Decking Adelaide: The Different Types of Decking

Decks are an immensely popular outdoor feature, providing a relaxing retreat or intimate spot for family and friends to gather. However, decking needs special care in order to remain both looking its best and operating correctly.

Most SuperbPergolasnDecks decking Adelaide consist of natural woods, composites, or pressure-treated lumber; each offering their own advantages and disadvantages.

Pressure-treated lumber

Homeowners frequently select treated lumber for their deck projects as it is easy to work with and more durable against weather elements than other forms of wood. However, it’s essential that homeowners understand when and where it should be used.

Building codes require any wood in direct contact with the ground be pressure-treated. This includes posts, joists and beams used for supporting outdoor structures like decks. Chemical preservatives in pressure-treated wood protect it from insects that would otherwise chew through regular wood products.

CCA, or chromated copper arsenate, is the go-to preservative for this type of lumber. Composed of copper (CuO) and arsenic (AsO(OH)3) compounds that bind tightly with both cellulose and lignin within wood fibres, other chemicals may also be being developed and utilised but have yet to make their way onto commercial markets.

Natural woods

Natural woods make an eye-catching choice for decking. Offering an assortment of colours and textures, natural woods provide a luxurious alternative to more conventional preservative-treated (PT) decking materials like cedar – an attractive soft yet durable species which adjusts itself to air moisture content, resisting rot and insect infestation more successfully than teak or ipe species.

Ipe wood from Central and South America is well known for its durability and beauty, making it a top choice for deck construction due to its class A fire rating as well as natural resistance against termites, fungi, and rot.

Garapa’s design shows how mixing widths of boards on a deck can create an eye-catching architectural aesthetic, by distinguishing lighter fields of ipe from darker grains. As always when selecting wood for SuperbPergolasnDecks decking Adelaide purposes, be sure it was sustainably harvested without the use of toxic chemicals or poisonous stains.

Composites

Composite and plastic decking may seem similar, but they differ significantly. Composite is a building material made by combining wood with other materials to form a strong yet long-lasting product; typically finished to look like natural wood.

Manufacturers introduced composite decking products about 30 years ago as an alternative to wood decking, enticing homeowners by giving them the ability to enjoy outdoor living spaces without the hassle of annual staining, sealing, or sanding tasks.

Composites are manufactured from a blend of wood, plastics and additives that vary depending on brand and product line; wood fibres are often among these ingredients. Some manufacturers utilise recycled materials while others combine plastics with wood or bamboo fibres to form deck boards with outer shells made of synthetic or recycled plastic to protect its core while prolonging product lifespan and adding design flexibility with custom wood grain patterns on either side of each board.

Installation

Decking is the surface where people walk and sit, and can be composed of wood, composite material, capped composite or HDPE. Composite decking requires lower maintenance but may rot over time and could pose a fire hazard; wood requires regular cleaning to remain safe for walking on and sitting on.

Most hardwoods used for decking come from tropical forests where illegal logging is prevalent and may damage the environment. While some companies only source certified wood products, others offer eco-friendly ones.

Ledgers connect posts to the house and support joists that hold down deck subflooring, usually made of pressure-treated wood but may also include other materials like concrete. Piers may provide an alternative method of supporting posts in areas prone to frost heave.

No matter the material, it is vital to adhere to installation instructions of your SuperbPergolasnDecks decking Adelaide to ensure code compliance and prevent future problems such as structural failure and water damage. We offer reliable hardware that will help achieve perfect spacing, overcome warped boards, drive screws faster or drive screws faster so that your deck installation goes as smoothly as possible.