Choosing the right decking timber matters. The wrong species will split, grey badly or need replacing within a few years. The right one will still be performing a decade later.
We offer three options, each suited to a different project and budget.
Brimstone Ash is our thermally modified hardwood decking. The modification process makes it significantly more stable and resistant to moisture than untreated timber. It is our most specified decking product and the one we recommend for most projects.
Air dried oak is a classic choice. Dense, hard-wearing and ages to a beautiful silver-grey. Well suited to gardens where decking will be a long-term feature.
British larch is a naturally resinous and durable option, well suited to larger projects where budget is a consideration.
Not sure which is right for your project? Call us on 01793 853 281 and we will help you choose.
All of our exterior decking timbers are tough and naturally durable, meaning that they will last well outside without any chemical treatment or coatings. A quality coating such as Osmo Decking Oil will prolong the life of the deck boards.
You should expect around 15 years of service from your hardwood deck, but its lifespan will very much depend on how it is installed and maintained. Permanent dampness between boards and joists, wet greenery left on the deck and poor quality fixings will all cause the deck to fail prematurely.
Timber decking most commonly fails around the fixing points because the area between the deck boards and joists remains damp. Additionally the decking screws puncture the treated layer of the softwood joists. See fixing advice below for ways to avoid these problems.
The most common complaint about timber decking is that it gets slippery when wet. This unfortunately is a consequence of our damp and mild climate, which encourages mould growth. Coupling that with a bit of green litter and decking can become dangerously slippery. To avoid this problem we recommend that you clean your wooden deck with Osmo Wood Reviver Power Gel once or twice a year, as needed. Avoid power washing your deck because doing so will damage the surface of the wood.
Because we machine all of our timber decking in-house, we can offer a varying choice of profiles in all timber species. Smooth timber decking boards are the most popular option, providing a sleek, modern finish that works well in both residential and commercial settings. For those looking for additional texture or slip resistance, we also offer grooved and reeded timber deck boards, giving you flexibility to choose the profile that best suits your design and functional requirements.
Smooth decking boards are the most popular. We also offer a choice of grooved and reeded deck board profiles.
Our standard deck board profiles are designed to be fixed directly through the face with deck screws. Always use stainless steel screws to avoid corrosion and staining. Trim-head screws with either a square drive or a hex drive work well and look good. The screw length should be approximately 2.5X the thickness of the deck boards.
To alleviate dampness between deck board and joist we recommend that you install Sihga KompeFix®. This clever but simple product sits on top of the joist creating a ventilated gap. This is especially important for Brimstone decking.
Supporting structures are most commonly constructed from 50mm green tantalised joists and posts. Space your joists at approximately 400mm centres for 21mm deck boards. Aluminium rails offer a longer lasting option but they are significantly more expensive and consequently tend to only be used on commercial projects. Leave a minimum of 6mm expansion gap between Brimstone deck boards and 8mm between oak and larch deck boards.
While the utmost care has been taken to provide accurate information, Vastern Timber shall not be held responsible for any consequences arising from any errors or omissions on this website nor for any damages resulting from the use of the information.