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A great-looking deck can be a gamechanger, giving your clients loads more usable living space and a flexible area where they can relax and entertain. While timber comes out on top for warmth and natural appeal, there are other decking materials available these days that offer a host of additional benefits, such as easy upkeep, fade resistance and quick installation. Carpenter and renovating expert Tim Clark, whose Essential Services Group business has laid hundreds of decks in Melbourne homes, shares the latest innovations in decking and his tips for a flawless installation.
Tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, ear muffs and a mask, for example) when working with power tools and decking material. Always follow the instructions for the product or equipment.
“For many clients, nothing beats the warm, natural feel of real timber,” Tim says. “I love working with [rainforest] merbau [or kwila]– it’s the most durable decking species for Australian conditions. It weathers well and tends to be more stable than other hardwoods.
“SpecRite’s select-grade merbau decking boards come pre-oiled on both sides, unlike standard timber decking. It’s slightly more expensive than regular boards, but it will last longer and your client will have less issues with movement, moisture, mould and weathering.”
They can safely be used in homes in different climatic conditions across Australia, including those in bushfire areas rated up to BAL-29. FSC-certified timbers are also available and kinder on the earth.
“Maintenance is the biggest challenge clients face with a natural timber deck,” Tim says. “To maintain its performance and look, timber decking needs oiling at least once a year – more in highly exposed areas – which is a cost in both time and money. But the payoff is a stunning natural addition to your yard, and a product you can sand back and refinish many times.”
● Traditional look and natural feel underfoot.
● High maintenance.
● Can warp, rot and shrink if not maintained.
● Could need painting or oiling every six months.
Taking half the time to install as a timber deck and complete with hidden screws for a seamless look, fibre cement decking is a great option for those who don’t want much maintenance.
“For clients who are less concerned about having a timber look and more concerned about fading, fibre cement decking like HardieDeckTM is a smart pick as it’s less prone to fading,” Tim says. “It comes in a cool, flat grey, which gives an outdoor area a contemporary feel. Or you can paint it in a colour to match or blend in with your client’s home, like the roof or interior.”
As well as less fading, HardieDeckTM fibre cement decking resists termites, rotting, warping and moisture damage, so your clients won’t have to worry about time-consuming maintenance. As it adheres to BAL-FZ requirements, you can also safely install it in bushfire-prone zones and in a firepit area.
“There are also minimal gaps, making it easy to sweep or mop clean,” Tim says. “Plus, it feels solid and smooth underfoot, and won’t splinter.”
Another appealing feature is you can install it as low as 150mm from the ground, so long as you have adequate cross-flow ventilation. Timber, by contrast, requires a minimum clearance of 400mm.
“A low-level deck can blend seamlessly into the garden and reduce the stairs needed, or eliminate them, which makes the area safer for kids and those with mobility issues,” Tim says. “It’s also safe to install around a pool area as it’s not affected by chemicals.”
Lacking the look of a traditional timber deck, fibre cement decking can also be more expensive per square metre to install compared to composite.
● Low maintenance and fade-proof.
● Can be installed 150mm from the ground.
● Lacks traditional appearance of a timber deck.
● Fire, weather, termite and water-resistant.
“In situations where timber isn’t suitable, I tend to use composite decking, which is a wood plastic composite,” Tim says. “It comes pre-finished, needs no sealing, oiling or painting, and is installed with a clip system with hidden fixtures, so it goes in fast.”
Unlike natural timber, it comes in set lengths, so you don’t have to spend time working out the board layout and there’s less wastage.
“You also don’t get the roughening or splintering of real timber, which can be a real boon for families with young children who play outside barefoot,” Tim shares.
Another plus is that composite boards are getting better all the time thanks to advances in technology. “While the cheaper, entry-level composites tend to be a solid, uniform colour, premium ranges – such as Ekodeck Designer Series – feature variation and gnarls, making them look far more like real timber,” he says. “Ekodeck also has a Flame Fighter decking range that is rated BAL-29 and suitable for homes in bushfire-prone areas.”
There is a downside clients need to be aware of: if composite decking boards get scratched or stained, you can’t refinish them – they’ll need to be replaced.
“The new boards will be a different colour to the rest of the deck, which will have naturally faded over time,” Tim says. “And if a deck is partially undercover, the covered and exposed areas weather differently.”
You may also consider other options if your client’s deck is in blistering sun or a hot climate. “Composite boards also tend to retain more heat than natural timber, which can make them uncomfortable to walk on when the sun is blazing.”
● Comes pre-finished: no sealing, oiling or painting.
● Installation via clip system with hidden fixtures.
● Less wastage and no splinters.
● Available in Flame Fighter decking range for bushfire-prone areas.
● Needs replacing if scratched or stained.
● Retains more heat than natural timber.
Aluminium timber-look decking combines the natural beauty of wood with the strength of aluminium for a durable, no-fuss decking solution.
“Your clients won’t have a problem with aluminium timber-look decking – it doesn’t need painting, staining or oiling, it won’t rot or warp, and it lasts practically forever,” Tim says. “And as it’s lightweight and installed with a simple clip system, the deck goes up fast.”
You can now find varieties that not only look like real timber, but feel like it, too. DecoDeck, for example, has a textured woodgrain finish baked onto the powder-coated finish that mimics the real thing.
The range comes in a variety of timber tones, all of which have some natural variation. These include Australian native timber effects, such as snow gum; exotic effects like French oak and kwila; plus a new concrete-look finish for a modern, minimalist look.
It also suits homes in a variety of locations. The finish is marine grade, so it’s suitable for coastal areas, and the elements are non-combustible for installation in bushfire-prone areas rated to BAL-FZ.
Large deck? Not a problem – the boards go up to 6.5 metres in length.
“On the downside, aluminium does feel hotter underfoot than natural timber in summer,” Tim says. Plus, it exceeds the cost of timber and composites.
● Anti-slip powder coating.
● Long-length boards.
● No painting, staining or oiling.
● Lightweight and easy install clip system.
How about checking out our story on the best way to prepare your client’s lawn before summer.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
