WOOD DECKING PRICE PER M2
INSTANT DECKING CALCULATOR BY CAPE DECKING
Use our decking calculator to work out your wood decking price per m2,
and get an instant estimate on screen and sent to your inbox.
Wood decking price per m2 in Cape Town
Most people arrive at this page with one question: roughly what am I in for. The honest answer is that a deck is priced per square metre, but the timber decking cost / rate moves a fair bit depending on which timber you pick and what has to happen underneath it.
Here are decking costs ranges we work with as a starting point.
| Decking material | Approx. cost per m² |
| Treated Pine | From: R 1,700.00/SQM |
| Garapa | From: R 2,300.00/SQM |
| Balau | From: R 2,250.00/SQM |
| Massaranduba | From: R 2400.00/SQM |
| Composite | From: R 2,500.00/SQM |
Those figures cover the decking boards and a standard substructure. They assume reasonable access and a fairly flat site. Each wood type differs in terms of price and application use. In our blog articles we discuss factors such ad when to use which wood and composite decking vs wooden decking.
What changes your wooden decking cost per m2?
Five things move the number more than anything else.
Height off the ground
A deck sitting 200mm above a level lawn is a different job to one cantilevered over a slope in Hout Bay. The higher it goes, the more substructure and bracing it needs, and on anything above about a metre you are usually looking at balustrades too.
The substructure
Timber bearers and joists are the norm. Where there is damp, poor drainage or a concrete slab underneath, a steel or aluminium sub-frame lasts longer and costs more up front.
Shape
Rectangles are cheap. Curves, cut-outs around a pool, steps and level changes all add cutting time and waste.
Access
If material has to be carried through a house or up a flight of stairs, that is labour before a single board is laid.
Finish
Hardwoods can be oiled to hold their colour or left to weather to silver-grey. Composite needs neither, which is part of what you are paying for.
How the estimate is worked out
The calculator takes your length and width, works out the square metreage, and applies the rate for the timber you have chosen. It adds an allowance for the substructure and for cutting waste, which is why the figure it returns is a little higher than area multiplied by board price.
It is an estimate, not a quote. It will not know your site is on a slope, or that there is a retaining wall in the way. For anything beyond a simple flat deck, treat the number as a budget starting point and let us look at the site and discuss the factors that will determine the cost of a wooden deck.
Which timber to price first
Treated pine
If budget is the deciding factor, start here. It is the cheapest way to get a deck down, and with regular sealing it does fine in Cape Town’s climate.
Garapa and balau
The middle ground, and where most of our decks land. Both are dense hardwoods that handle sun and salt air well. Garapa runs lighter, a honey colour that greys off attractively. Balau is darker and slightly harder.
Massaranduba
The densest of the four and the longest-lived. It is also the most expensive, and it is heavy enough that the substructure has to be specified for it.
Composite
Costs the most per square metre and the least over ten years. No sealing, no splinters, no annual weekend spent with a tin of oil. If you are decking around a pool and do not want the maintenance, it is usually the right call.
Common questions
What is the wood decking price per m2 in Cape Town?
Wood decking price per m2 in Cape Town depends almost entirely on the timber you choose. Treated pine sits at the bottom of the range, Garapa and Balau in the middle, and Massaranduba at the top. The calculator above uses our current supply-and-install rates for each species, so the figure it returns is a real working estimate rather than an industry average. Enter your deck size and pick a timber to see the price per m2 for your specific project.
Does the calculator include installation in the price per m2?
Yes. Every rate in the calculator is a supply-and-install figure covering the decking boards, the substructure, fixings, labour and finishing. It is not a materials-only price. What the estimate does not account for is site-specific work — decks built high off the ground, difficult access, curved or multi-level shapes, or demolition of an existing structure. Those are priced after a site inspection, which is why the estimate is a starting point rather than a final quote.
Why does Garapa cost more per m2 than pine?
Garapa is a South American hardwood with a natural density that resists rot, insects and Cape weather without chemical treatment. Pine is a softwood that has to be pressure-treated to survive outdoors, and even treated it needs more frequent maintenance and has a shorter service life. The higher wood decking price per m2 for Garapa buys you roughly double the lifespan and a finish that holds its colour far better. Over the life of the deck the cost difference narrows considerably.
