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Living room with glass doors opening onto a timber deck
Gold Coast, QLD

Carrara carpenter for kitchens, bathrooms and decks

Renovations and decks on flat land by the Nerang River.

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  • QBCC licensed
  • 5.0 stars on Google
  • Free quotes

Homes in Carrara at the 2021 Census

  • 52.1%separate houses
  • 33.7%townhouses and semis
  • 8.9%flats and units
  • 38.6%with a mortgage

Carrara sits on flat, low ground on the south bank of the Nerang River, inland from Surfers Paradise. Its name comes from an Aboriginal word, Karara, that means "long flat". Today it is home to Carrara Stadium, three golf courses and the weekend Carrara Markets.

Most homes here are houses or townhouses with three or more bedrooms. They suit a new kitchen, a fresh bathroom or a timber deck out the back. On land this flat and this close to the river, the flood level is the first thing to check.

Close by: Nerang, Benowa, Ashmore.

What Brett does in Carrara

What are homes like in Carrara?

The 2021 Census counted 13,138 people in Carrara. Of the homes people lived in, 52.1% were separate houses and 33.7% were townhouses, semis or row homes. Only 8.9% were flats or apartments. Most homes are family sized, with 47.4% having three bedrooms and 27.9% having four or more.

It is a suburb of owners. 38.6% of homes were owned with a mortgage and 31.6% were owned outright, while 27.5% were rented. Parts of the suburb are quite new. The old Surfers Paradise International Raceway closed in 1987 and was pulled down in 2003 to make way for the Emerald Lakes canal estate.

Timber bench seat on a garden edge

Does Carrara flood, and what does it mean for a reno?

Carrara is built on the Guragunbah Plain, a name made official in 2000. Before that, people called it the Merrimac-Carrara Flood Plain. The City of Gold Coast calls Guragunbah Australia's largest urban floodplain, and Carrara's recorded height above sea level is just 1 m.

So check the flood level before you lower a floor, build out or move a laundry. Council uses a flood planning level that is usually 30 to 50 cm above the defined flood level, so floors sit high enough. On low, flat ground, a deck also needs well planned deck footings and timber and fixings that can handle getting wet.

Timber deck with a square built-in cut-out

Do I need council approval for a deck in Carrara?

Not for a small one. Under Queensland's Building Regulation 2021, a deck can skip building approval if it is no more than 10 m² in plan area, has no side longer than 5 m, has no roof and sits no more than 1 m above natural ground. A bigger, higher or roofed deck needs a building approval.

Canal homes at Emerald Lakes have one more rule. On a canal or waterway lot, council sets a waterfront setback area. A deck or pool in that area that is more than 1 m above natural ground needs a council check called a referral agency assessment. Before you start, look up your block on the City of Gold Coast flood maps.

What clients say

5.0 on Google

★★★★★

A full reno, two bathrooms and all

He was fantastic to work with and the quality of work was top notch. … Brett is a very good communicator and a great builder.
Toby Black, Ashmore
★★★★★

Deck restored, new steps from scratch

Brett did a bang-up job repairing and restoring our wooden deck … we can't fault his work ethic, craftsmanship, communication or punctuality.
Shaun Rudland
★★★★★

15 years of jobs, still calling Brett

Brett has done several renovation jobs for us over the last 15 years … quality work, great follow-through, and just a great guy to have come into our home
Katrina T-w

What clients say

5.0 on Google

★★★★★
Brett from Field Carpentry completed a renovation for us at our home in Ashmore on the Gold Coast. The project included two bathrooms, some large doors and windows, some brick work repairs, flooring modifications and some other bits. He was fantastic to work with and the quality of work was top notch. He was always very polite and considerate of us while living in the house through the Renos, always working with us to schedule things when it would suit our family movements. Brett is a very good communicator and a great builder. We will definitely use Field Carpentry again and would recommend them to other Gold Coasters.
Toby Black, Ashmore
★★★★★
Brett did a bang-up job repairing and restoring our wooden deck including building a set of fully-enclosed 2 metre wide steps from scratch. He listened to what we wanted to achieve and gave us a range of options to suit different budgets. A pleasure to deal with from go to whoa, we can't fault his work ethic, craftsmanship, communication or punctuality. Would we use him again? We're already writing our "2024 List for Brett"
Shaun Rudland
★★★★★
Brett has done several renovation jobs for us over the last 15 years - timber and stainless steel back deck and railings, timber stairwell railings, refit and installation of cupboard units in laundry and bedrooms, and timber self-close fence side gate. A skilful tradie whose work I highly recommend - quality work, great follow-through, and just a great guy to have come into our home to do the necessary work.
Katrina T-w
★★★★★
Brett has carried out a range of medium to large jobs for us, including a new deck, a daybed, and he was a key part of the team that extended our house (a large reno project). His ability to bring a bespoke idea to life is incredible, as is his attention to detail. Just a great guy to work with, would recommend him to anyone.
Brendan Ritchie
★★★★★
I have hired Brett's expert carpentry services on a couple of occasions and both jobs were carried out in a professional manner. Brett is a perfectionist and takes pride in his workmanship and what he delivers. He carried out a semi kitchen reno job most recently which by no means was straightforward however he tackled it head on and a great result was achieved.
Jodie McDonald
★★★★★
Brett does wonderful work. Would thoroughly recommend him !!!
Tracy London
★★★★★
Brett did a great job on our new deck. Professional, clear communication, attention to detail, and top-tier craftsmanship. Highly recommend Brett to any one seeking a high-quality deck or renovation for a good price.
Taylor Moss
★★★★★
Brett and the team exceeded our expectations with their impeccable work on our kitchen remodel. We're thrilled with the result and grateful for the outstanding craftsmanship that has truly transformed our home.
Channa Cohn

Questions from Carrara

Can't see your question? Ask Brett.

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Do I need body corporate approval for a Carrara townhouse reno?

Often, yes. A third of Carrara homes are townhouses or semis. If yours is in a body corporate, check your by-laws first. Work that touches shared areas or building systems like pipes may need written approval. The committee can approve a change to common property that costs under $3,000 and does not spoil the look of a lot. See our bathroom renovations page.

How do I check the flood risk for my Carrara home?

Use the City of Gold Coast flood maps. The flood depth map is based on a 1% annual chance flood and shows the defined flood level for each property. The flood insurance map shows five flood scenarios, from frequent to extremely rare. The newest map rates flood risk from low to very high. Check before you lay new floors or build a deck.

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