Hardwood for character
A hardwood deck is solid, heavy and beautiful. Woods like balau resist rot naturally and last a long time. Freshly oiled they glow a warm reddish brown; left alone they turn a soft silver that suits stone cottages in Heighington and Gainford.
Softwood on a budget
Pressure-treated softwood keeps costs down and looks fresh when new. The catch is care. It needs cleaning and treating every year, more often in shade, and as it ages, boards can split and roughen. For a family deck that will see bare feet, we'd want you to know that before choosing it.
Splinters and safety
Splinters are the big question parents ask about timber. Hardwood is much less prone to splintering than softwood, especially when kept oiled. Softwood boards can be sanded smooth when they roughen, but it's ongoing work. If splinters are a worry, composite avoids them completely.
Built to last
Timber decks fail when water sits around the frame. We set posts on concrete pads instead of in the soil, use ground-contact rated timber for the frame, leave gaps between boards and lay membrane and gravel underneath. Good airflow lets everything dry quickly after rain.
Mixing timber and composite
Some people like a hardwood bench, planter or step edging with a composite floor. It gives the warmth of real wood where you touch it, with an easy-care surface underfoot.
Good to know
Are splinters a worry with timber?
With hardwood, much less so, especially when oiled. Softwood is more likely to splinter as it ages. If you have young children, it's worth considering hardwood or composite.
Which hardwood do you use?
Usually balau, a dense, durable decking hardwood, though it depends on availability and the look you want. We'll show you samples and explain the differences.
