When we are looking for wood to make durable decks, this question definitely arises in our mind which wood is the best for decking?.
There are thousands of wood species, out of which choosing the right wood specie can be challenging.
There are many engineered materials available for decking. Still, we all know that natural wood cannot be compared to these engineered materials as they do not have natural wood grain and texture.
In this blog post, I am going to share some most popular wood species for decking. The species of wood are as follows.
Wood For a Durable Decking
1. Treated pine
There are several reasons for placing treated pine at the top of this list. Treated pine has excellent strength and durability. It is most commonly used for decking.
The fibers of this wood are so plush that it looks good without paint and polish. By the way, for wooden decks, only the polish is perfect for showing the wood grain.
The “H” (Hazard) rating of this wood shows that this wood is the perfect choice for indoor as well as outdoor decking. You may find this wood more expensive. But its specialty may surprise you. So you may have to invest a little more money for such good wood.
2. Blackbutt Wood
Blackbutt wood is strong and durable, native to Australia. It is widely used for plywood, pole, furniture, decks, and flooring. It can be used for all these places where strength is required.
The color of the wood can range from golden yellow to pale brown with straight grain.
3. Jarrah Wood
Jarrah wood is very durable and resistant to insect attack. It is an expensive hardwood, native to Australia. It has a beautiful color, which varies from light to very dark brown and red. Which attracts amazing after finishing. Jarrah wood turns brown over time.
Jarrah wood is one of the most popular wood species for decks and flooring. It is also a good fire-resistant and is suitable for use in areas affected by fire. So that it can be used in the kitchen, outdoors, and indoors.
4. Spotted Gum Wood
Spotted Gum is extremely dense, strong, and durable, It is native to Australia. It is widely used for framing, flooring, lining, decking, and cladding.
This wood is almost like jarrah and blackbutt. But its color is pale brown to chocolate brown with a wavy grain. It has greater color variations than blackbutt wood.
Spotted Gum is difficult to work with because of its high density. Its Janka hardness value is 2,330 lbf (10,360 N). But after the finish, it looks great.
5. Ironbark Wood
If you are looking for deck wood that will last not only for decades but also for centuries, Ironbark can be a great choice.
Ironbark wood is highly durable and strong like iron. It can be a bit difficult to work with wood because of its high density.
It ranges in color from light brown to deep red wood. Ironbark is also highly fire, termite, and rot-resistant.
6. Siberian Larch
Siberian larch is highly durable and naturally resistant to decay, making it a good choice for decking, fence posts, flooring, and boatbuilding. It is a light-colored softwood. But it is harder than some hardwoods.
Wood color can be yellow to a medium reddish brown and the grain is straight. It is easy to work with hand and machine tools.
7. Iroko Wood
Iroko Wood is hard, strong, and durable, native to the west coast of Africa. It is mainly used for veneer, flooring, furniture, cabinetry, and boatbuilding.
Many people know Iroko as African, or Nigerian, teak but it does not belong to the teak family. It has a warm, dark color and, once oiled, is even considered an alternative to teak.
One special thing about this wood is that it produces natural oil which protects the wood from insects.
8. Balau Wood
Balau is a durable and stable hardwood. It is extremely resistant to water and weather and is an excellent choice for decks, floors, and outdoor uses. It is native to Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
The color of wood can range from yellow to brown. It contains toxins or natural oils that protect the wood from insects. Due to its high density and interlocked grain, Balau wood is not easy to work with.
9. European Oak Wood
Oak wood is a very strong and durable wood. It is also very heavy, which makes it perfect for floors and decks, and other objects that need to be stable. European Oak or British Oak has a very good resistance than white and red oak.
Oak also has a deep red color, which makes it a popular choice for furniture and other objects that need to be visually appealing.
10. Merbau Wood
Merbau Wood is very hard and durable. It is also known as Kwila and Ipil. Merbau wood is ideal for making floors and decks. Merbau wood is found in many colors such as dark brown, and lightly golden. Its main color hue is light red to dark golden color.
Its Janka Hardness value is 1,840 lbf (7,620 N), which is 80% higher than teak wood and black walnut wood, and 35% higher than oak hardwood.
Merbau wood contains oil which naturally makes it resistant to insects. Due to its hardness and interlocked grain, this wood is a bit difficult to work with but its hardness makes it less prone to scratches and dents.
11. Redwood
Redwood is extremely strong, durable, and stable hardwood. It is naturally rot, insects, and weather resistant. That’s why many people choose redwood for outdoor projects. Redwood decks can be live for about 30-40 years with regular maintenance.
Redwood finishes very well and holds paint and stains well, You can use a protective oil, water repellent, fungicide, and ultraviolet blocker to increase durability.
So here, see the post on the top 12 Timbers For Decking. If you have any ideas, share in the comment box what is your favorite wood species for decking.
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