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How much does decking cost in South Africa?

A treated pine deck usually costs about R950 to R1,800 per square metre built. Hardwood and composite decks cost more, and published prices for them vary widely.

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Decking prices at a glance

Treated pine decking typically costs R950 to R1,800 per m² installed, hardwoods such as balau about R1,400 to R4,500, and composite roughly R2,200 to R5,500. A small 15 m² deck generally lands between R25,000 and R80,000, and sanding and resealing an existing deck costs about R90 to R150 per m².

WhatTypical priceNotes
Treated pine deck, supplied and builtR950–R1,800/m²The cheapest option. Some guides quote R950 to R1,300 installed; others quote similar figures for materials, with labour on top.
Hardwood deck (balau, garapa, saligna), supplied and builtR1,400–R4,500/m²Contractor guides list balau at about R1,400 to R1,800 per m². One national aggregator puts it at R3,800 to R4,500 installed.
Composite deck, supplied and builtR2,200–R5,500/m²Boards alone cost roughly R1,600 to R2,800 per m². Premium ranges and PVC boards cost more.
Sanding and resealing an existing deckR90–R150/m²A basic coat at the low end. Sanding plus three coats is about R120, and a hardwood oil system about R150.
Labour only, standard deckR200–R600/m²Stairs, railings and multi-level designs push labour to about R800 to R1,200 per m².
Small deck of about 15 m², completeR25,000–R80,000 per project
Deck repair or re-seal jobR1,500–R8,000 per project
Removing debris from an old deckR500–R4,500 per loadA small load from about R500; a large load up to R4,500.

Estimates only. These ranges come from published South African prices, listed under sources below, and were last checked on 28 October 2026. Your price depends on your site and the specification. Get quotes for an accurate price for your job.

Decks are priced per square metre, and the number depends mainly on the board you choose and how high the frame sits off the ground. Published 2026 price guides agree on the order: treated pine is cheapest, hardwoods cost more, and composite costs the most up front. One 2026 guide puts a typical installed rate at about R1,800 per m², with most jobs between R1,200 and R2,600.

Beyond that, the sources don't line up neatly. Some quote figures that look like material prices, others quote complete installed prices, and not all say which. One national cost aggregator puts installed balau at R3,800 to R4,500 per m², more than double what Gauteng contractor guides show. We've given the wider range honestly. These figures are a guide from published data that doesn't fully agree, so use them to sense-check quotes rather than to budget to the rand.

The frame under the boards is a big part of the cost. A Gauteng guide estimates the substructure of joists and footings at about 30 to 40% of the total project. A low deck on a flat site is much cheaper per m² than a raised deck on a slope.

What moves the price

Pushes the price up

  • Height off the ground. Raised decks need deeper footings, heavier posts, bracing and a balustrade.
  • Board choice. Hardwoods and premium composite cost two to three times as much as treated pine.
  • Stairs, railings and multiple levels. Labour for complex layouts runs about R800 to R1,200 per m², against R200 to R600 for a simple deck.
  • Pool surrounds. One guide adds R100 to R200 per m² for pool-side treatments and non-slip finishes.
  • Stainless fixings and hidden clips. They last longer and look better, but cost more than galvanised screws.
  • Removing an old deck. Demolition and carting away rubble add a load fee of R500 to R4,500.

Brings the price down

  • Treated pine. It's the cheapest board, and properly treated and sealed it lasts well.
  • A low, simple rectangle. Fewer cuts, short posts and no railing keep both materials and labour down.
  • Building over sound paving. A low-profile frame on an existing surface needs less excavation and fewer footings.
  • Standard board lengths. Sizing the deck to suit stock lengths cuts waste.
  • Leaving the balustrade for later. Only where the height allows it safely, and if your municipality doesn't require one.

A 20 m² patio deck: a worked example

Say you want a 5 m × 4 m patio deck, about 40 cm off the ground, with no railing. Using the ranges on this page:

  • Treated pine: 20 m² × R950 to R1,800 = R19,000 to R36,000
  • Hardwood such as balau: 20 m² × R1,400 to R4,500 = R28,000 to R90,000
  • Composite: 20 m² × R2,200 to R5,500 = R44,000 to R110,000
  • First reseal of a timber deck a year later: 20 m² × R90 to R150 = R1,800 to R3,000

Comparing over ten years

A pine deck resealed every year adds roughly R18,000 to R30,000 over ten years at today's prices. That narrows the gap with composite, which needs washing rather than sealing. Hardwood sits in between, since it still needs oiling to keep its colour.

What a decking quote should include

A per-m² price can hide a cheap frame under good boards. Ask each installer to specify:

  • The board: species or brand, size and grade
  • Joists and bearers: material, size, spacing and treatment class
  • Footings: number, depth and whether they're concrete
  • Fixings: stainless steel, galvanised or hidden clips
  • Stairs, balustrades and fascia boards, priced separately
  • Sealing or oiling at handover, and the product used
  • Rubble removal, delivery and whether VAT is included

Repair, reseal or replace?

A greyed, dry deck with a sound frame usually only needs sanding and resealing, at roughly R90 to R150 per m². Replacing a few cracked boards is a small repair job, typically R1,500 to R8,000 including a reseal.

If the posts or joists are soft, or boards are rotting from underneath, resealing won't help. At that point you're paying for a new frame, and a new deck is often better value than piecemeal repairs.

Do prices differ by region?

One Johannesburg contractor guide puts Cape Town decking prices about 10 to 15% above Gauteng. A Gauteng guide lists standard installation labour slightly lower in Pretoria (R380 to R580 per m²) than in Johannesburg (R400 to R600 per m²).

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Decking cost questions

What is the cheapest decking in South Africa?

Treated pine is the cheapest, at about R950 to R1,800 per m² built according to 2026 guides. It needs to be treated to the right hazard class and resealed regularly, so budget for upkeep. A low deck with no railing on a flat site keeps the cost close to the bottom of that range.

Is composite decking worth the extra cost?

It costs roughly 50 to 100% more than timber up front, according to one 2026 guide, but it only needs washing rather than annual sealing. Over ten years the gap narrows. It suits pool areas and busy households. In full sun, dark composite boards can get hot, so lighter colours are a safer choice.

How much does it cost to reseal a deck?

Published 2026 rates are about R90 per m² for a basic coat, R120 for sanding plus three coats of sealer and R150 for a hardwood oil system. For a 40 m² deck that's roughly R3,600 to R6,000. Weathered or damaged decks cost more because of the extra sanding.

Why do decking prices vary so much between sources?

Some published figures are for boards only, while others include the frame, footings, fixings and labour. Height, access and stairs also change the price a lot. That's why we've given wide ranges. Compare quotes on the same specification rather than on the headline per-m² rate.

Do decking prices include VAT?

One Gauteng guide states its prices exclude VAT. The others don't say. A VAT-registered installer must add 15%, so ask for VAT to be shown on a separate line on every quote.

Sources

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