Best Timber For DeckingPosted by Warner Schwartz on June 6th, 2021 This must be close to the 100th time you've asked a similar question. And you've spoken to Dulux already.Tell us what you don't like about the colours suggested so far, that will give us an idea of what you're after. They are skillfully processed, have good strength and stability with oiled fibres, reasonably priced and there are large forest reserves of each. New England Blackbutt is sourced from the coastal ranges and tablelands of northern NSW and southern Queensland. The material is very similar in appearance walnut timber flooring and properties to Blackbutt (E. pilularis). The colour ranges from pale browns to straw blondes, with gum veins being a common feature. The common name “Blackbutt” comes from the regular appearance of a blackened base on the trunk of the tree, caused from fires. Blackbutt primarily grows in the coastal regions of southern NSW all the way up to south east QLD. It has a quick growth rate and is easily regenerated, making it a popular species to grow in plantations and a readily available timber on the east coast of Australia. The hardness of timber is not directly related to how hard the timber is also associates with the coating you choose. The hardness figures most commonly used are those obtained from the Janka test. Our boards are made to stand the test of time and maintain their prestigious look for decades. Our Spotted Gum flooring can be sanded multiple times, each time reviving that natural elegance. The timeless beauty of timber flooring makes it not just a design centrepiece but also an asset for your home. In the past, merbau decking was arguably as popular as treated pine is today. If you choose merbau, try to find some that comes from trusted sources who choose only sustainably harvested timbers. Merbau has a durability rating of 2 and is one of the least expensive decking hardwoods on the market. Perhaps the most dense and heavy hardwood timber, which makes it difficult to cut and work with but extremely durable for decking. Ironbark is very heavy and dense, so may not be suitable for the DIY deck builder. The heartwood is a reddish brown or purple grey-brown with a tight interlocked wavy grain. It is extremely hardy, surviving poor soil conditions and low rainfall. The heartwood is durable with an excellent termite resistance that has made the material very versatile and widely utilized. The heartwood can range in colour from dark chocolate through to pale fawns. Cypress is easily distinguishable with its feature of black or dark coloured knots contrasting with the heartwood and sapwood. It also has a distinctive smell which is quite noticeable when the timber is freshly installed or sanded. When you choose timber, you are not only selecting a beautifully individual floor made from a renewable resource, you’re also making a positive impact on climate change. On the left is a sample coated in solvent polyurethane which brings out the warm colours of the timber. However, the right is a sample coated in water-based polyurethane giving a lighter and more low sheen look. Remember even select grade can sometimes have a small amount of natural feature. A large hardwood found in the northern NSW tablelands, Silvertop Stringybark has a pale brown tone with a straight grain and medium texture. Engineered flooring gives you the elegant look of solid timber without the complex installation or price tag. Water based coatings are the healthier option not only for the home owner but also the contractor as there are no strong solvent smells. Also edge bonding is less a problem with water base decreasing the chance of face splits with excess movement in the floor. Water based products will also give you a more natural looking finish with some products now available like Loba Invisible that looks and feels like there is nothing on the floor. With all this comes a slightly higher price tag but not enough to blow the budget. Australian Chestnut Flooring is characterized by subtle colour variations from a Light straw colour to light to medium browns. It has a very distinct grain with beautiful swirls in the back sawn boards A very affordable choice in flooring for a natural look and also an ideal choice for a floor that’s going to be stained. A large hardwood from the tableland areas of southern New South Wales. With a very light brown colour sometimes with a pink tinge some say Blonde in colour it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a light colour deck. Grey Ironbark may have various regional variations in its colour. As the name suggests, Red Ironbark is a deep, dark red wood that when growing has a grey to black bark. One of Australia’s most distinct eucalypts, Red Ironbark is prized for its structural strength and resistance to the elements; however, this does limit its ability to be finely worked.Like it? Share it! More by this author |