
Decking, Patios, & Pergolas | Nelson & Tasman
Create stunning outdoor living spaces with custom decking, patios, and pergolas
Outdoor living spaces extend your home beyond four walls – decking where you relax with morning coffee, patios perfect for family gatherings, and pergolas that create intimate spaces under the sky. As earthworks specialists, we build outdoor structures that work seamlessly with your landscape and enhance your lifestyle.
Outdoor construction that enhances property value
Quality outdoor living spaces offer excellent return on investment. A well-designed deck can add significant value while extending usable living space at a fraction of indoor construction costs. Professionally built patios create entertaining areas that buyers actively seek. Pergolas and outdoor structures add architectural interest and define outdoor rooms. When built with quality materials and proper foundations, these improvements provide lasting enjoyment and strong resale value.
Decking, patio, and pergola services
Custom timber decking
Transform your outdoor space with professionally built timber decking. We work with premium materials including treated pine, kwila, macrocarpa, and composite decking options. Our approach includes proper foundation preparation, moisture management underneath, and construction techniques that ensure longevity. From simple platform decks to multi-level entertainment areas with integrated seating and planters.
Concrete patios & entertainment areas
Outdoor living starts with level, stable surfaces. We pour reinforced concrete slabs with proper base preparation, control joints to manage cracking, and finishes from standard broom to exposed aggregate or stamped patterns. Integration with house levels, drainage falls away from buildings, and consideration for furniture placement and traffic flow. Perfect for BBQ areas, outdoor dining, or pool surrounds.
Paved patios & courtyards
Concrete pavers or natural stone create distinctive outdoor rooms. While material costs exceed plain concrete, pavers offer advantages: individual units can be lifted for service access, movement tolerance prevents cracking, and damaged sections are repairable. We ensure proper base preparation (150mm GAP40 minimum), edge restraints preventing spreading, and joint sand maintaining interlock.
Custom pergolas & outdoor structures
Define your outdoor spaces with architecturally designed pergolas and structures. Options include:
- Traditional timber pergolas with climbing plant support
- Modern steel and timber combinations
- Attached pergolas extending from house
- Freestanding garden structures
- Integrated shade sails and privacy screens
All structures designed for local wind loads and building compliance where required.
Outdoor kitchens & entertainment areas
Create the ultimate entertaining space with integrated outdoor kitchens. We provide:
- Concrete benchtop bases for built-in BBQs
- Pizza oven foundations and surrounds
- Utility connections for gas, water, and power
- Storage solutions and prep areas
- Integration with decking and patio areas
Fire pits & outdoor heating
Extend outdoor season with thoughtfully placed fire features:
- Built-in fire pits with safety surrounds
- Raised fire bowls and features
- Wood storage and seating integration
- Safety setbacks from structures and boundaries
- Proper ventilation and smoke management
The earthworks advantage in outdoor construction
Proper foundation preparation
Outdoor structures fail from the ground up. Our excavation expertise ensures proper foundation preparation for decking posts, pergola footings, and patio bases. We remove organic material that causes settlement and achieve required compaction densities before any construction begins.
Site grading and drainage
Every outdoor construction project must integrate with existing levels while managing water flow. Our experience with site grading ensures your deck doesn't trap water, patios drain properly, and pergolas are positioned for optimal drainage. For complex drainage requirements, we also provide comprehensive drainage solutions.
Equipment for efficiency
Our excavators and compaction equipment handle site preparation that would take other contractors days to complete by hand. This translates to cost savings and faster project completion on larger outdoor construction projects.
Coordination with specialists
Outdoor construction often involves multiple trades – concrete placers, carpenters, electricians for lighting, and plumbers for outdoor kitchens. We coordinate the groundwork and scheduling, keeping your project moving smoothly.
Material selection guidance
Choosing outdoor construction materials balances aesthetics, durability, and budget:
Timber decking options
Treated pine: Cost-effective, readily available, requires regular maintenance. 10-15 year lifespan with proper care. Kwila: Premium hardwood, naturally durable, beautiful grain. 20+ year lifespan. Composite: Low maintenance, consistent appearance, higher initial cost but minimal ongoing maintenance.
Concrete finishes
Most cost-effective for large patio areas. Various finishes available from smooth to exposed aggregate. Requires proper jointing to control cracking. 25-30 year lifespan with minimal maintenance.
Paving materials
Higher initial cost but repairable and flexible. Wide range of colours and patterns. Excellent for high-traffic areas and integration with landscaping.
Pergola structures
Timber: Traditional appearance, requires maintenance. Steel: Modern look, powder-coated finishes, minimal maintenance. Hybrid: Combines steel posts with timber beams for best of both materials.
Project planning considerations
- Building consent requirements for larger structures
- Boundary setbacks and height restrictions
- Service locations and utility access
- Integration with existing outdoor areas
- Proper foundation preparation for structural integrity
- Maintenance requirements and lifecycle costs
- Local wind loads and structural requirements
- Seasonal construction timing for best results
Common outdoor construction projects
- Multi-level decking for sloping sites with integrated seating and retaining walls
- Covered outdoor kitchens with pergola overhead
- Pool decking and surrounding entertainment areas
- Front entrance decking and covered walkways
- Garden pergolas creating intimate outdoor rooms
- Commercial outdoor dining areas for hospitality businesses
Ready to create your dream outdoor space?
Whether you're envisioning a simple deck for morning coffee or a complete outdoor entertainment complex, we have the expertise to bring your vision to life. Our combination of earthworks knowledge and construction skills ensures your outdoor spaces are built to last.
Explore the possibilities for your outdoor construction project
What clients say about our decking and outdoor construction work
Ready to get started?
Contact us today to discuss your project and get a free quote.