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Collection by Eada Hudes

Types of best timber to better deck building

Summer is here and so are summer holidays! Are you looking forward to escaping the scorching heat and heading off to relax by the deck in your beach house? Or maybe host summer parties by your deck? A deck is essential in a house, especially if your home is sea facing because what better could it be to watch the sunrise/sunset from your deck! Decorate it with some patio furniture and some plants and lights, and your deck could become the most stunning feature of your house.
When building a deck when, it is essential to choose the timber for building the deck very carefully to ensure that it lasts longer, and most importantly, is of durable quality. Not all types of wood are suitable for building decks. Below is a carefully curated list of woods that is the best for deck building

1. Treated pine

Treated pine is one of the most popular woods for decking because of its low in cost
Pine paints well so you can colour your deck as you like. Treated pine is not all alike, though. The “H” (or Hazard) rating in the timber will tell you if it is suitable for outdoor use and also if the posts can come in contact with the ground.

2. Jarrah

Jarrah is a beautiful timber that is ideal for deck building. It is a little more expensive than most decking timbers. It is available in attractive colours that range of light to dark shades of brown and red, making it a popular choice.
If left unsealed, Jarrah timber turns into a beautiful shade of grey colour over time. Jarrah has a durability rating of 2, which makes it a smart choice for decking. It is also fire-resistant and may be suitable for use in fire-prone areas.

3. Blackbutt

Blackbutt is another highly fire resistant timber. It is an Australian native timber that is known for retaining walls in Auckland and has a lovely pale brown colour. Unlike some other native species, the colour of Blackbutt is relatively consistent in nature.
It can also be stained if desired. A flaw in it is that it cracks if left unsealed. Hence it is advised to get it sealed periodically.

4. Spotted Gum

Spotted gum is highly durable (rated 2 in durability) timber for deck building. It is fire resistant, making it a perfect choice for areas prone to bushfires. It is available in multiple shades of brown.
It is a dense timber and shrinks lesser as compared to most wood varieties. It has a low tannin content meaning it doesn’t ‘bleed’ like some timbers.

5. Merbau

Merbau is one of the most popular decking timbers and is used to build house frames. It is known to be less expensive than most of the other decking timbers.
Merbau is known for having a high durability rating of 2. It does not rot and is insect resistant. Merbau comes from the rainforests of Southeast Asia. If you are environmentally concerned, as we all should be, sustainable harvested Merbau is the one to go for. It might cost a little more than expected but it is environment-friendly.

6. Stringybark

This timber is popular due to its durability feature. Stringybark gets its name due to its wormholes and gum veins in its body. It comes in three colours: red, white and yellow. Each has a durability rating of 1, 3 and 2 respectively. It is a general thumb rule not to use white stringybark for outdoor use owing to its durability rating. The yellow stringybark is a more common choice for deck building because of budget-friendly and durability factors.

7. Ironbark

A deck being everyone’s favourite place to hang out in the house, you would definitely want that place to last for a long time and not have to renovate every couple of years. If you are looking for durability, any deck builder would tell you that ironbark is the best fit for this purpose.

Ironbark is very heavy and high in density and therefore does justice to its name. It gets a durability rating of 1. It is a beautiful kind of timber, available in a multitude of colours, ranging from pale brown to deep red. Aside from being durable timber, ironbark is also highly fire, termite and rot resistant. This timber is ideal for building pool decks.

Written on behalf of deckmasters.kiwi

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The cantilevered upper volume shades a deck on the ground floor.
The cantilevered upper volume shades a deck on the ground floor.
Terrace
Terrace
The two buildings on either end of the house form an intimate, private courtyard between them — a common feature of farmhouses in the region. Within, a Mediterranean-style gravel garden designed by architect Joachim Kräftner offers an ideal spot for play and relaxation. Klauser calls it “a walk-in sculpture.”
The two buildings on either end of the house form an intimate, private courtyard between them — a common feature of farmhouses in the region. Within, a Mediterranean-style gravel garden designed by architect Joachim Kräftner offers an ideal spot for play and relaxation. Klauser calls it “a walk-in sculpture.”
Miha hangs out with Kea, the dog, on the wooden deck that extends the living space outdoors.
Miha hangs out with Kea, the dog, on the wooden deck that extends the living space outdoors.
A spacious deck was created as part of the addition. A cantilevered concrete bench stretches out to the rear garden and complements the adjacent concrete wall.
A spacious deck was created as part of the addition. A cantilevered concrete bench stretches out to the rear garden and complements the adjacent concrete wall.
Large canopies shade the retreat’s southern elevations, rendering the interior and ipe wood patio comfortable in the Texas heat.
Large canopies shade the retreat’s southern elevations, rendering the interior and ipe wood patio comfortable in the Texas heat.