Building a Deck in Perth
A well-designed deck is the perfect place to relax and enjoy Perth’s sunny lifestyle. Timber decking can also complement your swimming pool and bring a whole new look to your backyard.
It is recommended that you inspect your timber deck or balcony every 6 months and re-apply a timber oil to maintain their condition. This will help prevent any structural damage from termites and extreme weather conditions.
Merbau
A popular choice for timber decks, Merbau is an exotic hardwood that’s both durable and low maintenance. It has a rich, reddish-brown colour and pronounced grain pattern that complements a variety of architectural styles. It’s also more affordable than some other hardwoods, making it a good choice for those on a budget.
Its high oil content gives it innate resistance to rot, decay, and insect infestations. It’s rated class 1 for durability and has an expected life of more than 25 years underground and 40 years above ground. It’s also a good option for bushfire-prone areas, as it has a natural resistance to termites and other wood burrowing insects.
At Austim, we use FSC certified Merbau glulam beams, posts, and decking. This product is sourced from sustainable forests and complies with Australian standards. It also has a low shrinkage rate (1.5% radial and 2.5% tangential), which makes it less prone to surface cracking or splintering.
Jarrah
Using Jarrah for your decking will add a beautiful rich colouring that naturally deepens over time and will stand the test of the Perth weather. This unique Australian hardwood has a beautiful reddish brown hue with evenly textured grains and is highly resistant to termites, rot, marine borers and weathering.
Jarrah is harvested under sustainable forest management practices by the West Australian government and the timber is replanted after each harvest so it will be available for generations to come. Like most timbers, Jarrah requires regular maintenance with a timber oil or sealer to preserve the durability and beauty of your new deck.
A well designed jarrah deck creates a seamless transition from your home to the outside. Decking can be matched with a pergola or timber framed patio to complete the alfresco area.
Blackbutt
Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) is a native Australian hardwood timber with a distinct grain pattern and warm hues that lend itself to contemporary and traditional interior design styles. It’s also an excellent choice for outdoor spaces thanks to its durability and resistance to wear-and-tear.
As a result, it’s one of only seven timbers approved by the Victorian Building Commission for use in bushfire-prone areas. This fire resistance is especially helpful for Perth residents, where hot summer temperatures and a year-round outdoors lifestyle can take their toll on traditional timber decking materials.
In addition to its durability, Blackbutt is also known for its low embodied energy. The timber requires minimal processing chemicals during manufacturing, which reduces the amount of harmful chemical pollutants released into the environment and contributes to healthier indoor air quality. It also takes well to machining, allowing builders to work with it more quickly and efficiently. This allows them to complete projects on time and on budget.
Spotted Gum
The spotted gum (Eucalyptus maculata) is one of Australia’s premium native hardwood timbers, known for its striking appearance and high degree of natural durability and strength. This species is used in a variety of structural timber cladding, batten screens and timber decking.
Its heartwood ranges from light to dark red-brown hues and is complemented by white sapwood with a moderately coarse texture that can occasionally produce an attractive fiddleback figure. It also machines well and has a greasiness that makes it easier to use than most other eucalypts.
As it ages, spotted gum will gradually weather to a natural grey-brown finish and can be matched with a wide range of colour schemes. It may require regular sealing to maintain its appearance. Like other hardwoods, spotted gum is sensitive to the conditions in which it is exposed, and will be susceptible to small surface cracks called ‘surface checking’. However, these can be minimised by proper installation, maintenance and utilisation of the timber.
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