Close-up of a wooden deck with rich brown tones and visible grain patterns.

Jarrah vs Spotted Gum vs Merbau vs Blackbutt

Published on 25 Sep 2025

by Mike Tuhaka

Key takeaways

Jarrah (Class 2, 25 to 40+ years) suits premium builds and heritage homes wanting a classic WA timber, and needs oiling every 12 to 18 months.
Spotted Gum (Class 1, 40+ years) is the premium choice for durability, pool surrounds and bushfire-prone areas, as it meets BAL-29 compliance.
Blackbutt (Class 1, 40+ years) gives a lighter coastal look, but its light colour shows marks more visibly than darker timbers.
Merbau (Class 1 to 2, 20 to 30 years) is the more affordable hardwood, though it can bleed tannins after installation that may stain nearby surfaces.
The right timber comes down to your budget, maintenance preferences and the look you want for your outdoor living space.

When it comes to hardwood decking in Perth, Jarrah, Spotted Gum, Blackbutt and Merbau are the most popular choices. Each has its own strengths in durability, appearance, and suitability for Perth’s climate.

This guide compares all four across key factors to help you choose the best timber for your deck.

Quick Comparison of Timber Decking Materials

Timber	Lifespan	Durability Class	Colour & Look	Maintenance	Best For
Jarrah	25 to 40+ years	Class 2	Deep red-brown, ages gracefully	Oiling every 12 to 18 months	Premium decks, heritage homes
Spotted Gum	40+ years	Class 1	Varied browns, high grain detail	Oiling every 18 to 24 months	Pool surrounds, luxury decks
Blackbutt	40+ years	Class 1	Honey-pale to light brown, uniform grain	Oiling every 12 to 18 months	Coastal homes, beach-style decks
Merbau	20 to 30 years	Class 1 to 2	Rich brown, consistent colour	Oiling every 12 months	Affordable hardwood decks

Jarrah

Durability: Class 2 timber, resistant to decay and termites. Lifespan 25 to 40 years.
Appearance: Rich red to brown tones, unique to Western Australia. Ages to a silver-grey if left untreated.
Maintenance: Needs oiling every 12 to 18 months to retain colour.
Best For: Premium builds, heritage-style homes, and Perth homeowners wanting a classic WA timber with strong local identity.

Spotted Gum

Durability: Class 1 hardwood, very dense and stable. Lifespan 40+ years.
Appearance: Ranges from pale greys to deep browns with striking natural grain.
Maintenance: Requires oiling every 18 to 24 months. Less prone to warping than other species.
Best For: Luxury projects, pool surrounds, and decks in bushfire-prone areas (Spotted Gum meets BAL-29 compliance).

Blackbutt

Durability: Class 1 hardwood, highly resistant to decay and termites. Lifespan 40+ years.
Appearance: Pale honey to light brown tones with subtle, even grain. Weathers to silvery-grey if untreated.
Maintenance: Needs oiling every 12 to 18 months. Shows marks more visibly than darker timbers due to light colour.
Best For: Coastal properties, modern beach-style homes, and homeowners wanting a lighter, contemporary aesthetic without sacrificing durability.

Merbau

Durability: Class 1 to 2 hardwood, lifespan 20 to 30 years. Very stable.
Appearance: Warm reddish-brown tones with a consistent look. Darkens slightly over time.
Maintenance: Needs oiling about once a year. Can bleed tannins after installation, which may stain nearby surfaces.
Best For: Families wanting a durable hardwood deck at a more affordable price.

Which Timber Decking is Best for Perth?

Choose Jarrah if you want local character, rich colour, and a timeless WA material.
Choose Spotted Gum if you want the strongest durability, premium aesthetics, and bushfire compliance.
Choose Merbau if you want an affordable hardwood that still delivers strength and style.
Choose Blackbutt if you want a lighter coastal aesthetic, Class 1 durability, and a contemporary look that brightens outdoor spaces.

Conclusion

All four timbers perform well in Perth’s climate, but they serve different needs.

