Most Popular Timber Used For Timber Decks – Updated

15 Choices For Your Timber Deck

Australian homeowners have long been in love with timber decks. They are a perfect way to add space, character and value to any property. There are several different types of timber available for decking. There are tow main types, hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwood timbers such as Merbau and Spotted Gum have increased in popularity recently. This is due to their excellent durability and resistance to harsh weather conditions. Softwood timbers such as Pine are more affordable but they require more maintenance over time.

Today NO1 Decks are going to explore all the timber used for decking in Australia. Plus we’ll talk about what makes each one unique.

Let’s Quickly Explain Wood Types

Hardwood and softwood are types of wood based on the density of the material. Hardwoods come from deciduous trees. Which lose their leaves seasonally.They also tend to be darker in color. Softwoods come from coniferous trees. They have needles instead of leaves, and are typically lighter in color. Hardwoods tend to be more dense and last longer than softwoods. But also cost more due to their durability. Softwoods are easier to shape and finish compared to hardwoods as they are less dense. Due to it’s strength and durability, hardwoods are the most common choice for timber decks.

1. Jarrah

Jarrah is a dense hardwood with a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for outdoor use. It is highly durable with a rich brown hue and attractive grain patterns. Its density rating of 900kg/m3 and its life expectancy of 25 to 40 years.

It has an SD4 strength group class when seasoned. It is resistant to rot and termites, making it an excellent low-maintenance option for building long-lasting decks. Its versatility makes it suitable for various indoor and outdoor projects such as stairs, cladding, and furniture. All these features make Jarrah an excellent choice for building beautiful solid decks.

2. Spotted Gum

Spotted Gum is a strong and durable timber found on the east coast of Australia. It has an even texture with a medium to coarse grain, interlocked pattern, and attractive hue.

Suitable for outdoor applications, it is classified within strength group 1 (seasoned) and strength group 2 (unseasoned). In addition, it has a density rating of 1080kg/m3 and a life expectancy of up to 25 years. All these features make it an ideal choice for decking, landscaping, or other outdoor structures.

3. Blackbutt

Blackbutt timber is an attractive hardwood native to the east coast of Australia. Popular for outdoor projects such as decks, cladding, and fencing. It has a light to medium-brown colour with a hint of yellow, a straight grain, and an even texture. Fireproof, and resistant to insects and decay – it’s a great choice.

Blackbutt is a class 2 strength group timber. Suitable for structural uses, including decking and cladding. Unseasoned Blackbutt is a Class 1, making it ideal for flooring or furniture. With an 8.8 density rating, Blackbutt can last up to 25 years.

4. Merbau

Merbau is a tropical hardwood timber native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It has a rich reddish-brown colour and excellent strength properties, making it one of the most robust timbers available. Its Janka rating is 1,800 and it has a seasoned strength group of 1. Merbau is naturally durable with a density rating of around 1,400 kg/m3, meaning no additional treatments are necessary for outdoor use.

Merbau has an even texture with straight grain and can be slightly oily or have a faint smell of cloves. It’s also very durable and can last up to 40 years. Known for being well suited to outdoor use as it is naturally termite and weather-resistant.

Merbau makes great decking due to its strength and durability, plus its attractive colour which won’t fade over time. It’s also perfect for other outdoor structures, furniture, etc., as it’s easy to work with – cutting, sawing, and drilling is no problem!

5. Ironbark

Ironbark timber is an Australian hardwood known for its durability, strength, and attractive natural color. It is usually sourced from eucalyptus trees in New South Wales and Queensland and is available in many different species. Ironbark has a strength group rating of S6 when seasoned and S4 when unseasoned, making it one of the densest hardwoods with a density rating of 850-1150 kg/m³. It resists decay and insect attack and is long-lasting in outdoor settings.

The color varies from light brown to deep red, plus it has a coarse texture and straight to slightly interlocked grain. As a result, Ironbark is perfect for outdoor applications like decking, verandas, pergolas, outdoor furniture, and heavy construction projects such as railway sleepers.

6. StringyBark

Stringybark is a hardwood commonly used for decking in Australia. It’s durable, low-maintenance, and aesthetically pleasing. Thus it’s perfect for outdoor projects. A species of Eucalyptus is found mainly in cooler climates. Stringybark comes in grey, brown, white, and red varieties.

