Recommendations for wooden decking virgin please?
Discussion
We never considered composite....and do like our deck.....but after a few years, I am going to have to do some jet-washing, cleaning and re-treating this year.
So I can't really comment on composite - maybe I would use it next time, if the price was equal - I have no idea if planks of plastic cost more or less than wood......I guess wood ought to be more ecologically sound, but not if the planks are VERY recycled, & this is PH, so maybe we shouldn't care
If you go wood - my advice would be to NOT paint it - use some kind of clear stain. Neighbours painted theirs a nice deep blue....of course within months it was looking a little ropey, and a couple of years in it looks awful!
Wood is easy material to work with. I imagine composite could be too, & perhaps lighter. Anyone got any comparable prices?
So I can't really comment on composite - maybe I would use it next time, if the price was equal - I have no idea if planks of plastic cost more or less than wood......I guess wood ought to be more ecologically sound, but not if the planks are VERY recycled, & this is PH, so maybe we shouldn't care
If you go wood - my advice would be to NOT paint it - use some kind of clear stain. Neighbours painted theirs a nice deep blue....of course within months it was looking a little ropey, and a couple of years in it looks awful!
Wood is easy material to work with. I imagine composite could be too, & perhaps lighter. Anyone got any comparable prices?
I was quoted:
£3000 for softwood - needs maintenance, lasts circa 15yrs
£4000 for hardwood - needs some maintenance, lasts circa 20 yrs
£5000 for composite - needs no maintenance, lasts 25yrs+
(This was for dismantling & skipping the old deck and laying the new, so base price plus variable material cost)
Modern composite can look much more natural than the plastic planks of a few years ago.
£3000 for softwood - needs maintenance, lasts circa 15yrs
£4000 for hardwood - needs some maintenance, lasts circa 20 yrs
£5000 for composite - needs no maintenance, lasts 25yrs+
(This was for dismantling & skipping the old deck and laying the new, so base price plus variable material cost)
Modern composite can look much more natural than the plastic planks of a few years ago.
Having just moved from a house with a large decking area, I wouldn’t do decking myself.
It was only laid 2 years ago, we have it a lick of treatment last year, there was nothing wrong with it, but the way it was aging/cracking, I couldn’t see it lasting more than another few years before it was looking tired and id want to replace it.
I also don’t like the loud noise and movement the void underneath entails, this wouldn’t be helped with composite.
Patio all the way for me, personally.
It was only laid 2 years ago, we have it a lick of treatment last year, there was nothing wrong with it, but the way it was aging/cracking, I couldn’t see it lasting more than another few years before it was looking tired and id want to replace it.
I also don’t like the loud noise and movement the void underneath entails, this wouldn’t be helped with composite.
Patio all the way for me, personally.
If you do go for wood, just use decking oil to protect it, DO NOT PAINT IT!!!
The paint wears off quite quickly regardless of what it says on the tin, and it becomes an annual, even a twice yearly chore to repaint it all to keep it looking decent.
When oiled, it gains a patina over time, rather than looking untidy and scruffy.
I speak from experience. And also decided that a patio I can jetwash is far easier to maintain than decking.
The paint wears off quite quickly regardless of what it says on the tin, and it becomes an annual, even a twice yearly chore to repaint it all to keep it looking decent.
When oiled, it gains a patina over time, rather than looking untidy and scruffy.
I speak from experience. And also decided that a patio I can jetwash is far easier to maintain than decking.
I'm also interested in hearing comments about this
I think it depends on where the decking will be. If it's right outside the back door, then that's a no no! Simply because it gets slippery when wet and you don't want to be falling over every time you put the bins out.
We had a decking area (treated softwood) at our old house which was adjacent to our paved patio, so it only got walked on when we used it. We laid it ourselves about 15 years ago. Never treated it once. Only pressure washed it every spring. It was still looking reasonable when we moved 18 months ago.
Our new house will need something outside the bi fold doors, but it has to be something totally non slip.
I think it depends on where the decking will be. If it's right outside the back door, then that's a no no! Simply because it gets slippery when wet and you don't want to be falling over every time you put the bins out.
We had a decking area (treated softwood) at our old house which was adjacent to our paved patio, so it only got walked on when we used it. We laid it ourselves about 15 years ago. Never treated it once. Only pressure washed it every spring. It was still looking reasonable when we moved 18 months ago.
Our new house will need something outside the bi fold doors, but it has to be something totally non slip.
I laid mine to a fall along the deck boards to try to minimise water and algae - it was outside the back door and was slippery 70% of the year - admittedly it was also North facing.
I jet washed twice a year and treated - be aware, the cheap stuff is 95% white spirit !
Next house was slabbed.
I jet washed twice a year and treated - be aware, the cheap stuff is 95% white spirit !
Next house was slabbed.
Mine has been down 10 years in the NW Highlands - 10 yards from the sea, and looks as good as new. Reason: Proper pine from Finland and...
http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/brand/osmo?gcl...
http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/brand/osmo?gcl...
GetCarter said:
Mine has been down 10 years in the NW Highlands - 10 yards from the sea, and looks as good as new. Reason:
http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/brand/osmo?gcl...
And / or salt water / air kills the algae.http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/brand/osmo?gcl...
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