Jarrah is the local favourite for tradition and colour, Spotted Gum is the premium option for durability and luxury, Blackbutt delivers coastal elegance with Class 1 strength, and Merbau balances affordability with durability.

The right timber decking choice depends on your budget, maintenance preferences, and the desired look for your outdoor living space.

Mike Tuhaka

Mike Tuhaka runs Perth Landscape Guys. He and his team design and build outdoor spaces right across Perth, from Currambine down to Mandurah, including paving, decking, retaining walls, artificial grass, lawn and reticulation. They are preferred installers for Freo Stone, Eco Stone and Remastone, and have worked on commercial projects for Murdoch University and Parsons Group. What customers mention most is Mike’s honest advice and the regular updates from the first plan to the final clean up.

We are extremely happy with the work that Michael, Mike, Sam and their team completed at our house. They re-did our whole front yard and were the easiest to work with throughout the entire project. Nothing was ever a drama for them and their experience came in handy when the project had to pivot mid way through. Would definitely recommend for large residential projects, and would have them back again.

Chris Prell

We had a fabulous experience with Perth Landscape Guys from the start to the end. It was a difficult job given they had to fill in our swimming pool then deck the entire area. Access was terribly hard given we have an internal courtyard with no external access. Despite this they managed the process so well. They communicated throughout and very hands on. We could not fault their service. We are so happy with the outcome.

Debra Hart

Brilliant! We could not be happier with our amazing outdoor space. Mike and his whole team did not disappoint. From the first point of contact with Michael and all the way through with each of the crew, all were excellent. Bonnie’s skill and workmanship must be commended. We are extremely happy with the transformation and new alfresco space, boardwalk along with the front garden beds and retaining walls. Throughly recommend engaging the Landscape Guys!

Bryony

I recently had my backyard transformed and couldn't be happier with the results. I started with a fairly 'arm-wavey' design, but the team successfully converted it into reality including limestone walls, paving, grass and a new reticulation system. Sam was excellent to deal with, he checked in every morning to discuss progress and provided clear options whenever issues arose. The entire project was completed quickly and on budget.

Samuel Bayford

Perth Landscape Guys carried out a large backyard renovation for us, including pavers, turf and pool landscaping. Every member of the team provided exceptional service, went above and beyond to make sure we were happy with the final product and were great to deal with. Mike, Jamie, Chris, Sam and James did an absolutely excellent job - would give more than 5 stars if I could!

Joseph Restifo

I am very impressed with the way the work was done on my garden, and the results. From the initial quote through demolition and removal of existing landscaping, construction of a small wall, extending brick paving, cladding a fence, installation of artificial turf and final clean up, the work was promptly and immaculately done. The price seemed reasonable, comparable with a couple of other quotes. I'm now enjoying going outside!

Christine W

We got Mike and the guys to do the landscaping around our new build house. The job had many different parts to it - paving, laying turf, tree planting, security gate installation etc. We're very happy with the result - job complete on time and to a high standard. We have no hesitation in recommending them for any landscape project.

Tadhg O'Reilly

Thanks to Mike and the Perth Landscape Guys awsome job and a special thanks to Chris and Joel for the paving and front limestone wall we are proud of our outdoor area Thank you

Shirley Hemley

We engaged the Perth Landscape Guys to enhance our pool surround (complete the paving, fencing, etc) following the installation of our pool, and are incredibly impressed with the results. From planning to completion, the team has gone above and beyond to bring our project to life, and ensured every detail met (and exceeded) our expectations. A huge thanks to the entire team! We highly recommend their services.

Lewis Taylor

Happy with our paving job. The guys were on time. helpful and when I had a minor issue on completion they didn't hesitate to come and rectify. Highly recommend them

Mario Samarelli

Jarrah vs Spotted Gum vs Merbau vs Blackbutt

Key takeaways

Quick Comparison of Timber Decking Materials

Jarrah

Spotted Gum

Blackbutt

Merbau

Which Timber Decking is Best for Perth?

Conclusion

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