| There's a huge range of wood species available for | | | | prevailing weather conditions, the degree of |
| building wood decks, so how do you decide what's | | | | exposure of the deck to the sun, the intensity of |
| best? | | | | the sun and the frequency of application of the |
| The best way is start is to consider the factors that | | | | protective oil. |
| are most important to you, your particular | | | | Environmental |
| circumstances and the proposed deck location and | | | | The destruction of the great forests of the world, |
| then give a weighting to each factor to come up | | | | not only in the Amazon basis and South East Asia |
| with the best option. Everyone's situation is slightly | | | | but also in major Western nations, should be a major |
| different, so what's best for you, may not be | | | | concern to everyone. Several organizations, the best |
| appropriate for someone else. | | | | known of which is probably the Forest Stewardship |
| There are probably seven most relevant factors | | | | Council (FSC), have established standards and |
| which you should take into account when deciding | | | | operating procedures which forestry owners must |
| what lumber species is best for your situation. | | | | adhere to in order that their products may carry that |
| These are: | | | | organization's official certification. This provides some |
| Type of wood (hardwood or softwood) | | | | assurance that the wood and wood products have |
| Natural durability | | | | been harvested in accordance with sustainable |
| Colour of the wood | | | | forestry practises and sound forest management |
| Wearability | | | | procedures and that any finished products have been |
| Ease of machining and working | | | | manufactured and supplied under non exploitative |
| Environmental considerations | | | | labor practices. Many governments have established |
| Cost | | | | their own standards outside of the FSC but |
| Hardwood or softwood | | | | consideration needs to be given whether such |
| Most softwoods with the notable exception of | | | | standards and operating procedures may in fact be |
| western red cedar, some cypress species and a few | | | | catering to vested interests and that some reliable |
| species of pine and larch are not naturally durable and | | | | and certifiable mechanism actually exists to ensure |
| will decay quite rapidly if left totally exposed to the | | | | procedures and practices are indeed followed as |
| weather. Fortunately softwood species readily accept | | | | required. |
| chemical preservatives so when treated, their | | | | Wearability |
| durability can equal or exceed most of the naturally | | | | In this rather subjective term, we are looking at |
| durable hardwood species. | | | | what happens to the surface of the wood as it |
| Durability | | | | ages, how it weathers as the deck becomes older. |
| Durability refers to a combination of properties which | | | | Generally this is not such an important factor unless |
| includes resistance of the timber to decay, termite | | | | you like to walk on your decking with bare feet. With |
| and borer attack and also to splitting and checking | | | | some species, the grain tends to lift as the wood |
| when used under exposed conditions. As wood is a | | | | ages, causing small splinters to appear. With other |
| natural product, it's not really possible to assign a | | | | species however the surface can remain virtually |
| precise or absolute value to the durability of an | | | | smooth for years. |
| individual species. And the actual life which can be | | | | Ease of working with tools |
| expected of a deck in service will be dependent on | | | | Some hardwood species are exceptionally hard and |
| many factors including degree of exposure of the | | | | thus require carbide tipped saws to speed |
| deck to the elements, prevailing weather conditions, | | | | construction. Also when nailing boards, some species |
| the air circulation around the decking etc. Various | | | | can be nailed directly whilst other species will tend to |
| charts and tables are available which list the relative | | | | split if not predrilled. Even with softwoods such as |
| durability of wood species based on their actual in | | | | cypress, pre-drilling may be necessary. |
| service so can be used to provide a useful broad | | | | Cost |
| comparison between species. Note should also be | | | | In general, softwoods will be lower in cost than |
| taken of termite resistance if this is important in your | | | | hardwoods, reflecting the shorter time to maturity of |
| region as this will vary greatly between species. | | | | the trees, extensive plantation grown forests with |
| Colour of the wood | | | | easy access for harvesting and lower processing |
| There is a huge color variation within wood species, | | | | costs. Some plantation grown hardwoods can |
| from pale yellow, through brown's to reds and red | | | | approach the cost base of hardwoods but the lower |
| orange, even purple. And some species may be very | | | | recovery rate of most hardwoods still tends to keep |
| consistent in colour whilst others can vary | | | | the price above that of most softwoods. |
| considerably from board to board or even along the | | | | The above presents just an overview of the main |
| length of a single board. Some species have flecks of | | | | factors you should consider when choosing a lumber |
| a paler color interspersed along the grain. However | | | | species for your deck. Each of the above factors can |
| unless a strict maintenance regime involving regular | | | | be looked at in more detail but this should enable you |
| oiling of the wood decking is maintained, all wood | | | | to make a more considered decision on the type of |
| species exposed to the sunlight will eventually fade | | | | lumber you would like to use for your particular |
| over time to a soft silver grey- the speed at which | | | | decking project. |
| this occurs will depending on the species, the | | | | |