What is Wood For Decking?
The three common choices when it comes to wood decks are redwood, cedar, and pressure-treated wood which can be made of various types of wood species.
Redwood and cedar are both naturally insect and rot-resistant and have a natural look, but each has its own inherent issues.
What Is The Best Wood For Decking In South Africa?
- Saligna.
- Rhodesian Teak.
- African Rosewood.
- Balau.
- Ipe (pronounced ee-pay)
- Red Iron Bark.
- Massaranduba.
- Garapa.
What do you want to use your timber deck for?
People build decks for a variety of reasons. If the primary goal is to create additional space where you and your loved ones can enjoy the outdoors, it is hugely different from creating an entertainment space.
Decks built for entertainment purposes will need to handle higher volumes of foot traffic than ones built for personal enjoyment.
Some decks are also built for commercial use. We are certain you can think of examples of many bars and restaurants in South Africa that feature decks where people can enjoy the view. In instances like these, we recommend that non-slip timber decking be used.
Why we would choose non-slip pine timber decking every time?
If your budget allows, it is always a bonus if any deck is slip-proof, even if it has been installed for personal use! However, when it comes to commercial decks it is even more important not to compromise and to rather choose the safer non-slip timber decking option every time!
Making use of durable South African decking planks is another must. For decks used by high volumes of people, you would obviously need to choose durable non-slip timber decking. If you believe this means you have to choose hardwood decking we are thrilled to inform you that it is not true.
Do you always have to choose hardwood decking if you have a high-use deck?
Of course, your hardwood options like Balau, Massaranduba, Ipệ, Zimbabwean Teak, Red Ironbark, Merbau, and Garapa are great options because they are strong and have a long lifespan. However, these are not always readily available in South Africa and can be expensive when you do find them.
The benefits of using hardwood may not make up for the expense and effort required to get your hands on some of these hardwood decking options. That is why it may not actually be the best wood for timber decking!
The good news is that South African pine decking remains a great option in all cases! If you choose to purchase pine decking that has been treated with Chromated Copper Arsenic (CCA), from Sabie Poles it will perform extremely well. Even in those situations where an outdoor deck is frequently used by a lot of people.
The secret lies in the fact that the pine decking planks absolutely have to be CCA-treated. This is what prolongs the lifespan of your decking timber. This substance that is inserted into the pine decking planks has been proven to protect it from fungus, rot, weather, and insect attacks.
Treatment tips for South African decking planks
– To begin with, make sure you use a water repellent to protect your timber from weathering and to minimize the effects of the sun’s UV rays. Timberline wood treatments
- Sweep and clean your deck regularly, removing any debris from between the planks as well.
- Keep an eye on your deck and treat any cracks or holes with a preservative.
- Ensure the crawl space underneath your deck is well-ventilated.
- To keep your deck in the very best condition we suggest that you sand and varnish your exterior wood annually. Use a finish on the deck to protect the wood for longer (TimberLife Products)
If you follow these handy tips, you will prolong the life of your South African decking planks!
Think carefully about choosing hardwood decking because you believe it will last longer. As we mentioned earlier it is a more costly option. This is because it takes longer to manufacture than pine decking planks. Not only do the hardwood trees take longer to grow, but they are more complicated when it comes to processing.
Hardwood decking is also not stocked by all local decking wood suppliers. We farm GU111 and GU115 Eucalyptus at Sabie Poles so would be able to assist if you have your heart set on hardwood decking. But we believe that South African Pine decking is truly a fantastic choice. Why is that? Because our CCA-treated pine decking planks are cost-effective and have been manufactured to last. This leads well into our next question.
What does your timber deck budget look like?
Whether you are building a deck for commercial or personal use you will most likely have some budgetary constraints to consider. However, installing an attractive long-lasting feature like a deck will not be cheap. Considering all of your options, wood does remain the most cost-effective. Not only will composite end up costing you more from a budgetary perspective, but it is not as sustainable as choosing to purchase South African decking planks.
Working with decking wood suppliers that acquire their wood from responsible farms like Sabie Poles is kinder to our natural environment. We pride ourselves on farming sustainably, planting a new tree for every single one we harvest! Practically, this means that we can supply a steady base of South African decking planks for many years to come.
We understand that cost plays a major role in any building project and that it will affect your purchase decision. The best wood for timber decking is therefore the most long-lasting wood that will fall into your budget. That is why the Sabie Poles team recommends South African pine decking as the superior choice.
Why do we feel that pine decking planks are the best wood for timber decking?
- You can buy it at a fair price.
- You do not need to compromise on quality. All Sabie Poles’ CCA-treated products carry both the SABS and NRCS stamp of approval.
- You can trust that it will last for years to come. We offer every customer a lifetime guarantee on all our CCA-treated timber products.
- You have the option of buying non-slip timber decking from decking wood suppliers.
When it comes to getting value for your money you really cannot get much better than South African pine decking. This is why we believe that pine is the best wood for timber decking. At Sabie Poles, we offer fair prices and personal service to all professional decking wood suppliers