Omokoroa Wraparound Kwila Deck

The Brief

This Omokoroa couple had a concrete patio running along their dining room and lounge, with a grass area between the lounge and bedroom. A spa pool sat on the concrete, but the outdoor space felt disconnected and underutilised. They wanted to fix that.

They needed a hardwood deck.

The job came through a referral from their neighbour, whose deck we had recently completed, which was a good start.

What They Wanted

The scope was well thought-out from the get-go:

Extend the deck out over the existing concrete patio and over an existing retaining wall to get a much bigger usable area
Wrap the deck around the contour of the house to the bedroom, giving them a continuous timber walkway and easy access to the spa from both ends of the home
Keep the space underneath the deck open in front of the retaining wall for storage, mainly kayaks and outdoor gear
A set of stairs down to the lower level
A fully code-compliant balustrade. They were switched on about fall protection and wanted everything done to the builders code.

Picture frame edging and corners was used to complete the beautiful impact

Timber Selection

We recommended Garapa, the same timber we used on the neighbour's deck, as it's one we rate highly. They did their own research though and settled on Kwila, which is a solid choice.

Kwila is a popular choice for good reason. It's a dense, durable hardwood that handles the New Zealand climate well and looks great once it's oiled up.

The main thing to be aware of with Kwila is the tannin bleed, which can cause reddish-brown staining on surfaces underneath in the early stages. It's completely manageable, and we know the timber well enough to work with its characteristics and get a great result. If you're considering Kwila, we're happy to talk through what to expect and how we handle it.

Picture Frame Style

The deck was finished with a picture framing border, which is a popular choice in New Zealand for good reason. Running a contrasting or complementary border board around the perimeter and corners gives the deck a clean, deliberate edge rather than just ending where the last board stops. It frames the whole thing nicely and adds a level of finish that lifts the overall look considerably.

The Result

One aspect of the build that required careful planning was the spa pool. A filled spa pool is seriously heavy, and the deck structure needed to be engineered to handle that load safely and permanently.

The framing, bearer sizing, and pile placement were all designed with that in mind, so the structure underneath is built well beyond what a standard deck requires. It's the kind of thing you don't see once it's finished, but it's what makes the difference between a deck that lasts and one that doesn't.

The finished deck changed how they use their outdoor space entirely. The deck flows from the main living areas, wraps around to the bedroom, ties in the spa, and makes good use of the storage space underneath.

The balustrade is fully compliant and the stairs connect the two levels neatly.

“We’re so stoked with the finished result. It looks great. Thanks to your team, "especially Josh and the young lad. They did a fantastic job of it.”

- Homeowner, Omokoroa
(name withheld for privacy)