Upgrading the outdoors of your house is not an easy deal. The first and foremost consideration is decking that can add considerable value to your home. To add natural warmth to the outer zone of your home, a deck plays a vital role. Crafted from timber, decking is also the common choice to increase the usable space without extending the house. Let’s have a look at the various options of decking and the important tips from decking experts to install an appropriate deck outside your home:

Below are the Main Types of Timer Deck Available in the Market:

If you do not want to continue with the conventional timber style decks, below are some of the alternatives that will make your home outdoors appealing:

Choose the color

The first step for finding the right timber for decking is to figure out which color will appropriately go with the exteriors of your house. Light-colored timbers like Cypress or Treated pine will help you outdoors appear to be larger. However, you can also go with Yellow stringybark and blackbutt. Merbau comes with the dark red effect and spotted gum can also be opted to give an effective range of colors from cream to brown or red colors.

Hardwood Vs Softwood

For heavy foot traffic, hardwood species are the best choices to go for. However, softwood species like Treated Pine is recommended for the light traffic zones.

Shelf-life of various timber options

Depending on the maintenance, the shelf-life of various timber options varies.  A treated pine comes with a life expectancy up to 25 years while other durable hardwoods can serve up to 30 years. Various other factors like the type of coating used and appropriate fixing also play a vital role in increasing the life of the deck.

Age of timber

It is important to choose the straight timber which is safely stored in the dry and protected area. Any timber stored in the wet area may get twisted or bowed pieces which are not appropriate for decking purposes.

Timber Hazard Grade

Timber species like Merbau, Cypress Pine, and other hardwood species do not require any hazard treatment however Treated pine is the only hazard treated timber decking which is treated up to the hazard level H3. It is recommended to use the timber which has grades anywhere between H3 to H6 for a longer lifespan. For in-ground decking, pine timber must be treated up to H5 as most of the decks do not have efficient water drainage.

How to install deck – DIY Vs Professional Installation?

With the help of several published guides and tutorials, low-level small area decks can be successfully installed with DIY. Detailed instructions about the construction of decks, required timber size, and fixing guidelines are provided in these tutorials.

But if you are planning to install to an area over 10 square meters, it is always recommended to consider a decking expert. It needs a level of precision and experience to install such decks. In case, if installing a deck needs permission from the specific council, it is mandatory to refer a qualified decking expert to complete the job.

Illuminate the exterior of your house with an appropriate decking and make it as stunning as your interiors with these simple tips.