Aokautere sits up on the hills on the south-eastern side of the Manawatū River, with plenty of newer homes, views across the city, and sections that are anything but flat. That makes it one of the most interesting places in Palmerston North to build a deck, and one of the places where getting the build right matters most.
We build decks across Aokautere and neighbouring Summerhill, from low decks off the living area to raised, multi-level decks that turn a steep drop into usable outdoor space.
Many Aokautere homes have living areas that open onto a drop. A deck that is at ground level at the house can be well over a metre off the ground at its outer edge. That means taller posts, deeper piles, bracing and usually a balustrade, and it is where a well-built deck and a cheap one feel very different underfoot. See raised and sloping-site decks.
Decks where someone could fall more than 1.5 metres generally need a building consent, and on a slope it is the highest point that counts. We measure fall height across the whole footprint at the quote, and tell you straight whether your deck is likely to need a consent. Sometimes stepping the deck down in two levels keeps it under the threshold. Read our deck consent guide.
Aokautere decks often face a view, so the balustrade choice matters. Frameless glass keeps the view clear; aluminium and timber cost less. All of them are built to the Building Code's height and gap rules.
A lot of Aokautere homes are relatively new, and composite is a popular match for modern cladding and joinery. Hardwood and pine are just as good structurally. It is about looks, budget and maintenance.
Decks we build in Aokautere and Summerhill most often:
Pricing in Aokautere is the same as anywhere else we work. As a rough guide:
| Decking | Indicative installed price | Example: 20m² ground-level deck |
|---|---|---|
| H3.2 treated pine | $300 – $550 per m² | $6,000 – $11,000 |
| Kwila & hardwood | $450 – $850 per m² | $9,000 – $17,000 |
| Composite | $550 – $1,000 per m² | $11,000 – $20,000 |
These are indicative ranges only, not a quote. They are a rough guide based on typical New Zealand deck pricing, set deliberately wide. Height off the ground, ground conditions, access, board and fixing choice, stairs, balustrade, removal of an old deck and whether consent is needed all move the final number, sometimes a long way. The only price that counts is the fixed written price we give you after measuring up on site. Prices include GST.
See the full deck cost guide for stairs, balustrades and raised decks.
We recently engaged Guy from Rowdy Builders to repair a wooden fence blown over in strong winds, and construct a medium size deck at our property.
From the outset, Guy was professional, approachable, and communicated extremely well, keeping us updated on progress and ensuring we knew what to expect at each stage of the project. The quality of workmanship was outstanding.
The fence repairs were completed to a high standard, and the new deck has completely transformed our outdoor area. It is clear that Guy takes pride in his work and pays attention to detail, delivering a finished product that exceeded our expectations.
We are extremely pleased with the result and would not hesitate to recommend Guy and Rowdy Builders to anyone looking for reliable, skilled tradespeople who deliver what they promise.
We couldn’t be happier with the work from Guy at Rowdy Builders. From start to finish, he was friendly, professional and incredibly organised.
He coordinated all aspects of the work, including arranging the additional trades required, and kept us well informed throughout the entire process.
Everything was handled smoothly and professionally, and the end result was fantastic. We would highly recommend Rowdy Builders to anyone looking for quality workmanship and an stress-free experience
We recently had Guy and his ream construct a roof over the deck of our new house.
He was pleasant and punctual on the site visit and made a number of suggestions on how it could be achieved.
His quote was very reasonable and his timeline was stuck to.
We are very happy with the result and recommend him to anyone looking for a similar job.
Yes. Steep sites mean taller posts, deeper piles and more bracing, and sometimes a multi-level design works better than one high deck. We will look at the site and give you options.
If someone could fall more than 1.5 metres from any part of it, it generally will. On a slope that can happen even when the deck is low at the house. We measure it at the quote and tell you.
Yes, along with timber and powder-coated aluminium. Glass is popular in Aokautere because it keeps the view.
Yes. Summerhill and Aokautere are both regular areas for us, and many of the same sloping-site issues apply.
A deck more than a metre off the ground often costs around 15% to 40% more per m² than the same deck at ground level, before balustrades and stairs. See our deck cost guide for details.
As well as Aokautere, we build decks across Summerhill, Hokowhitu, Fitzherbert, Ashhurst and the rest of Palmerston North, Feilding and the Manawatū. See all our deck building.
Free on-site quote. Fixed price in writing within 48 hours.
