Why we love outdoor decking

Decking—a great way

TO RELAX AND ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

An outdoor deck is a modern must-have. If you like to entertain and hang out on the weekends, a sumptuous decking area provides an instant connection between the outdoors and indoors, while adding capital value to your home.

Hardwoods

Hardwoods such as blackbutt, jarrah, merbau and spotted gum are durable, resilient and traditional looking. Blackbutt is light brown in colour, jarrah a deep brown, merbau redbrown, while spotted gum can vary from light browns through to redbrown. Today, you can change the colour of your deck by staining or oiling it which will also protect it from sun damage.

Composite decking

Composite decking is environmentally friendly and normally made from a mix of wood fibres, fibre cement and recycled plastic. It comes in a range of contemporary colours and has anti-slip properties that makes it perfect for pool areas, or high rainfall climates.

Treated pine

A cost-effective option, treated pine is lightweight, easy to install and usually treated to withstand termites and fungus. People will generally leave it to turn grey from weathering or stain it to suit a specific look.

Get to work

A deck consists of a frame of posts as well as bearers and joists that support the boards. Treated pine, hardwood or steel can be used for the frame. Plan your deck design carefully, including what the space is going to be used for. Building incorrectly or erecting something too small or too large for the space required can compromise your lifestyle. You should also check with your local council about what restrictions there are regarding the size and height of your decked area. Consider the following before starting construction: • Do you have privacy concerns from the neighbours, which means you might need to invest in privacy screens or certain types of vegetation that act as a natural barrier to prying eyes. • Where is your furniture going to go and is there a barbecue being installed as well as the position of lighting. • Do you want free-standing furniture, built-in seating or a combination of both. • If you’re contemplating an outdoor kitchen where will the plumbing and gas lines go. • You generally have two options when it comes to the look and feel of your deck, including oil-based or water-based. Oil-based provides greater durability and a more classic look, while water-based coverings are simple to clean and dry quickly. Oiled decks will need recoating every couple of years. • It’s important to take note of where the sun hits the deck throughout the day to determine cool and hot sections.

How much will my deck cost?

With all decks, you will need to consider the cost of decking materials and the cost of labour if you are having it constructed professionally.