Consider the appearance and maintenance requirements of a decking material once it has outlived its initial state. Use the finest grade of material you can buy, whatever it is. When choosing wood decking, look for tight, straight grain with few, if any, knots and a low moisture level.
Because most wood decking materials are simply classed for appearance, the grading process is uncontrolled and the grade designations can be misleading. Before making a purchase, it is advisable to see a sample.
Go with the Right Lumber
Pressure-treated yellow pine is the most frequently used decking material because it is both affordable and widely accessible. It has been chemically treated to make it resistant to dampness, fungus, and insect infestation. It’s easier to work with than other materials, and it can be cut, drilled, sanded, and glued together using basic hand or power tools.
However, it has a short lifespan of roughly 15 years and must be resealed on a regular basis to maintain it safe from the weather. Due to the harsh chemicals used to provide moisture resistance, it also requires specific treatment during cutting, drilling, and installation, and it shrinks, warps, and twists as does any natural wood product.
Cedar and redwood are two popular alternatives to pressure-treated deck timber because they are inherently resistant to dampness, fungal rot, and insects. Both are easy to work with and may last up to 20 years with frequent resealing when exposed to the outdoors.
Hardwood decking in Brisbane is a great alternative to pressure-treated deck timber, and it comes in a wide range of attractive species, including Brazilian hardwoods. Hardwoods such as cedar and redwood are inherently resistant to dampness, fungus, and pests. With appropriate care, they may live for 25 years or longer when exposed to the weather.
Opt for Quality
Using natural wood decking materials requires careful selection of lumber to minimise deterioration, twisting, warping, cupping, or splitting. Choosing the right chemical concentration for your deck’s use is critical for pressure-treated wood decks.
Inspect each board or post for crowning, warping, splitting, scalping, or twisting faults. Avoid pressure-treated posts with extensive sections of heartwood since it is denser and cannot absorb the chemical treatment as easily. Choose cedar or redwood boards with more heartwood for improved resistance to decay and moisture. Extremely broad deck boards are more susceptible to pulling away from the joists.
Finally, use dry deck timber to minimise bending, cracking, and warping. Wet wood shrinks when dried, resulting in broken boards or gaps between neighbouring boards. Pressure-treated timber has more moisture than kiln-dried lumber due to the treatment process, so prepare for shrinkage.
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