ᐅ Wooden Decking – Which Type of Wood to Choose, or WPC Decking?
Created on: 28 Sep 2017 11:33
K
kaho674
We are planning our terrace and are leaning strongly towards a wooden deck. Now we are looking for suitable types of wood. So far, we are considering oak. Of course, we do not want tropical hardwoods, but at the same time, it shouldn’t start to rot after just three years. What wood have you chosen and why?
avalanche schrieb:
You have to like the gray then. Tastes vary. I would accept the gray, but if oiling helps, I would prefer the richer wood tone. Have you been able to maintain the wood's original color with maintenance, or has it turned gray anyway?A
avalanche29 Sep 2017 14:55Our terrace is not finished yet.
When oiling the terrace, the oil needs to contain color pigments. There are of course different colors available. It’s best to get advice from a specialized retailer. They usually have a selection on site, which I personally find better to see in person than in photos from catalogs or on the internet.
When oiling the terrace, the oil needs to contain color pigments. There are of course different colors available. It’s best to get advice from a specialized retailer. They usually have a selection on site, which I personally find better to see in person than in photos from catalogs or on the internet.
S
Steffen8029 Sep 2017 15:00If you want peace of mind... only Accoya will do. Basically, it’s in a class of its own. It may be a bit more expensive, but then you don’t have to worry anymore.
Here comes the shipbuilder again.
So, teak is unbeatable, but it’s unaffordable, and even teak alternatives like kambala are definitely too expensive for terraces. The new fishing pier at our harbor is made of larch, which will surely last 10 years without oil or preservatives like carbolineum. Rinsing with saltwater is very good for the wood; it kills fungi and lichens.
The alternative, WPC (wood-plastic composite), is expensive and durable, but we have had unpleasant experiences with static electricity on the surface. This can be controlled by installing aluminum profiles on every third plank, which are electrically connected and grounded on land. I don’t know if this issue occurs with terraces as well.
The idea of oiling the wood is not good. It quickly becomes patchy and doesn’t look nice. One exception would be treatment with Owatrol, which makes the wood smooth. Owatrol is applied wet-on-wet to the wood until it no longer absorbs it. Excess is left to dry on the surface or wiped off with tissue. This makes the wood very water-repellent, but Owatrol only lasts for one year, so the process must be repeated annually. The silver larch patina, maintained by occasionally cleaning the wood with Netrol (do not scrub hard, just gently across the grain with a soft brush), is actually quite attractive. And as mentioned, rinse with saltwater from time to time.
All other wood types are either too soft, like spruce and pine, or no better than good larch from forests near the Arctic Circle, where trees grow slowly and the tight growth rings give the wood good hardness. That’s about it. Karsten
So, teak is unbeatable, but it’s unaffordable, and even teak alternatives like kambala are definitely too expensive for terraces. The new fishing pier at our harbor is made of larch, which will surely last 10 years without oil or preservatives like carbolineum. Rinsing with saltwater is very good for the wood; it kills fungi and lichens.
The alternative, WPC (wood-plastic composite), is expensive and durable, but we have had unpleasant experiences with static electricity on the surface. This can be controlled by installing aluminum profiles on every third plank, which are electrically connected and grounded on land. I don’t know if this issue occurs with terraces as well.
The idea of oiling the wood is not good. It quickly becomes patchy and doesn’t look nice. One exception would be treatment with Owatrol, which makes the wood smooth. Owatrol is applied wet-on-wet to the wood until it no longer absorbs it. Excess is left to dry on the surface or wiped off with tissue. This makes the wood very water-repellent, but Owatrol only lasts for one year, so the process must be repeated annually. The silver larch patina, maintained by occasionally cleaning the wood with Netrol (do not scrub hard, just gently across the grain with a soft brush), is actually quite attractive. And as mentioned, rinse with saltwater from time to time.
All other wood types are either too soft, like spruce and pine, or no better than good larch from forests near the Arctic Circle, where trees grow slowly and the tight growth rings give the wood good hardness. That’s about it. Karsten
Of course, you could walk on it, although it would be very slippery when wet, but the paint would hold up. The question is, who would pay for it! Do you know how they achieve those beautiful, smooth, sealed paint surfaces on luxury yachts? They sand up to 300 grit. Then apply about 10 layers of paint— the first three mixed half and half with thinner, the others with a one-to-three thinner to paint ratio. Between each layer, they sand with very fine paper. These paints are not cheap either. Schooner from International, for example.
Deck surfaces that are constantly walked on ships have traditionally been made of untreated teak strips. It is the only wood I know that withstands decades of exposure to UV, water, salt, and foot traffic. However, since teak is hardly available legally anymore due to climate and forest protection—and imports from Myanmar to the EU are currently impossible—this type of decking is dying out and is increasingly being replaced by vinyl imitations.
Deck surfaces that are constantly walked on ships have traditionally been made of untreated teak strips. It is the only wood I know that withstands decades of exposure to UV, water, salt, and foot traffic. However, since teak is hardly available legally anymore due to climate and forest protection—and imports from Myanmar to the EU are currently impossible—this type of decking is dying out and is increasingly being replaced by vinyl imitations.
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