Buying outdoor products from China
Decking, outdoor tiles, balustrades, pergolas, screens and outdoor furniture. The rules are about slips, falls, fire and wind.
What to spec
- Decking: composite (WPC) or timber, profile, colour and fixing system.
- Outdoor tiles: thickness, finish and slip rating.
- Balustrades and railings: material, finish, height and fixing, with engineering.
- Pergolas and louvre roofs: span, wind rating and drainage.
- Outdoor furniture: frame, fabric and cushion foam, with a sample.
What it costs landed
On the house we fitted out, 12 m of hot-dip galvanised, powder-coated steel railing and one gate were $2,390 at the factory gate.
Elje estimate, October 2026. Not yet from a delivered job; replaced with real landed numbers as jobs land.
| Item | Factory gate | Landed estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Galvanised steel railing, 12 m plus a gate | $2,390 (real quote) | $3,100 to $3,600 |
| Outdoor porcelain pavers, 20 mm, per m2 | Priced on your selection |
What to check
- Balustrades: where a fall is more than 1 m, the NCC sets a minimum height (1,000 mm on most decks and balconies) and openings no wider than 125 mm. An Australian engineer should check the fixing and loads.
- Face-mounted balustrades: NCC 2022 limits the gap to the deck edge to 40 mm.
- Pool fences: AS 1926.1, and safety glass to AS 1288 for glass panels.
- Outdoor floors: P4 or P5 slip rating under AS 4586.
- Bushfire-prone blocks: decking and attached structures must suit the BAL under AS 3959.
- Timber and rattan furniture: illegal logging due diligence and biosecurity inspection.
Mistakes we have seen
- A balustrade bought by the metre with no engineering for the fixing.
- Indoor-rated tiles laid outside.
- Composite decking with no fire rating on a BAL block.
Questions
Can I import glass pool fencing?
Only with evidence it meets AS 1926.1 and AS 1288, and your certifier's or pool inspector's agreement. It is a safety barrier, so be strict.
Sources
- Elje job file: a five-bedroom Brisbane house and granny flat we fitted out, factory quotes and proforma invoices, March to May 2026 (held by Elje)
- NCC Board, NCC 2022 changes to face-mounted balustrades
- QBCC fact sheet: Imported glazing, windows and non-conforming building products (effective September 2026)
- Standards Australia, AS 4586 Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface materials
- Standards Australia, AS 3959 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, regulated timber products (illegal logging rules)