum Deck, Maroubra Beach — Coastal Entertainer with Privacy Screen
42m² elevated hardwood deck · Marine Parade, Maroubra · Completed April 2026
The Brief
The clients on Marine Parade had a problem most Maroubra homeowners know well: a spectacular ocean outlook completely wasted by an aging, rotting deck that felt unsafe and looked terrible. Their backyard sloped sharply down from the house — about 800mm of fall across the deck area — and the existing structure had soft spots throughout.
They wanted a deck that could handle their Maroubra coastal environment properly — not something that would look great for two summers and then start deteriorating. They also wanted privacy from the neighbouring property on the western side without losing the ocean view to the east.
Why Spotted Gum for Maroubra?
Spotted Gum (Corymbia citriodora) is our first recommendation for any coastal Sydney deck within walking distance of the ocean. Here is why:
- Class 1 durability — the highest rating in AS 5604, meaning it resists rot and insect attack without chemical treatment
- High natural oil content — resists salt air penetration far better than Merbau or treated pine
- Interlocked grain — extremely hard to split or check, even under Maroubra’s UV intensity
- Beautiful grain — the ribbon figure in Spotted Gum looks stunning freshly oiled, and ages to a silver-grey if left natural
We paired this with 316 marine-grade stainless steel hidden fixings throughout — essential for any deck within 500m of salt water.
Project Specs
Location: Marine Parade, Maroubra
Deck Area: 42m²
Timber: Spotted Gum 90x19mm
Subframe: C24 treated pine
Fixings: 316 marine stainless hidden
Balustrade: Stainless cable + hardwood post
Screen: Spotted Gum privacy louvres
Clearance: 800mm elevated
DA Required: Yes (Randwick Council)
Timeline: 8 days on site
Project Gallery
The Build Process
Day 1–2: Demo & Footings
The old deck came off in a morning — it was well past saving. The sloped block meant we needed 6 concrete pad footings at varying depths to achieve a level bearer plate. We used 450mm diameter Sonotube forms with 450mm depth into undisturbed soil, well beyond Randwick Council’s minimum requirements for the imposed load of this deck size.
Day 3–4: Subframe
C24 treated pine bearers (190x45mm) and joists (140x45mm) at 450mm centres. We use treated pine for the subframe on all coastal builds — it’s the right call for longevity and cost. Joist hangers throughout, no toe-nailing. This subframe will outlast the decking boards.
Day 5–6: Spotted Gum Boards
90x19mm Spotted Gum, kiln dried to 12% moisture content, laid parallel to the house with a 5mm spacing gap between boards. Hidden 316 stainless biscuit clips throughout — no visible fasteners on the deck surface. First coat of Feast Watson Decking Oil applied on Day 6, which is our standard on Spotted Gum to seal the grain before it fully dries out.
Day 7–8: Balustrade & Privacy Screen
The eastern (ocean-facing) side got a stainless cable balustrade — 4mm 316 marine wire at 100mm max spacing through 90x90mm Spotted Gum posts. This keeps the view completely open while meeting AS 1657 requirements. The western side got a full-height Spotted Gum louvre privacy screen, angled to block the neighbour’s sightline while still allowing airflow.
“We had three quotes. 5 Star came back with the most detailed spec — they were the only ones who talked about salt-air fixings, council compliance, and the DA process. The deck looks incredible and the whole process was smooth from start to finish. Worth every cent.”
— Sarah T., Marine Parade, Maroubra ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Planning a Maroubra Deck?
We offer free on-site quotes across Maroubra, South Maroubra, Pagewood, Randwick and Coogee. We reply within 24 hours.
