@Lynne: thank you for your thoughts and comments. This house was built with some feng shui in mind, thus these roof lines - and roof orientation. We are aware that those columns are in the way. At a first glance, the one in front of that two panel door is not load bearing, this could be removed (seriously-who on earth places a pillar in front of a sliding door?!?!?!). The other one on must remain while both on the balcony are required; although we're planning on redesigning the balcony, thus can remove/ change the location on those columns/pillars can be reinforced and then moved. We're using a 3D software (sketch up or Revit) to play with potential designs to get a feel for the look (as we don't want to waste the time of a drafts person) before commissioning someone. Although I believe we will require a designer/ assistance of where items such as the BBQ could be build (kitchen faces the SE side of the house) to ensure a good flow inside out of the house... Thanks again! Much appreciated ;-)

Hi Fiona. Those boards were replaced after initial build (after installing new wider slider), so that’s why they were lighter. It was weathered and needing a clean and recoil there. I took cutek’s (expensive)advice and started with quik clean (loosens dirt which was evidently incorporated into my layers of oil), then followed with pro clean (timber brightener). I scrubbed my butt off and was still not happy with the result. It just didn’t evenly clean it up, and I used fairly concentrated doses, and got down on my knees to scrub, not just a brush on a long stick. I oiled with cutek extreme (instead of cd50). Some more pics, after scrubbing then after oiling (still dark). I did redo my handrail in johnstones deck oil, and it appears to be lasting well, no peeling... but I’m still a bit cautious about risking my deck with this finish (water based over oil). I think I’d prefer dirty weather deck than a peeling finish. Next house I’m only having timber deck if it’s entirely undercover!! Do you have a similar dilemma?

I've long been concerned about the formaldehyde in laminates, which also continues to outgas after installation, but until recently questions about it were met with a blank stare. A few years ago I was pleased to see a sign in the kitchen section of Masters making a claim regarding that (I think it was the first time I saw the E0 rating?) but when I asked for information about it no-one knew what it meant and eventually they suggested I talk to their 'supplier' which turned out to be the hardware supplier who knew nothing about the laminates. Very disappointing when retailers of better safer products fail to take the opportunity to educate customers and promote those products. Good on you Anne Marie for wanting to ask intelligent questions. (I could start a whole new thread....)

Composite decking is starting to get a bad wrap for the big reason it gets really hot under foot in the warmer states during the summer to the point it’s hard to stand on bare footed. I first noticed the trend against it while living in the US (California) where there was for a while a big push to composite products but even in states that get snowed in during the winter are now opting for timber as once the snow melts and the sun comes out it gets really hot in the summer. My worst experience was at a resort in Palm Springs, CA where they used composite decking for low maintenance reasons to only have guests burning themselves in the extreme desert heat. Now back in Sydney, I am hearing that builders/contractors advising against using it for the same reasons as above