GPEMS

Timber decking is a marvellous way to enhance the aesthetic appeal of any home, garden and building. A natural product in harmony with the environment, decking lends itself to a tremendous variety of forms and styles - all of which bring added beauty and value to any building or landscape. Whether used for relaxing, entertaining, dining or as a play space for children, decks are superbly versatile and aesthetic extensions to the home. Timber decks are highly durable. That's because naturally durable timber species or pressure-treated softwoods are used in their construction. Modern preservative treatments mean that the timber, if maintained, should be structurally sound for around 25 years. Timber decks can be customised to your own decorative or stylistic tastes. Stain your deck to practically any colour you like, whether one of a huge range of natural wood colours - or in a bright fashion shade. Decking Maintenance Simple maintenance activities will greatly enhance the long-term appearance and durability of your timber deck. Any timber deck will benefit from regular brushing with a stiff broom; as well, twice annually it is a good idea to wash your deck down with a pressure spray. These activities ensure that leaves, dirt and other debris are removed and any small surface growths are also removed. Installation Timber decking is a great alternative to the traditional patio. Easy assembly is a main advantage of timber decking. Timber decking brings many advantages compared to other garden structures and surfaces. These benefits include: Great aesthetic appeal Surprisingly attractive prices Greater design flexibility Easier installation than some traditional (and non-traditional) alternatives. Decking Colours and stains Decking is a great way to provide attractive colours and finishes to your home or landscape. Deck staining provides the ultimate in one-step colour, protection and waterproofing for decks. Add an exciting and attractive colour whilst providing durability and scuff resistance. See your local supplier for recommended stains and finishes. Colours available with timber decking include:

1. Golden Cedar
2. Brown Walnut
3. Evergreen
4. Silver Birch
5. Natural Redwood
6. Blue Pine

Timber used for Decking 

A timber deck is constructed like a false floor, which makes an outside space on the same level as the interior. This creates the perfect solution for sloping sites, uneven ground and old and worn-out patios. Many different timber species are used to produce timber decks. These species are naturally durable and are pressure treated to ensure decking durability. Species used for timber decking include:

1. Belian/Ulin
2. Merbau
3. Selangan Batu
4. Treated Radiata
5. Spotted Gum
6. Brushbox Just to name a few species as the type of decking now available is enormus.

Belian

Belian is one of the most renowned timbers of Borneo and Indonesia. It has been favoured both for local use and the export trade. The wood is exceptionally hard and heavy, with density ranging from 835-1185 kg.m3 (52-74lb/ft3) air dry. The sapwood is bright yellow when fresh and darkens on exposure and sharply defined from the heartwood, which is light brown to almost bright yellow when fresh and darkens on exposure to deep reddish brown, becoming very dark brown or almost black with age. The timber is very strong. Texture is moderately fine to fine and even with grains fairly straight or shallowly interlocked. The timber is easy to work despite its high density and produces a smooth and often lustrous surface. The wood is one of the most durable in the world and the heartwood is extremely resistant to preservative treatment.
Application and Uses:

Its commercial uses include:

1. Heavyconstruction
2. Marine work, boat building
3. Printing blocks
4. Industrial flooring and roofing
5. Furniture
6. Decking

Selangan

Sapwood is pink, purple-brown or grey-brown and is fairly well defined from the heartwood, which is light to deep red-brown. Grain for this species is deeply interlocked. Rays are fine to medium sized and are visible to the naked eye on the cross-section.
Intercellular of vertical type occur in concentric formation, often as large as the vessels and filled with white resin. Treatability for the Selangan Batu species is very difficult. It has poor nailing capabilities, turning and boring can be difficult, although planing is quite easy. It is a very durable timber, as it dries slowly with only slight degradation.

Merbau

Merbau is widely distributed, mainly in the lowland areas and along rivers. Sapwood is well-defined and pale yellow in colour. Heartwood is yellowish to orange-brown when fresh, weathering to brown or dark red-brown.

1. Grain is interlocked.
2. Texture is coarse but even.
3. Growth rings are fairly distinct.
4. Vessels are moderately large to very large and with simple perforations, very few or few, mainly solitary and occasionally radial pairs and multiples of 3 can be seen; evenly scattered without any arrangement, frequently filled with dark-coloured and sulphur yellow deposits.

Both apotracheal and paratracheal parenchyma are present. Apotracheal parenchyma appears as irregularly spaced terminal bands while paratracheal parenchyma appears as aliform borders around the vessels. Rays are moderately fine and may be visible on the end and tangential surfaces. Merbau is a durable timber, but is very difficult to treat. The growth ring figure and deep colour makes it an attractive wood for decorative work including interior finishing, paneling, strip and parquet flooring, superior joinery, cabinet-making, door and window frames, furniture, veneer, turnery and tool handles.

WORKING PROPERTIES

Planing: Slightly difficult
Finish: Smooth
Boring: Easy
Finish: Smooth
Turning: Easy
Finish: Smooth
Nailing: Very poor