The Beauty of Timber Decking

Timber decks offer a fantastic opportunity to enhance the potential of your home. Not only does the natural beauty of timber decking create an attractive look but it also provides ample design flexibility.

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The Beauty of Timber Decking

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Timber Decking by Softwoods

In order to provide cost-effective solutions four our customers, we carefully analyse all relevant variables within the scope of engineering requirements to select the most appropriate timbers. Our priority is to use ethically sourced and sustainable decking materials that are certified.

For Softwoods decks, we typically use treated pine for the substructure. Our preferred choice is H3 kiln dried treated pine, which offers minimal movement, resistance to rot and insect attacks and is also budget friendly. We ensure durability by encasing posts in concrete or using hot-dipped galvanized steel post shoes/stirrups, along with galvanized bolts to prevent rusting. Bearers are bolted to posts and joists are secured to bearers using trip-l-grip or uni-tie brackets and galvanized nails. These techniques have been developed over time to ensure the longevity of every Softwoods deck.

Timber Range Timber Ratings

Types of Timber

Decking comes in many different species offering variable strength, size, colour, grain and density. With these variables come different prices and performance.

If you’re unsure of the best timber for the job, give us a ring and talk to the experts.

Pine

Clear treated pine provides the same excellent colour and performance as treated pine decking but without the presence of knots or the greenish hue of CCA treatment that can cause discoloration. It has a density rating of 550, a toughness rating of L and a durability class of 1, with colour variations ranging from pale straw to yellow. It is highly popular and affordable, being one of our best selling decking options. This decking material is known for its exceptional stain-taking ability, sturdiness and durability.

Kapur

Kapur, a hardwood decking board, is imported from Indonesia. It is a DAR board, with slightly rounded corners on all four sides. Kapur boasts a density rating of 750, a toughness rating of M and a durability class of 2, making it suitable for above ground use. It has a WPR colour profile, which typically appears as a light reddish-brown hue with a slight paleness. Kapur is an excellent value decking board that delivers optimal performance, showcasing a beautiful grain pattern and colour.

Ironbark

Ironbark, an Australian Eucalypt hardwood selectively sourced from NSW and QLD, produces highly durable decking boards. These boards are DAR products with a density rating of 1100, a toughness rating of H and a durability class of 1. Their colour profile varies with a WRB rating, with hues typically ranging from light grey, red to dark brown.

Spotted Gum

Spotted Gum is an Australian hardwood selectively harvested from NSW and QLD for its distinct spotted appearance. Spotted Gum decking is DAR finished, offering high durability with a density rating of 1100, a toughness rating of H and a durability class of 1 for above ground use. These boards have a brown colour profile, with variations ranging from light to dark and boast a unique wavy pattern in the timber grain.

Tallow Wood

Tallow Wood is another type of selectively harvested Australian Eucalypt hardwood from South East Queensland. It is also produced as a DAR board, with a density rating of 1000, a toughness rating of M and a durability class of 1. Tallow Wood usually has a light coloured yellow-brown appearance.

Blackbutt

Blackbutt is another selectively harvested Australian Eucalypt hardwood sourced from NSW and QLD. It is produced as a DAR decking board, boasting a density rating of 900, a toughness rating of M and a durability class of 1 for above ground use. This hardwood has a blonde or pale colour profile.

Jarrah

Jarrah is another type of selectively harvested Australian Eucalypt hardwood, sourced from WA, Victoria and the Northern Territory. It is produced as a DAR decking board with a density rating of 800, a toughness rating of L and a durability class of 2. Jarrah decking has a vibrant red/brown colour profile, making it an aesthetically appealing option for a deck.

Merbau

Merbau is an imported hardwood decking option, hailing from Indonesia. This type of decking is available in 90mm and 140mm wide boards and is produced as a DAR board, sometimes featuring a reeded surface on one face. With a density rating of 850, a toughness rating of M and a durability class of 1 for above ground use, Merbau performs exceptionally well. It has a distinct deep red-brown colour profile, although it may exhibit some tannin bleed when first unpacked.

River Red

River Reds are an Australian hardwood Eucalypt variety, selectively harvested from WA, NSW and QLD. They are manufactured as DAR decking boards, with a density rating of 900, a toughness rating of L and a durability class of 2. River Reds come in a diverse range of shades from deep to light red and brown, making them an excellent choice for adding contrast and variation to any deck.

What's in a deck?

The typical timber deck comprises of strategically positioned posts for support. To ensure the posts are appropriately treated and fastened, we prefer to use in ground posts over those placed in shoes or stirrups. Bearers are then attached to the top of the posts and run parallel along the deck, providing stability and support. They are usually the largest timber used in the deck. Joists are then placed across the bearers, resting on top of them.

Decking boards are fixed on top of the joists, running in the same direction as the bearers. Calculating the appropriate sizes for the bearers and joists is a complex process that involves intricate engineering and multiple variables. While this basic structure can form the foundation of a deck, it can be modified in various ways to create intricate designs with multiple levels, unconventional shapes or suspended from the side of a building.

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