With a medium-coarse texture and a pale to dark reddish-brown colour, this timber has a straight to interlocked grain pattern. It also has strength and durability with S2 seasoned strength group & S3 unseasoned strength group, as well as a 700-900kg/m³ density rating & a Class 2 durability rating – meaning it has a life expectancy of 2-15 years outdoors. Perfect for decking, landscaping, and furniture, splitting can occur if installed poorly or not maintained correctly.

7. Victorian Ash

Victorian Ash is a native Australian hardwood species found in the east with a light yellowish-brown colour, fine texture, and strength rating of SG 6-7 (SG 4-5 unseasoned).

It has a density of 900-1100 kg/m3, making it one of the densest hardwoods in Australia. Its life expectancy is 15-25 years, depending on care. It’s ideal for outdoor decking and interior use. Good examples are flooring, joinery, furniture, and linings.

8. Tasmanian Oak

Tasmanian Oak, also known as Victorian Ash, is a hardwood native to Australia. It has an even grain and is long-lasting, with a strong group rating of 4 and an average density of 860 kg/m3, making it ideal for outdoor use. The hue ranges from pinkish-brown to golden-brown, with a medium to coarse texture.

It’s resistant to splintering, so it’s great for walking barefoot; plus, it can be shaped to fit any space or design. Tasmanian Oak is an attractive and cost-efficient choice for decking – strong enough to withstand all elements yet visually appealing when stained or oiled. With a life expectancy of 30-50 years, it’s an excellent investment.

9. Redgum

Redgum timber is a species of Eucalyptus native to Australia. With a red-brown colour and medium texture, it’s commonly used for decking, flooring, and other outdoor applications due to its strength and durability. Redgum is classified as a Class 2 Hardwood with a seasoned strength group of SG7, making it an ideal choice for outdoor projects that require strength and durability.

Unseasoned redgum has a strong group of SG3 which is suitable for indoor applications. At a density rating of 4.5, redgum is highly durable and resistant to decay, with a life expectancy of up to 25 years; it’s also termite-resistant. As a result, Redgum timber is the perfect choice for outdoor construction. It is suitable for decks, flooring, furniture, cladding, and more.

10. Messmate

Messmate timber is a hardwood native to Australia. It’s solid and dense, making it a good choice for outdoor decking. Trees such as mountain ash, grey Gum, Stringybark, and black Gum provide this timber. Its colour ranges from medium to light brown and may darken with exposure over time. The distinct grain pattern gives it an attractive look and feel. In terms of strength group (when seasoned) 8-10; when unseasoned, 6-9; density rating is 860kg/m3 – making it very durable.

Messmate timber has a natural resistance to rot and insect attack. This makes it a good choice for outdoor decking. However, it needs regular maintenance, such as cleaning and oiling, to retain its quality. It can last up to 25 years or more. It’s also used for fencing and furniture due to its natural look and feel. Popular among those wanting a beautiful outdoor space.

11. Australian Blackwood

Australian Blackwood timber is an Acacia melanoxylon hardwood native to Eastern Australia’s sustainable forests. It has a medium-coarse texture and yellow-brown to dark brown colour. Strength group 6-7, density rating 800kg/m3, making it solid and durable – naturally resistant to termites, rot, and decay with a long life expectancy of up to 25 years when maintained properly. Ideally used outdoors for decking, flooring, fencing, landscaping, joinery, furniture & cabinets. An easy to work withs timber that requires minimal maintenance, making it a sustainable choice for outdoor decking.

12. Brushbox

Brushbox timber is a popular choice for timber decking, being native to Australia and found in New South Wales and Queensland coastal regions. It has a unique colour, ranging from pale yellow to pink-brown, and a fine, even texture. It is classified as moderately durable with a density rating of 6-8 kg/m³ and a life expectancy of up to 20 years when seasoned. This makes it suitable for outdoor decking due to its strength, resistance to splitting and cupping, and stability.

Brushbox timber is also perfect for landscaping projects and outdoor furniture, thanks to its strength and attractive appearance. Furthermore, it can be used for fencing, cladding, or other outdoor structures. It is easy to work with – shape, plane, cut, or stain – making it an ideal option for outdoor projects.

Overall, Brushbox timber offers beauty, durability, strength, easy use, and maintenance. It is ideal for outdoor decking, furniture, fencing, and cladding projects.

13. Karri

Karri timber is an iconic Australian hardwood with a deep red-brown colour, renowned for its strength and durability. It has a fine texture, is dense, and is resistant to termites. It is Class 1 durability, with a life expectancy of over 40 years in outdoor applications. This makes it perfect for decking, fencing, and other exterior projects, offering a beautiful, lasting finish.

