The most quotable work in building, until the slope gets involved.
Decks are priced per square metre and fences per lineal metre, which makes this the easiest builder work to ballpark before you call. The catches are Wellington's slopes: retaining walls enter the job, decks cross the 1.5m consent threshold, and fence lines that looked 20 metres on the plan turn out to be stepped, rocky and shared with a neighbour.
Is this your stream?
New decks, deck replacement, boundary fences, pool fencing, gates and retaining walls on residential sections. These jobs quote cleanly once someone has walked the site.
A garden edge is landscaping; a wall holding back a slope or driveway is structural. Over 1.5 metres, or carrying a surcharge, it needs a building consent and belongs with a builder or specialist contractor, not the cheapest fence quote.
What it costs in Wellington
Deck pricing
NZ guides put pine decks around $350–$450/m² installed, hardwoods to $500–$600/m². Refresh Renovations' guide runs softwood from $450+/m² and composite from $575+/m² including installation and GST.
Fence pricing
Timber paling fences run about $140–$180 per lineal metre in ArchiPro's guide, $220–$270 for a 1.8m paling fence per Supreme Build, and $180–$320+ per TopBuilders. Height, slope and access move it.
Consent rules
Decks more than 1.5m above ground and retaining walls over 1.5m, or carrying a surcharge, need a building consent. On hill sections, assume you are near the line until measured.
Wellington providers, compared
Five operators that build decks, fences and retaining across the region, grouped by what they are best at. Hover a row for the detail that matters.
Common mistakes
Building a deck over 1.5 metres high without a consent: above that height a building consent is required, and the structural work is restricted building work needing an LBP. On sloping Wellington sections, decks cross that threshold fast.
Ignoring the retaining rules on a hill section: retaining walls over 1.5 metres, or carrying a surcharge like a driveway or neighbouring structure, need a building consent. A cheap unconsented wall is an expensive problem at sale time.
Assuming the neighbour pays half automatically: the Fencing Act 1978 lets you seek a contribution for an adequate boundary fence, but only if you follow the notice process. Build first and ask later and you can wear the whole cost.
Choosing hardwood for looks without pricing the upkeep: pine is the cheapest option but needs maintenance; kwila and other hardwoods cost more and still grey and splinter without oiling; composite costs the most up front and the least to maintain. Deck&FencePro lays out exactly this trade-off.
Quoting a fence by the metre without walking the line: guides put timber paling fences around $140–$270+ per lineal metre, but slope, access, rock and old-fence removal move the number. Wellington fence lines are rarely flat.
Hiring a handyman for structural deck work: repairs and small jobs suit a maintenance operator, but a consented elevated deck is restricted building work. Match the operator to the job, not just the day rate.
FAQ
How much does a deck cost in Wellington?
NZ guides put a professionally built pine deck around $350–$450 per square metre installed, with hardwoods like kwila pushing $500–$600/m². Refresh Renovations' guide prices softwood decking from $450+/m² including installation and GST, and eco or composite decking from $575+/m². Deck Builders Wellington's guide puts the NZ average at $200–$600/m² depending on materials and complexity. Sloping sites cost more.
How much does a fence cost per metre?
NZ cost guides put a timber paling fence around $140–$180 per lineal metre (ArchiPro), roughly $220–$270 for a 1.8m paling fence (Supreme Build), and $180–$320+ for standard residential timber (TopBuilders). Height, slope, access and demolition of the old fence all move the price.
Does my neighbour have to pay half the fence?
Under the Fencing Act 1978 you can seek a contribution from your neighbour toward an adequate boundary fence, but you need to follow the process: agree the fence beforehand or serve a fencing notice with the details. If you build without notice, recovering costs is much harder. Anything beyond adequate is at your cost.
When does a deck or retaining wall need a building consent?
As a rule of thumb from building.govt.nz guidance: decks and platforms more than 1.5 metres above ground need a building consent, and retaining walls over 1.5 metres high, or any height if they support a surcharge like a driveway, need one too. On Wellington's slopes both thresholds come up often, so check before you build.
Pine, hardwood or composite: which decking should I pick?
Treated pine is the cheapest and most common, but needs regular maintenance. Hardwoods like kwila, garapa and vitex are tougher but still need oiling to avoid greying and splintering. Composite costs the most up front and is the closest to maintenance-free. In Wellington's wet, windy climate the maintenance question matters more than the brochure look.
Pine decks run $350–$450/m² installed, hardwood and composite more; timber fences $140–$270+ per lineal metre. Walk the fence line before trusting a per-metre quote, sort Fencing Act cost-sharing before you build, and treat anything over 1.5m high, deck or retaining, as consent territory. Wellington Fencing and Rhino handle fences and retaining; Deck Builders Wellington and Deck&FencePro cover the deck side.