Find a trusted carpenter on the Gold Coast

Decks built for salt, sun and storms

Outdoor living keeps Gold Coast carpenters busy, and the coastal climate is tough on timber. Strong UV dries out and greys untreated boards, summer downpours soak them, and salt air near the beach eats cheap fixings. On decks close to the water, ask for stainless steel screws and brackets, and plan on oiling or coating timber decking regularly.

Timber choice matters. Hardwoods like spotted gum and merbau are popular for boards, while treated pine costs less but needs the right treatment level: H3 for timber above ground and H4 or higher for posts set into the ground. Composite decking is dearer up front but needs less looking after.

Height brings rules. A deck more than a metre off the ground needs a balustrade at least a metre high with gaps no wider than 125 mm. Many raised or roofed decks and patios also need building approval through a private certifier, so sort that out before the first post goes in.

Termites and humidity

Termites are active right across south-east Queensland, and a timber deck or pergola sitting in damp soil is an open invitation. Good carpenters keep timber clear of the ground with steel post stirrups or concrete footings, leave room to inspect underneath, and use resistant or treated timber in the frame. If you’re replacing rotten or eaten boards, have the joists and bearers checked as well, because the damage is often worse underneath.

Humidity is the other local quirk. Timber doors and frames soak up moisture in the wet season and swell, so a door that closes nicely in July can bind by February. A carpenter can plane, rehang and seal it properly, including the top and bottom edges that often get skipped when a door is painted.

QBCC licences for carpentry

Queensland draws the line at $3,300: carpentry above that, labour and materials combined, has to be done under a QBCC Carpentry licence or a builder licence. Most decks and pergolas sail past that figure, so search the carpenter on the QBCC licensee register and confirm the licence is current and covers the work. Small jobs like hanging a door or building shelves don’t need one. Our Queensland licence checks page walks through the details.

What carpenters charge on the Gold Coast

Most carpenters here charge around $60–$100 an hour, or about $500–$800 for a full day of labour. Hanging an internal door is typically $150–$450 plus the door, skirting and architraves $300–$900 a room, and a 20 m² timber deck $6,000–$12,000, or roughly $300–$600 per m². A timber pergola usually lands between $5,000 and $15,000 before any roof or approvals.

Materials are usually extra, and hardwood or composite boards push a deck toward the top of the range. The carpenter price guide covers more jobs; treat the numbers as ballpark ranges and get your own job priced in writing.

Your Gold Coast carpenter, matched

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