Popular Softwoods Use for Decking

14. Treated Pine

Treated Pine timber is ideal for building a deck or pergola. It’s a cost-effective and long-lasting softwood. It has a yellow/brown colour when freshly sawn, turning to honey brown after treatment. It’s easy to machine, cut and shape due to its coarse texture.

Classification is Strength Group C (seasoned) and Strength Group D (unseasoned), with a density rating of 600-700kg/m3. With regular maintenance, treated pine timber can last up to 15 years. Not only is it perfect for outdoor structures exposed to the elements, but also for internal cladding, flooring, and furniture.

15. Cypress Pine

Cyprus pine is a highly versatile and popular timber species used for decking. Native to the Mediterranean region, including Cyprus and Crete, and found in parts of Turkey and the Middle East, it boasts strength and durability with a 5 rating (suitable for most construction/engineering), unseasoned.

The typical yellow-brown color with coarse texture makes it a great choice for outdoor decking. It’s durable, with a 1.2 density rating and a life expectancy of up to 25 years when properly maintained. It’s also widely used for furniture, flooring, and other projects – easy to work with and can be stained, painted, or varnished.

FAQ’s

What are the most popular timbers used for decks?

Hardwoods, such as Jarrah, Merbau and Spotted Gum, are the most popular type of native timber in Australia. They are denser than softwoods, making them more durable and long-lasting. This makes them ideal for use in furniture, flooring and decking. Softwoods, like Cypress Pine, Radiata Pine and Douglas Fir, while not as hard or as durable as hardwoods, have their own advantages.

What is the most expensive timber to use?

Jarrah is the most expensive timber to use for decking. So how much does it cost for Jarrah? It is typically priced up to $350 per square metre, making it one of the more expensive timber options available.

 What is the Janka Scale?

The Janka Scale is a scale for measuring the hardness of wood. It measures the force required to embed a 0.444 inch steel ball into the wood to half its diameter. The higher the number on the Janka Scale, the harder and more resistant to denting and wear the wood is. This makes it a useful tool when comparing different types of timber as it can give an indication of their durability.

What is Wood Movement?

Wood movement is the natural change in size, shape and/or appearance that takes place over time due to environmental factors such as humidity and temperature. As wood absorbs moisture, it will expand and contract depending on the surrounding climate. This can cause warping, cracking and joint loosening over time.

How Much Does Timber Decking Cost?

The cost of timber decking can vary greatly depending on the type of timber, size and configuration of the deck, and regional availability. Generally speaking, a basic softwood deck from a DIY store may start at around $50 per sqm. Whereas an elaborate hardwood deck with multiple levels may reach over $1200 per sqm.

How Do I Maintain a Timber Deck?

Timber decks require regular maintenance to ensure they remain in good condition. This includes cleaning with a mild soap and water solution. It may also require sanding down any raised grains or splinters. Sealing is also recommended. Using a protective finish every two to three years. It’s also important to inspect regularly for signs of rot or decay and repair as soon as possible.

How Long Does a Timber Deck Last?

A well-maintained timber deck can last anywhere between 10-20 years. Although higher quality hardwoods may last much longer. Ultimately, its lifespan depends on the material used. Plus how it is maintained, and the climate conditions it is exposed to.

Why is Hardwood Good for Timber Decking?

Hardwoods are an ideal choice for timber decking. They strong, durable and long-lasting. They are also naturally resistant to rot and decay which makes them less prone to damage from temperature changes or moisture. In addition, hardwoods can be easily stained or painted to match any outdoor décor. Making them a great way to add character to a space.

Can use timber for decking in bushfire prone areas?

Yes, timber can be used for decking in bushfire prone areas. However, it is important to choose the right type of timber. Hardwoods are generally more suitable as they are denser and more resistant to fire than softwoods. It is also recommended to use a fire-resistant coating or treatment on the timber to further protect it from flames and embers.

Is composite decking fire proof?

Composite decking is safer from fire compared to regular wooden decking. It’s a mix of wood and plastic, so it doesn’t burn as easily. Plus, it takes longer to start burning because it has a higher temperature threshold. But, it can still catch hire with enough heat and flames. So, be careful when using it near areas that can have bushfires.

Companies can make their composite decking even safer by putting in fire-stopping chemicals.

Conclusion

Timber comes in various shapes and forms, allowing you to choose the option that works best for you. Some have an average durability rating, whereas others are strong enough to withstand harsh environments. Simply choose the one that fits your needs and budget the most. To find out more please contact us to get all your questions answered. We offer free advice, measure and quote plus in house consulations.