Decking in the far North

What’s the best decking material?

Every material has it’s positive and negative characteristics.

Just choose the one that suit you best.

Pine or radiata.

• + Treated for durability.
• + Cost effective.
• + Widely available.
• + Easy to handle.
• + Good lifespan. 15-20 years.
• + Easy to maintain.
• + Smooth to walk or sit on.
• - Treated with nasty chemicals, but now arsenic Free.
• - Shorter lifespan than hardwood.
• - Needs yearly maintenance.

Kwila or Meranti / other hardwoods.

• + Untreated.
• + Very long lifespan. 25-30 years
• + Easy to maintain.
• + Smooth to walk or sit on.
• + Will age to grey if left to weather.
• + Sizes 90x19mm and 140x19mm
• - Less available.
• - Comes from tropical rain forests.
• - Double the price of pine.
• - Bleeds tannins when new that will stain walls.
• - Needs more expensive stainless screw fixings.
• - Joist spacing 450mm recommended. So more joists.

Composite Decking

• + Mixture of wood, fibers & plastics.
• + Very little maintenance. No staining, oiling, painting, or other maintenance.
• + Just keep it clean twice a year.
• + Good quality composite won’t crack, splinter or split.
• + Longest lifespan. will outlive timber decks.
• + High end luxury appearance.
• + Made from recycled plastic milk bottles and wood waste.
• - Lacks the natural look and feel of real timber.
• - Very expensive.
• - Get’s hot in direct sunlight. Dark colours can get too hot to walk on
• - Cheaper quality can crack or get stains.

Can we just replace the decking planks and reuse the substructure?

When the decking planks are in such a shape they need to be replaced you probably have to replace the substructure also. Any repairs will be just temporary.