Timber & Composite Decking: The Pros & Cons Australians love their outdoor areas, and these days most outdoor areas around our home include a deck. Pros and Cons of Merbau, Spotted Gum and Silvertop Ash. Softwood decking is generally the cheapest option, and is very easy to work with. NexGEN maintenance free composite and aluminium decking with up to a 50 year stain and fade warranty. With all this in mind, you probably won’t be surprised at the relatively expensive cost of spotted gum. Silvertop Ash is a Eucalyptus, grown in sustainable native forests throughout the cooler parts of Australia, particularly along the coastline. I've laid my spotted gum deck boards- now what? As the highest volume native hardwood harvested in Queensland, Spotted Gum is a widely available timber and is currently under no threat of being over-produced or becoming endangered. One of the benefits of using Spotted Gum in landscaping on the Mornington Peninsula, is that it is one of the hardwoods recommended to be used in bushfire prone areas. However, there are some characteristics that should make homeowners think twice before taking the plunge. Pros & Cons Of Mahogany Wood Mahogany is a type of hardwood that is valued around the world due to its beautiful appearance. Then you have imported hardwoods such as merbau and kapur or Australian hardwoods, such as spotted gum, blackbutt or ironbark. Spotted Gum; Spotted gum is some of the best timber for outdoor decking as it’s a strong, durable timber that can hold its colour well. Cons for stringy bark decks: Gum veins typically present. For the extra couple $$$ you will thank yourself for many years you didn't go with the pine. The decision is made depending on the wood's intended use. Unlike the Merbau, that’s grown in Papua New Guinea, the Spotted Gum is native to Queensland. If you’re looking for decking options for your home or business, you’re probably committed to making the best possible investment for your property. There are plenty of different decking materials available, each with their individual pros and cons. There are also stains you can use to change the color to suit your aesthetics and protect the timber long-term. Though quality obviously varies by manufacturer, NexGEN capped composite decking adheres to strict and consistent quality guidelines. Available Australia wide. 86x19mm Spotted Gum - 5.4m - 6.1m. The above ground durability class 1 means that you can expect the untreated timber to last for over 40 years.However, the in ground durability is 2, and that means that in contact with ground, you can expect your spotted gum decking timber to last up to 25 years.. Spotted Gum is sustainably sourced from plantations throughout Australia and is a very popular hardwood, which is durable, dense and has minimal tannin leach. Spotted Gum is also a very environmentally friendly hardwood that is popular throughout Australia, is exported overseas and lasts for more than 40+ years. In general, Spotted Gum starts off quite light in colour and gradually turns a golden light brown as it matures, but the final colour does depend on which of the four species is used; it also tends to have an attractive wavy grain as well. Spotted gum is one of Australia’s premium native hardwoods with a striking appearance and a high degree of natural durability and strength. 2. Readily available. This is another Australian hardwood that is frequently used in Mornington Peninsula landscaping, as it is environmentally friendly and its use is recommended in bushfire prone areas. Your basic choices are softwoods, such as treated pine. ♦ Treatment should be planned according to panoramic and periapical X-ray images. Durability: Mahogany is a highly durable wood and the furniture made out of it can last over 35 years of wood growth. Though the spotted gum tree itself has light coloured bark — usually ranging from white to grey — the decking that’s made from spotted gum heartwood is generally reddish-brown to golden-brown in hue. The first few weeks were torture with kids sliding stuff around. Decking material. Timber decking includes natural timbers like Jarrah, Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, Fijian Mahogany and Merbau. The best way to decide on deck boards is by weighing the pros and cons; here is a list of the good, the bad and the ugly that come when decking with merbau. There are a few different options, so understanding the pros and cons allows you to make a more informed decision. Registered Landscape Builder Spotted gum for decking. Highly durable and hard. This means you will usually have to treat it to help keep it free of bugs and pests. With seemingly infinite decking options available for savvy homeowners, choosing the right material can be a daunting task. If you’re after a red-coloured hardwood, consider merbau, which can handle the harsh Australian climate. The most stable Spotted Gum timber comes from New South Wales. What are the pros and cons of them? Outdoor Living › Decking pro's and cons pplleeaaassee. Mostly supplied in random lengths. Some gum veins present in timber. The antimicrobial surface will last for the lifespan of the decking, which is designed to stand up to a variety of climate conditions. Decking and paving pros and cons. The timber often comes with an attractive wavy grain with coarse and uneven texture; it also is noted as having a “greasy” feel when you run your hand over machined products. Mahogany Wood has a number of pros & cons some of which are mentioned below; Pros. Lyctus, a wood-boring beetle, can cause considerable damage to spotted gum wood. When this timber is cut into flooring it provides both the full variety of colour that is offered in the Spotted Gum species and the additional benefit of greater stability. Some more advantages to Spotted Gum decking include that it is a somewhat dense timber with a Janka (hardness) rating of 11, making it a very resistant to scratches or knocks. Unlike the Merbau, that’s grown in Papua New Guinea, the Spotted Gum is native to Queensland. If we are not available to answer your call, please leave a message and we will contact you as soon as possible. Capped composite decking requires far less maintenance than hardwood options. More importantly, we’ll see how it stacks up to composite decking when it comes to the maintenance needs, appearance, pest resistance, and fading issues that often signal trouble for decks. Wood Appearance. 