Merbau vs Spotted Gum vs Treated Pine vs ModWood: Which Decking Is Right for You?
If you’re planning a new deck in Melbourne, you’ve probably already found four names come up again and again: Merbau, Spotted Gum, treated pine and ModWood. Each one suits a different budget, look and maintenance routine, and the right choice really comes down to what matters most to you, upfront cost, natural colour variation, or how little work you want to do once the deck is finished.
This guide walks through the real differences between all four, so you can narrow it down before you call for a quote.
Quick Comparison at a Glance
| Timber | Price | Maintenance | Look |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treated Pine | Most affordable | Regular staining or painting | Light, uniform, takes stain well |
| Merbau | Mid-range | Regular oiling | Warm reddish-brown, traditional |
| Spotted Gum | Premium | Regular oiling | Pale gold to chocolate, distinctly Australian |
| ModWood | Higher upfront | None required | Consistent, uniform composite colour |
Treated Pine: The Budget-Friendly Starting Point
Treated pine is the most affordable of the four, and the easiest to cut and work with, which makes it a common choice for DIY builders and rental property upgrades. Its light, pale colour takes stain well, so you can get close to a hardwood look for a fraction of the cost if you’re willing to keep up with recoating. The trade-off is more frequent maintenance than the hardwood options.
Read our full Treated Pine Decking Melbourne guide for board sizes, pricing and care details.
Merbau: The Popular Middle Ground
Merbau sits between treated pine and Spotted Gum on price, and it’s genuinely one of the most requested decking timbers for Melbourne homes. Its deep reddish-brown colour suits a warmer, more traditional look, and it’s dense enough to handle heavy foot traffic well. New Merbau decking can leach tannins in the first few weeks, especially in rain, which is normal and settles down once the timber weathers in.
See the full Merbau Decking Melbourne page for sizing and pricing.
Spotted Gum: The Premium Australian Choice
Spotted Gum sits at the top of our decking range on price, reflecting its density and the more selective grading needed for consistent board quality. What you get in return is genuine character, no two boards look quite the same, with colour running from pale gold through to deep chocolate. It suits architect-designed homes and anyone who wants a distinctly Australian hardwood look.
Check the Spotted Gum Decking Melbourne page for board profiles and further detail.
ModWood: The Low-Maintenance Composite
ModWood is the odd one out here, it’s not timber at all, but a wood-plastic composite made from recycled wood fibre and recycled plastic. It costs more upfront than treated pine, but never needs oiling, staining or painting, which can offset that cost over the life of the deck. If a consistent, uniform colour and minimal upkeep matter more to you than natural grain variation, this is worth a look.
Full details on the ModWood Decking Melbourne page.
How to Choose Between Them
A few honest questions to work through:
- What’s your budget? Treated pine first, Merbau next, Spotted Gum and ModWood both sit at the premium end for different reasons.
- How much maintenance are you genuinely willing to keep up with? If the honest answer is “not much,” ModWood removes that problem entirely. If you don’t mind oiling once or twice a year, all three timber options are on the table.
- What look are you after? Warm and traditional points toward Merbau, distinctly Australian and characterful points toward Spotted Gum, pale and paintable points toward treated pine, and clean and uniform points toward ModWood.
Get Advice on Your Project
Every project is a little different, and the right choice often comes down to details specific to your deck, size, sun exposure, and how the space will be used. Our team can talk through your project and help you compare real boards in person at our Dandenong South yard.
Or explore the full timber decking range to see everything we stock.
