
Composite decks
Low-maintenance composite decking: no oiling, no staining, no splinters. We build the frame to suit composite, with closer joist spacing, proper expansion gaps and ventilation underneath.

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Most of the money on a deck goes into the part you never see again. Piles at the right depth, bearers and joists at the right centres, the correct treatment level for timber that spends its life outside and close to the ground. Get that right and the boards on top are the only thing you ever have to think about.
That is also where corners get cut, because nobody inspects a substructure after the boards go down. Undersized joists at generous centres feel springy within a couple of years. Untreated or under-treated framing rots from the bottom up. Neither shows on the day the deck is handed over, which is exactly why it happens.
We build across Palmerston North and the Manawatū: new decks off the back of houses in Kelvin Grove and Whakarongo, replacements for tired pine decks around Hokowhitu and Terrace End, and split-level decks on the sloping sections out towards Aokautere and Summerhill. We are deliberately small, so the person who quotes your deck is on site building it.
It starts with levels. Where the deck meets the house threshold sets the finished height, and that decides pile depth, post height and how many steps you need at the other end. On a sloping section this is most of the thinking.
Then the substructure. Pile holes dug and concreted, posts set, bearers and joists fixed at the centres the span and board type call for. Everything below the boards is treated to sit outside and close to damp ground for decades.
Boards go on with consistent gaps for drainage and movement, fixed so the line stays straight across the run. Then the parts that make it usable: stairs with even rises, balustrade where the height requires it, screening and seating if they are in the job, and a clean tidy-up before we hand it over.
Photos from our recent jobs. Tap any photo to see it bigger, then swipe through.
The framing underneath is the same standard whichever you choose. What changes is up-front cost, how it weathers and how much you want to do to it every summer. We bring samples so you are deciding off real timber.
The best-looking of the three and the hardest wearing. Bleeds tannin for the first few months and wants oiling once a year to hold its colour, or it silvers off to grey. See our kwila decks.
The most affordable way to get a deck of any size, and it takes stain well if you want a specific colour. Softer than hardwood, so it marks more easily and needs recoating. See our pine decks.
Costs the most to install and close to nothing after that. No oiling, no staining, no splinters. Worth it if you would rather use the deck than maintain it. See our composite decks.
H4 piles and H3.2 framing at the correct centres regardless of what goes on top. This is the part that decides whether the deck feels solid in ten years. On a slope? See raised decks.
Two decks of the same size can price quite differently, so we measure up before we give you a number. Here is what moves the price. Costs are always subject to change, and many factors affect the final price.
Treated pine, kwila and composite price differently, and the boards are a big part of the total. We bring samples so you can decide before you commit.
A low ground-level deck is simpler than a raised deck. Height changes the piles, posts and framing, and anything above 1m needs a balustrade.
Slope, soil and how easily we can get materials to the site all change the labour. Plenty of Aokautere and Summerhill sections are sloping, which means deeper piles at one end and taller posts.
Stairs, handrails, screening, seating and removing an old deck are listed as their own lines in the written quote, so you can see each one.
Every one of these factors changes from property to property, so a price over the phone is a guess. We come out, measure up and give you a fixed written price within 48 hours. See our deck cost guide for more.
Estimate only. Costs are always subject to change and many factors affect the final price. Contact us for an accurate written quote.
We had a large fencing job done, and we couldn’t be happier with the result. The workmanship was excellent, the fence looks fantastic, and the attention to detail really shows. The whole process was professional from start to finish, with the job completed to a very high standard. It’s clear that pride was taken in the work, and the finished result has made a huge difference to the property. We would have no hesitation in recommending Rowdy Builders to anyone looking for a reliable, professional fence builder. Brilliant job and an excellent result.
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.
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.
Wow! It’s sooooo good to have a builder that makes a big project seem so simple and straightforward. Getting 3 fences replaced was a big task but Guy was incredible and took all our worries away. He coordinated with our neighbours, planned dates that suited us all, and delivered well beyond our expectations. Prompt, diligent, professional and courteous. Guy was a pleasure to deal with and we happily give him our HIGHEST recommendation. The quality of his workmanship is amazing!
We keep it simple. Three things built well, a small team you can actually get hold of, and a price that stacks up against anyone else in town.
The quote lists the timber, the sizes and what is included, so there are no surprises.
Small team by choice. Whoever measures your job is the one on the tools building it.
Posts go deeper on exposed sites, and boards are spaced so water drains instead of sitting.
If something we built is not right, we come back and put it right.
You deal with the same person from the first phone call to the final walk-through. No call centres, no runaround.
Ring 027 755 2948 or fill in the form. Tell us roughly what you are after and where you are.
We come to your place, measure up, check access and talk through timber and layout options with you.
You get a written price within 48 hours of us being on site, with what is included spelled out.
Old structure out, posts and piles in, then framing, boards and rails. We let you know what is happening each day.
We clear the offcuts and old material, tidy the site and walk the finished job with you before we leave.

