What is the best decking timber in Australia?

There is a wide variety of decking timber in Australia. Some of it is important, but most of it is grown right here in plantations that ensure sustainable growth.

All the decking timber can be classified as hardwood and softwood. While hardwood is more durable and usually more resilient, even fire-resistant, softwood is cheaper and more flexible. What makes the best decking timber depends on the specifics of your decking project. Service Seeking decking experts can help you make the best choice.

Here is the list of the most commonly used decking timber in Australia:

1. Spotted Gum is one of the best choices for timber decking. It is hardwood with very little tannin, so it doesn’t “bleed” that much. The colour ranges in different shades of brown. Spotting gum decking has fire-retardant properties that meet the Australian Standard AS3959, making it perfect for areas where bushfires occur.
   

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2. Teak is right there with spotting gum when it comes to resilience to fire. Additionally, this hardwood is unbelievably resistant to all the elements, and it makes perfect decking timber. But, there is a question of price. While teak has amazing features, it is also among the most expensive timbers out there.
3. Grey Ironbark is dense and hard. It is recommended for the timber decking around your pools because it is quite resilient. Using ironbark means you won’t have to bother with insects, as well. The colour of the timber ranges from grey tones to red hues.
   

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4. Blackbutt is actually light-coloured. It is solid and resilient, but it also needs regular resealing in order to last longer. It is an Australian native timber, and it is also listed as a fire-resistant wood.
5. Select Pacific Jarrah is an excellent, durable timber that has an amazing variety of colours. It ranges from red to grey and everything in between. This timber repels insect fire and stands strong under any weather. The best option is to get your Jarrah from sustainable sources.
6. Treated Pine is not a hardwood but a softwood. That is why it has been used for decking buildings only recently. It is not as expensive as hardwood and is much lighter, but due to all the treatments, it is highly durable and sturdy. You will need help when picking out treated pine timber because not all of it is suitable for outdoor use.
   

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7. Cedar is another type of softwood that is used for decking. It repels insects and bears the weather well, but not as well as the hardwood. That is why it needs to be re-sealed every year or two. It rarely or never rots. Cedar has lovely earthy tones and, usually, a very good price.
8. Karri is another native Australian hardwood that makes the perfect choice for decking timber. Karri tree grows tall and straight, so this hardwood is usually available in long and straight beams. Karri's hues range from pink to red.
9. Stringybark comes in white, red and yellow. Only yellow and red stringybark timber decking can be used for outdoor projects like decking. However, keep in mind that red is rare, so it can be expensive. For that money, you can get better hardwood. Yellow stringybark has a good value-for-money ratio.
10. Merbau has excellent properties that make it suitable for the Australian climate. It is softer than other hardwoods, so it is easier to work with. Another benefit is the beautiful red colour. However, there are some downsides. Merbau has a lot of tannins, which means it “bleeds” a lot.
    There are treatments and sealers for that but be prepared for a lot of “bleeding”. Also, always make sure that your Meribau is sourced from sustainable plantations because there is a lot of misuse of this amazing tree.

     

    

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11. Tallowwood is a native Australian wood. It is one of the hardest timbers out there, and it has been known to the builders for ages. It is extremely durable both in and above ground. Tallowwood decking is strong and can last for 40 years.

Besides these esthetic features, there is also a matter of durability.

Which Wood Is the Most Durable?

Among the most durable woods for timber decking are grey and red ironback, blackbutt, teak, and spotted gum. These types of wood have very high durability marks and they are durable naturally.

Generally, hardwood is more durable than softwood, but treated softwood can achieve the same levels of durability. Therefore, you need to look at the markings before you decide on your timber decking.

All timber is classified into one of the four classes. The lowest number marks the more durable timber. Durability is determined as resistance to termites and rotting of the heartwood.

The durability of timber is increased drastically when the timber is treated. For that purpose, there is an entirely different grading. Hazard levels go from H1 to H6. For timber decking purposes, you should always pick the timber that is H3 and up. This marking signifies the type of treatment the timber has.

As you can see, there is a lot to know when it comes to picking the best wood for your timber decking. That is precisely why you should not do this yourself without some help from the experts. Decking professionals have seen it all – hardwood that survives the impossible, softwood that can be treated to be as hard as ironbark – all of it.

They are ready to share their knowledge if you hire them for your decking projects. Hiring a professional doesn’t have to mean that you will overpay for a simple decking project. On the contrary, Service Seeking makes sure you get several reasonable quotes without making any commitment. All you need to do is – ask.

So, ask for quotes for timber decking right now and see how they fit your budget.