Timber Decking - What species should you use?

Building a deck can increase your living space by providing you with an outdoor entertaining area that your family and friends can enjoy.

Before building a deck, there are a few items to consider when choosing your timber:

• Where will the deck be located?
  Will the deck be undercover or subject to the harsh Australian sun? UV exposure will determine how quickly the colour will fade.

• What is your budget?
  Decking timber varies in price. The good news is that we offer a range of decking timber to suit every budget.?

• How much maintenance are you willing to do?
  Most timber decks will need regular maintenance (annually) to maintain their longevity. We have a range of decking oils and accessories available in our Hardware store to help with this maintenance. Our staff are happy to recommend products that would be best suited to your needs.

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The decking timber you select will depend on the desired look you are after, deck location, project requirements and budget.

Our most popular decking species include:

• Queensland Blackbutt
• Queensland Spotted Gum
• Queensland Ironbark
• White Mahogany

QUEENSLAND BLACKBUTT DECKING

Barwon Timber?s?Blackbutt decking?is a beautiful, strong, and durable decking option. Our Blackbutt is pale brown to blonde in colour with some light pinks. Blackbutt has a medium and even texture with a straight grain and will have some gum vein texture.

Our Blackbutt is predominantly Coastal Blackbutt ??Eucalyptus pilularis.?The specie is listed as a Bushfire Resisting Timber under AS3959 ? Construction of buildings in bushfire prone areas and can achieve high Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings when used in compliant applications and designs.

Standard available sizes:

86 x 19
136 x 19
136 x 32

QUEENSLAND SPOTTED GUM DECKING

Spotted Gum ??Eucalyptus maculate and Corymbia citriodora?? is a premium native Australian hardwood that is loved for its warm colourings and grain pattern.

Compared to other Australian Hardwoods, Spotted Gum is a minimal staining timber as it is less prone to bleed-through of tannins than other species.

Spotted Gum has a natural fire resistance and its fire retarding properties make it suitable for use in many bushfire prone areas under Australian Standard AS3959.

As well as decking, Spotted Gum can be used for a range of building applications including posts, cladding, lining and flooring.

Standard available sizes:

86 x 19
136 x 19
136 x 32

QUEENSLAND IRONBARK DECKING

Barwon Timber?s Queensland Ironbark ??Eucalyptus paniculate and Eucalyptus sideroxylon?? is a mix of Grey and Red ironbark displaying attractive grain patterns.

It is a particularly hard, strong and durable timber that is resistant to lyctid borers and termites. The popularity of Ironbark has been increasing with more homes choosing this timber for decks, cladding and landscaping due to its high durability and fire resistance.

Standard available sizes:

86 x 19
136 x 19
136 x 32

WHITE MAHOGANY DECKING

White Mahogany???Eucalyptus Acmenoides?? is a beautiful, strong and durable timber option. It is known as a premium hardwood specie that is naturally grown and sourced here in Australia.

Featuring a blend of cool and warm tones, White Mahogany?s colour pallet ranges from a light brown to a yellow brown colour.

Standard available sizes:

86 x 19
136 x 19

If you have a unique job, we can machine custom size decking and profiles. Barwon Timber can also pre-oil your timber decking to ensure your boards are sealed and protected.

Have a question or need more information??Contact our Timber team?who are happy to help and provide recommendations.

To complement our extensive range of beautiful decking timbers, our Hardware department carries a wide range of decking screws to suit all situations. To help you choose the right decking screw, read our blog article??Which Screw is Best for your Deck?'