7. One of the downfalls of Spotted Gum decking is that it’s susceptible to Lyctid Borer. This will be more fun than you think! Silvertop Ash decking timber Whether it's used for entertaining or just a place to lounge around on, a deck is an investment that … Alternatively you can call 0419 594 214. If you were looking at a feature grade I'd … The Cons. Decking pro's and cons pplleeaaassee. Blackbutt wood is not termite resistant. One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to use timber or composite decking. Created to mimic the gorgeous colours and patterns of Australian hardwood, NexGEN’s spotted gum composite decking mirrors the warm golden brown colour of spotted gum — without some of the issues inherent to hardwood. Choosing between Timber and Composite Decking. Today, we’re going to delve deep into one of the most popular decking materials around — spotted gum. A final tip if you are considering laying a deck is to screw down the hardwood, rather than nailing or even using a nail gun. Similar Threads. Maintenance is simple and requires only soap and water. One of the biggest decisions is also deceptively simple: is it better to use natural timber or composite decking materials. Decking is either made from natural timber or from a composite material. Like other natural timber decking options, spotted gum requires ongoing maintenance in the form of oiling and sealing to maintain its original look. Decking is either made from natural timber or from a composite material. This hardwood is very strong, dense and long lasting (up to 40 years). To do a thorough analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of a partnership, start by looking at all the possible advantages that might apply to your situation. Mon Jan 19, 2009 12:48 pm. There are various types of timbers used as decking including Treated Pine, Jarrah, Blackbutt and Spotted Gum. The heartwood of spotted gum ranges from a light brown to a dark reddish-brown. Start your research by becoming familiar with types of authentic and synthetic decking. So today I will talk about the pros and cons of three of the most popular decking timbers: Merbau, Spotted Gum and Silvertop Ash. Silvertop has a medium density, is moderately durable (up to 25 years) and tends to start off white to light brown, tending to a pink/brown colour as it ages. There are various types of timbers used as decking including Treated Pine, Jarrah, Blackbutt and Spotted Gum. Wood or composite decking—or something else? There are a lot of comments in the decking threads about the pros and cons of coatings. On the other hand, Merbau is not naturally resistant to the Lyctid borer, but it is to termites and is generally an imported hardwood. 1. One of the benefits of using Spotted Gum in landscaping on the Mornington Peninsula, is that it is one of the hardwoods recommended to be used in bushfire prone areas. Some varieties are less durable, with shorter lifespans. This s because screwing the timber helps the timber to last up to 4 times longer than nailing. The sapwood of the timber is Lyctid borer susceptible, so is commonly treated to help keep the timber free of the bugs. How can you use Internet on Great Firewall of China? PROS. Depending on where its grown, Spotted Gum can vary in different shades of brown. Both the Australian timbers are recommended for use in bushfire prone areas and although Merbau is more long lasting than the Spotted Gum or the Silvertop, the clear winners are the Australian hardwoods. spotted gum Australia, plantations in South America, Africa & Europe Dermatitis spruce Nth. Among hardwood options like merbau, jarrah, and blackbutt, spotted gum is usually the priciest option. No need to stain, seal, or expect mold to pop up at any time. advantages and disadvantages of pvc ceiling panel polywood A Shortlist Of The Advantages Of Pvc - PVC wall panels – ceiling , PVC benefits in a nutshell. It is very popular for its visible growth rings, making it a great hardwood for visual applications. We’ll look at how it’s sourced, how it’s used, and how it looks. Once you look past merbau’s attractive qualities, you’ll see that it falls short in a number of areas. Besides that, the Mahogany tree growth process from seedling to big tree takes around 35 - … Though spotted gum is resistant to termites, it’s susceptible to lyctus infestation. Hardwoods include Jarrah, Merbau, Spotted Gum and Cumaru. Spotted gum decking comes from a popular Australian hardwood that grows mainly on Australia’s east coast, generally harvested from New South Wales and Queensland. good luck jimj restore-a-deck.com.au. 2. Timber Decking. What decking is suitable for bushfire areas? The undeniable beauty of hardwood makes decking instantly appealing. As an experienced Mornington Peninsula landscaper, one of the most frequent questions asked by my clients is ‘what is the best type of decking timber?’. Hey all - just laid a grey gun deck. BreakWall.org. Created from recycled materials, capped composite decking is composed of two elements: recovered hardwood fibers and UV-stabilized polyethylene. Surplus Traders are Brisbane’s excess/surplus building materials specialists and we offer some of the best prices in South East Queensland. Like any major home purchase, decking materials vary in looks, durability, and cost. It's been raining and there's plenty of muddy foot prints all over the timbers. Please contact us using this form. Pros & Cons. Merbau is a hardwood imported from South East Asia, but can also be supplied from North Queensland. Like blackbutt, spotted gum is a fire-resistant Australian hardwood. Futurewood Decking The pros and cons of decking materials The great Australian deck comes in many shapes and sizes – sundecks, pool surrounds, verandahs, private courtyards, gazebos, walkways. 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