Most regrets come from the same handful of mistakes. Here is what goes wrong, and how we prevent it.
Undersized joists at generous centres, so the deck feels springy within a couple of years.
We fix bearers and joists at the centres the span and board type call for.
Untreated or under-treated framing that rots from the bottom up.
We use H4 piles and H3.2 framing, treated to sit outside and close to damp ground.
Piles that are too shallow, so the deck moves on exposed or sloping sites.
We set pile depth from the levels at the house threshold, and go deeper on exposed sites.
A substructure nobody inspects once the boards are down.
We tell you what is going in: the quote lists the timber, the sizes and what is included.
Boards laid tight so water sits on them and the surface stays damp.
We lay boards with consistent gaps for drainage and movement.
Every job starts the same way: we come out, measure up, talk through timber and layout, and leave you a fixed written price.

Low-maintenance composite decking: no oiling, no staining, no splinters. We build the frame to suit composite, with closer joist spacing, proper expansion gaps and ventilation underneath.

Kwila, vitex and garapa timber decks with fixings that will not stain the boards. Hardwood is the choice when you want a deck that looks premium and wears hard.

A roof or pergola over the deck so you can use it in Manawatū rain and sun. Fixed into the house structure and built to handle the wind.

New fences and replacements, boundary or internal. A fence stands or falls on how the posts go in and whether the line is set before the rails go on, so that is where we spend the time.

Pergolas over decks, patios and entranceways, built and fixed so they handle Manawatū wind. We set them out around how you actually use the space and how the sun tracks across it.

Decks are most of what we do, and the person who quotes yours is the one building it.
Rowdy Builders is a small Palmerston North building company run by Guy, who was born and raised here. We build decks, fences and pergolas, and we have been doing it for over ten years across Palmerston North, Feilding and the surrounding Manawatū.
Most residential decks are one to two weeks on site once we start, depending on size, height and whether there are stairs and balustrades. You get the schedule up front and we stick to it.
Kwila looks the best and lasts the longest but bleeds tannin at first and wants oiling. Treated pine is the most affordable and takes stain well. Composite costs the most up front and needs almost nothing after that. We bring samples so you can see all three side by side.
It depends on the decking material, height, ground conditions, stairs, balustrade and access, so we measure up on site and give you a firm written price. Our deck cost guide explains what moves the price. Costs are always subject to change, so contact us for an accurate written quote.
Yes, and plenty of Aokautere and Summerhill sections are exactly that. A slope means deeper piles at one end, taller posts and usually a balustrade and stairs, so it costs more than the same deck on flat ground. More on raised decks.
The substructure should outlast the surface. Properly specified H4 piles and H3.2 framing last decades, and the boards are what you eventually replace. Kwila and composite both go 20 years plus, pine less if it is never maintained.
Yes, and on anything above 1m a balustrade is required rather than optional. We build stairs with consistent rises, and handrails to code in timber, powder-coated aluminium or glass. See deck balustrades and deck stairs.
Yes. We pull the old deck out, cart it away and build a new one from the piles up. Removal is included in the price we quote. We focus on new builds rather than repairs, because new boards on tired framing rarely end well.
Some decks need it and plenty do not. Generally, a deck needs consent if someone could fall more than 1.5 metres from it. We will tell you where your job sits when we come out. Read the deck consent guide.
Yes, fully insured on every job. We are happy to send the details through with your quote if you want them.
Palmerston North, Feilding and the surrounding Manawatū, including Ashhurst, Aokautere, Kelvin Grove and Hokowhitu. If you are not sure whether you are in our patch, ring us and ask.
From Hokowhitu to Aokautere, out to Ashhurst, Bunnythorpe, Longburn and Linton, and across to Feilding and the wider Manawatū. We come out to quote for free.
Prefer to talk? Give us a call:
027 755 2948Same day response
Get your free quotePrefer to talk? 027 755 2948