Elevate Your Outdoor Space: The Ultimate Guide to Timber Decking

By : Atteeq ur Rahman

If you want to boost your patio, and general outdoor space think about timber wood. Nowadays, numerous different wood decks are pre-fabricated and have boards or planks of wood fastened to a frame or a substructure for deck design. 

Timber and other wood materials can provide you a deck that is trendy and classy to for your garden, balcony or patio, where you can breathe the fresh air, sunbathe, and enjoy the views and the feeling outdoor living. 

Timber decking can offer you many benefits: 

Aesthetic Appeal

Wooden flooring will make your outdoor space even more attractive and cozy due to its 100% natural and organic nature. Besides that, it has no limits when it comes to putting together any style and theme. 

Plus, there are also various wood decking options when it comes to grain, and finish. 

Comfort and Convenience

With deck design itcan be an alternative surface to concrete or any other material for achieving a desired outdoor appearance. 

It is level, doesn’t give a feeling of being on a slope, is non-slip and has no splinters. And to add more, timber decking is easy to install, easy to maintain, and very convenient to repair. 

Durability and Strength

Timber decking is exposed to rain, snow and wear-and-tear it is made to withstand these with premium and resistant wood species such as:

  • Cedar
  • Pine
  • Oak
  • Or Merbau. 

Similarly, decking timber can be covered by applying coatings and sealants, etc. Thi helps to retain its life expectancy by avoiding the harms of:

  • Moisture
  • Insects
  • Fungi 
  • And UV Rays.

Sustainability and Eco-friendliness

The timber deck showcass the sustainability of your outdoor space thanks to its 100% natural material, which is wood, derived from renewable and biodegradable resources.

Wooden planking, like timber decking, is a material with a low carbon footprint in terms of the energy consumed used in transportation an other factors compared to other decking system such as concrete, metal or plastic.

However, timber decking has both benefits and disadvantages, specifically:

Cost and Availability 

Wood decking is installed at a premium price compared to other decking materials. 

But then again, it does not have an all-year-round supply since it depends on the available wood, which is limited depending on the harvesting.

Another feature, for example, is that timber decking can have a wide price range and quality depending on the kind, grade, and place of origin of the wood.

Maintenance and Care

Otherwise, the concern is that timber decking involves more maintenance and care than other building materials because it will probably change or warp when subjected to extreme weather and environmental conditions. 

Apart from the deck construction and installation process, there are other responsibilities associated with decking, like:

  • Cleaning
  • Staining
  • And Sealing…

All of which is required to be carried out time and again to keep the deck in good condition.

Safety and Health

Spoiling not only the decking during installation but also its maintenance can lead to health and safety risks like fire, injury or illness. 

In addition, wooden decks have porous surfaces that can host pest species such as

  • Termites
  • Ants
  • Or Rodents…

All of which are feeding off  and squatting in the wood.

Proper Treated Wood or Synthetic Decking for your Surrounding Outdoor Surface is Choice

The wrong type of timber decking, size and dimension could produce a cold and dark atmosphere even though the purpose of timber decking is to create a beautiful private area. Here are some factors that you should consider when choosing timber decking: 

Style and Theme

It is necessary to decide on your house’s style and the theme of your outdoor space and how to join it with wood decking that has been timbered properly. 

Deck construction is everything. For example, if you plan to do a modern, minimalist or contemporary setting for your outdoor space then think of choosing a simple decking timber. 

If you are in a rural or traditional background,  it is most likely a soft, organic, straw-coloured timber deck would suffice.

Purpose and Function

It is recommended that you take into account what purpose and function your outside space provides and how you will use your timber deck boards. Another illustration is that you may want to install your decking to provide space for dining, entertaining, or just to relax. 

Therefore, your patio furniture space can be generalised and spacious. Moreover, the timber decking area can be huge and comfortable.. 

Spending time in the fresh air on the balcony can be used as a platform for gardening, playing and working, all of which are attractive and beneficial to your health. 

You may probably choose such a decking system which is long-lasting and durable in nature. In addition, you can try decking timber, which is functional in this arena.

Budget and Preference

Budget and preferences also influence your decision on this matter, and you need to be aware of that. For instance, let’s suppose that you are a person with a high budget you can always choose a premium, exotic, and luxurious timber decking. 

On the contrary, a low budget and a minimalist preference will lead you to opt for wooden decks, which, unlike the others, are cheap and are the most popular.

Location and Climate

Take into consideration the elements of the location and weather conditions of your outdoor space and determine their effect on your timber decking. With that in mind, if your household wastewater and its treatment primarily depend on the elements such as:

  • Light
  • Rain
  • Air
  • Or Snow… 

Then, you can go for treated wood decks resistant to:

  • Sewer Microorganisms
  • Colour Fading
  • And Warping…

If your outdoor area is prone to:

  • Mould
  • Mildew
  • Rotting
  • Gets Wet
  • Moist
  • Or is shaded…

Then get advice on timber decking specifically resistant to these conditions.

Decked Timber

Instruction for Implementation and Maintenance of Your Timber Decking Boards.

After choosing the timber decking, it will have to be installed and maintained  to ensure neither its quality nor performance is affected. 

Below are some ways to install and maintain your wooden decking:

Installation

Either way, you can opt for timber decking on your own or contract a carpenter or a general contractor to do it for you. In addition to this, there will be some tools and materials like:

  • A Saw
  • Drill
  • Hammer
  • Level
  • Tape Measure
  • Pencils 
  • Nails
  • Screws
  • Brackets
  • Joists
  • Bearers
  • Posts and Boards…

All o these and more you’ll ned to have on hand or hanging around the garage or the loft, if you are going to take on the deking challenge; if you don’t fancy it, the get the professionals in!

The rest of the things you will require and processes will include:

  • Measurement and Marking of your Space
  • Excavation and Installation of the Foundations
  • Construction and Mounting of the Frame
  • Laying of the boards and Securing
  • And Finishing and Trimming of the Edges.

That’s a lot to consider for a DIY experiment! 

Maintenance

A saw-dusted deck is best cleaned by yourself, or the best option is to hire a specialist who does only cleaning or restoring to have it done. 

The necessities are:

  • A Broom
  • A Watering Hose
  • A Bucket
  • A Brush
  • A Sponge
  • A Cloth
  • A Scraper
  • Sandpaper
  • Stain
  • A Sealant
  • And a Protector. 

Again that’s why they get paid to do a job! 

You would need to follow these procedures to the letter, such as:

  • Cleaning and Rinsing your Surface
  • Restoring the Stains and the Repairs
  • Sanding and Smoothing your Surface
  • Applying the Stain and a Sealant 
  • And Protecting and Preserving your Surface over a long time.

SUMMARY

Timber decking is an institution in Australia. As we all know, all of us Aussies love outdoor living and our decking. Yeah, sure, there’s a few downsides, like maintenance and so on, but we love the look and feel of it. If you get the right deck design and and deck construction, you are onto a winner! It not only adds that for you and the family but also intrinsic value to any property.  Although this guide has been predominantly about what you require to do it as DIY – remember the old saying, “Don’t try this at home” So, if you don’t know what you’re doing, just admit it to yourself and get online and look for specialists wherever you are.

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