Roof styles
- ✓Skillion roofs: a simple single slope
- ✓Gable roofs: a peaked roof for height and light
- ✓Flyover roofs: raised above the house roof line
- ✓Insulated sandwich panels for a cooler space
- ✓Colorbond sheet roofing
Approvals for roofed structures
Roofs add conditions. For a roofed deck or pergola to be exempt in NSW, it can’t sit above the house’s gutter line, and the overhang and the connection to the house have set limits. Flyover roofs that rise above the gutter usually need a CDC or DA. Check with your certifier or Shoalhaven City Council.
Electrical work
Fans, lights and power points must be installed by a licensed electrician, whatever the cost. Plan the wiring before the ceiling goes on.
Approvals, bushfire and structure
Before you build, check whether the deck needs approval, whether your block is bushfire prone, and whether it needs a balustrade. See deck approvals and structural specs for a plain-English summary, then confirm with your certifier or Shoalhaven City Council.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a covered pergola cost?+
It depends on the size, roof style and materials. Your builder will give you a firm price after measuring up on site.
Do I need approval for a pergola roof?+
Often, especially for flyover roofs or larger structures. Small pergolas that meet every exempt condition may not. Check with your certifier or Council.
How Nowra Deck Co works
Nowra Deck Co is a local lead-matching service connecting Nowra and Shoalhaven property owners with independent, licensed carpenters and deck builders. We don’t do the work ourselves. The builder you’re matched with quotes, builds and is responsible for the job. In NSW, a contractor licence is needed for residential building work, including decks and pergolas, valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials. Check the builder’s licence on the NSW Government licence check before you sign, and for work over $20,000 ask for the Home Building Compensation certificate before work starts.