Decking Wood Choices

There is an increasingly large variety of timber on the market to choose from. Your choice should be based on budget and aesthetic appeal and the decision made as if you were choosing new flooring for your living room.

Hardwood Timber

Hardwood timber is the luxury choice for decking. If treated well it will last a lifetime. The more familiar woods such as mahogany and teak have now been joined by a host of tropicals with such exotic names as ekki, bilinga, ipe and karri. The advantage of these tropical woods is that they are dense and relatively heavy, therefore making them naturally fire resistant, free from knots and extremely durable. Hardwoods accept sealers and stains well although their rich deep colours make staining seem unnecessary. Left to weather naturally they develop a beautiful soft silvery sheen. Always check that your lumber comes from well managed renewable forests. Most dealers should be able to produce certification from the Forestry Stewardship Council.

Softwood Timber

Softwood timber does not mean that it is any less hard wearing than hardwood. It means that it is farmed from evergreen trees compared to hardwood deciduous trees. It is usually the cheaper choice but top of the range softwoods such as western red cedar share the same warm tones as hardwood and look just as luxurious. A well treated softwood deck will last up to twenty five years. The decking boom has resulted in a large selection of quality durable softwoods being available off the shelf in just about any DIY store, ( Homebase garden furniture or B&Q DIY Furniture Online are some good starting points ) either in traditional planks or in pre formed squares for the really lazy and slightly more expensive option. Other softwood products include redwood, cypress, fir and pine, and they are all characterized by a paler yellow colour and a more raw appearance.