By Tarren Bolton
Wooden decks have many unique benefits including longevity and beauty that makes wood one of the most popular deck building materials on the market.
Wood blends into natural surroundings much better than other artificial deck surfaces, which makes it a popular choice for outdoor decking. You just can’t beat the natural look of wood. If installed correctly and maintained well, it will add great value to your property.
Cheryl Vermeulen, COO of Maple Street Timbers, agrees. “Wood is a great way to add luxury and beauty to your pool area in an environmentally-friendly way as most species are harvested from responsible forests. It is best to enquire from your local supplier where they source their material,” she says, and adds that while there isn’t a standard specification for timber products (as each species grows differently), an average size specification would be approximately 90mm to 100mm wide, and 19mm to 20mm thick. Lengths are wholly dependent on log sizes and availability. “Movement is a factor with this natural product – so don’t try for the longest, biggest planks. Shorter is always straighter, easier to transport and easier to install,” adds Vermeulen.
Thermally modified wood from Europe is the latest craze. The modification extends the lifespan, making it more durable and in need of less maintenance. Credit: Maple Street Timbers
Scouting for the best: Local or international talent?
Vermeulen says there is a wide range of exotic species of timber available that can be used for exterior decking, with the three major factors influencing choice being budget, colour, and length availability.
“Available locally, are Pine and Saligna – which require more treatment for longevity. Rhodesian Teak is imported from Africa, and very hard, and extremely durable, but long lengths are scarce. Thermally modified wood from Europe is the latest craze. The modification extends the lifespan, making it more durable and in need of less maintenance. The species available are thermo-treated Pine, and thermo-treated Ash,” she says.
South Africa also imports wood with a natural insecticide – so no treatment is needed – from South America; these include Garapa, Massaranduba, Cumaru and Ipe. “Cumaru and Ipe are very high-end products, and not available from all suppliers. From Malaysia we import Red Balau, Yellow Balau – but a lot of movement occurs with this product, so screw fastening is advised,” adds Vermeulen. If left untreated, these species will weather a natural grey colour, but surface cracking could occur due to South Africa’s high UV index.
Since timber is a natural product, no guarantees can be given for how long the material will last, and environmental factors play a large role. Typically, the hardwood materials have a lifespan of between 15 to 20 years (excluding Pine and Saligna).
Preparing the stage – the decking substructure
Vermeulen says that the most common material used for the substructure is CCA Treated Pine. The abbreviation CCA indicates the treatment process – Chromated Copper Arsenate. This wood preservative is used to impregnate timber for outdoor use, in order to protect it from attack by microbes and insects. The treatment is available in different gradings:
- H3: Outside, above ground use
- H4: Outside, in-ground use
- H5: Outside, in-ground with freshwater contact
- H6: Marine environment
Handle with care
“For the first year, the deck will have to be re-oiled every three months. If there is excessive rain, then this period may shorten to bi-monthly, as the oil will wash way quicker, since initially, the timber will not be saturated enough. The reason for oiling the deck and not varnishing it, is that varnish peels in the hot South African climate. This means that maintenance would become very costly, as the deck would have to be sanded and sealed on a regular basis,” advises Vermeulen.
Some architects and clients request the silver-grey colour, which can be accomplished with time – but be careful of surface cracks due to dryness. Credit: Maple Street Timbers
The beauty routine
Once it is time to re-oil your deck, Vermeulen advises as follows:
- Clean the deck (mop or hose down with Timberlife Deckwash). You may also use liquid turpentine to clean the deck, but this has to be soaked onto a cloth and wiped over the deck.
- Let the deck dry 100%.
- If there are small scratches or dirt which has adhered to the oil, take fine sandpaper and lightly sand these areas.
- Sweep the deck clean of all dust.
- Apply the oil with a brush, making sure that you do not overlap, as this will tend to leave marks on the deck.
- Let it dry for at least 24 hours (best to wait 48 hours) before walking on it.
- Use SATINWOODBASE 28, or any other decking oil. Five litres will be sufficient to cover one coat of 40m². Always use the same product for coating, as different products will not mix well.
- Seal both sides before installation, and then brush another two coats on top.
- After the first year, you will need to do this every 6 to 8 months, depending on the wear and tear of your deck.
Falling to do so, will cause your timber to dry out, crack and turn grey. Some architects and clients request the silver-grey colour, which can be accomplished with time – but be careful of surface cracks due to dryness.
The modelling agent: Important considerations when hiring a timber decking contractor
References are very important. Go and have a look at the contractor’s previous decks, and rather pay more for someone with more experience, says Vermeulen. Cheaper is not always better – you need someone who knows what they are doing and can add value to your property. Unfortunately, there are a lot of fly-by-night contractors that give the business a bad reputation.
Beauty tips: ‘Dos and Don’ts’
- Do keep up with the maintenance. It is easier to treat the wood on time, than to replace.
- Do not use the non-slip groove to the top – as water lying in between the grooves reduces the life span of your deck.
- Do make sure your substructure is based between 400mm – 450mm apart.
- Do make sure the material is treated at the bottom as well as top.
