The most common material used for decking is a pressure-treated softwood as it is readily available and cost-effective. Builders’ merchants will generally stock at least one softwood decking board with some now stocking an anti-slip version as well.
While softwood is the most common option there are alternatives on the market, which may be better for specific projects.
Hardwood
The main advantage that hardwood holds over softwood is its longevity. While most softwood timber decking boards have up to a 15-year in-service life expectancy, hardwoods such as Yellow Balau can be expected to last for up to 50 years, and in some cases longer. They are far more durable and hard-wearing than softwood products, so consequently come at a larger cost.
Hardwood timber is generally considered higher quality than softwood. It's more colourful and natural timber appearance makes it very popular for decking. The cost of hardwood varies significantly depending on the species, profile size and timber certification required, but as a very rough rule of thumb, it will be around three or four times the price of softwood.
Requiring minimal maintenance and well-suited to a wide variety of projects, hardwood decking is an investment to seriously consider.
Gripsure Ipe hardwood non slip decking
ThermoWood
ThermoWood is available in a variety of timbers, including ThermoPine (softwood), ThermoIroko and ThermoAsh (hardwoods). The process of creating ThermoWood involves heating the timber in a low oxygen environment to alter its chemical structure and increase its durability. This is particularly effective for softwoods and can be a more environmentally friendly way to increase the life expectancy than using a chemical treatment.
The thermal process also increases the stability of a decking board. Invisible fixing systems can be used on the ends and sides of the board as the board will expand and contract less than normal. The biggest downside of using a heat treatment is its effect on the strength of the board. Some estimates suggest thermal treating reduces the overall strength of the board by 30%. The price of ThermoWoods varies depending on the species and sizes, but the costs are often comparable or slightly higher than hardwoods.
Accoya®
Accoya is produced from fast-growing and sustainably-sourced timber which undergoes a chemical process to modify the timber completely. The resulting timber is incredibly stable and comes with a life expectancy of 50 years when installed above contact with the ground, and 25 years when installed in freshwater or in direct contact with the ground. In addition, the timber is virtually rot-proof so can be used in almost any environment. Currently, Accoya is available in a limited selection of lengths and comes in at a high market price, however the investment provides a phenomenally stable and long-lasting timber.
Medite® Tricoya®
Medite Tricoya is produced using wood fibres that have undergone the same chemical treatment as Accoya. This creates a panel product which is extremely stable and durable with a 60-year expected life-cycle. As with Accoya, Medite can be in water contact with very few negative effects. The biggest downside of using the wood fibre is that the panels are susceptible to abrasion when walked on. Anti-slip coatings are recommended to give you an incredibly safe and hard-wearing product fit for a wide range of environments. Panels can be machined to smaller lengths or supplied as full panels to suit the area being worked on. This makes Medite a truly flexible option when considering decking. As with Accoya, the cost of Medite will be towards the top end of the spectrum.
Gripsure Xtreme non slip coated Medite® Tricoya® panels
There are plenty of options to consider when deciding which timber to choose for decking. Consider the budget, site considerations such as wet or shaded areas and the preferred appearance of the timber.
If you interested in any of the timbers featured on this blog or others that you have come across please do not hesitate to contact the Gripsure team and we will be happy to answer any questions or provide further information.
