Outdoor Living Spaces Built for Melbourne Weather

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q1. What outdoor features do you build?

Alfresco kitchens with weatherproof cabinetry and built in barbecues, covered outdoor rooms with insulated or louvred roofing, timber and composite decking, pergolas, built in seating, fire pits and screening. We also build indoor to outdoor transitions as part of an extension, with level thresholds and matched flooring so the two spaces read as one.

Q2. Do I need a permit for a deck, pergola or alfresco in Victoria?

Any structure attached to the house requires a building permit in Victoria, regardless of size, which includes attached alfresco areas, verandahs and attached pergolas. Freestanding structures under 10 square metres may be exempt depending on your council, but anything larger or with a solid or insulated roof generally requires one. Decks need a permit once they exceed a specified height above natural ground level, and usually a balustrade to code. If your property carries a heritage or neighbourhood character overlay, a planning permit may apply as well. We check and lodge everything for you.

Q3. How much does an alfresco or deck cost in Melbourne?

A basic timber pergola around three by four metres with shade cloth typically runs $8,000 to $15,000. A quality alfresco with a solid roof, lighting and power usually lands at $15,000 to $35,000. A fully enclosed outdoor room with polished concrete, a built in barbecue, louvred roofing and heating starts around $40,000 and goes well beyond. Permit costs of roughly $500 to $1,500 plus engineering drawings sit on top, along with council fees where a planning permit applies.

Q4. How long does an outdoor living project take?

Four to eight weeks on site for most projects. A straightforward timber deck is often two to three weeks. A full alfresco with roofing, services, cabinetry and finishes runs six to eight. Permit approval sits outside that and typically adds four to eight weeks, so it is worth starting the process in autumn if you want the space finished for summer.

Q5. What decking materials last best in Melbourne's climate?

Hardwoods such as spotted gum, blackbutt and merbau perform well and age attractively, though they need oiling every year or two to keep their colour. Composite decking costs more upfront, will not splinter or need oiling and holds its appearance, but it gets hotter underfoot in direct sun and looks less natural close up. Whichever you choose, the fixings and the substructure matter as much as the boards. Stainless or properly coated fixings prevent the rust bleed you see running down cheap decks after two winters.

Q6. Can you build an outdoor kitchen with plumbing and gas?

Yes. Water, waste, gas and power all need to be planned at design stage and run before the slab or decking goes down, which is why retrofitting an outdoor kitchen into an existing paved area costs considerably more than including it from the start. Gas and plumbing work is carried out by licensed trades and comes with the compliance certification you will need.

Q7. Can outdoor living be built at the same time as an extension?

Yes, and it is the best time to do it. When the alfresco is designed alongside the extension, the threshold can be level, the flooring can run through, the roof lines can resolve properly and the services are run once. Adding an outdoor room to a finished extension later almost always means a compromise at the junction between the two.