TALKING TIMBER
The search for that
classic beauty
By Tarren Bolton
Wooden decks have many unique benefits including longevity and beauty that
makes wood one of the most popular deck building materials on the market.
W
Cheryl Vermeulen, COO of Maple Street Timbers, agrees. “Wood
is a great way to add luxury and beauty to your pool area in an
environmentally-friendly way as most species are harvested from
responsible forests. It is best to enquire from your local supplier
where they source their material,” she says, and adds that while
there isn’t a standard specification for timber products (as each
species grows differently), an average size specification would be
approximately 90mm to 100mm wide, and 19mm to 20mm thick.
Lengths are wholly dependent on log sizes and availability.
“Movement is a factor with this natural product – so don’t try for
the longest, biggest planks. Shorter is always straighter, easier to
transport and easier to install,” adds Vermeulen.
SCOUTING FOR THE BEST: LOCAL OR
INTERNATIONAL TALENT?
Vermeulen says there is a wide range of exotic species of timber
available that can be used for exterior decking, with the three major
factors influencing choice being budget, colour, and length
availability.
“Available locally, are Pine and Saligna – which require more
treatment for longevity. Rhodesian Teak is imported from Africa,
and very hard, and extremely durable, but long lengths are scarce.
ood blends into natural surroundings much better
than other artificial deck surfaces, which makes it a
popular choice for outdoor decking. You just can’t
beat the natural look of wood. If installed correctly and
maintained well, it will add great value to your property.
Thermo-treated Ash is a popular choice for decking.
Thermally modified wood from Europe is the latest craze. The
modification extends the lifespan, making it more durable and in
need of less maintenance. The species available are thermo-
treated Pine, and thermo-treated Ash,” she says.
South Africa also imports wood with a natural insecticide – so no
treatment is needed – from South America; these include Garapa,
Massaranduba, Cumaru and Ipe. “Cumaru and Ipe are very high-end
products, and not available from all suppliers. From Malaysia we
import Red Balau, Yellow Balau – but a lot of movement occurs with
this product, so screw fastening is advised,” adds Vermeulen. If left
untreated, these species will weather a natural grey colour, but
surface cracking could occur due to South Africa’s high UV index.
Since timber is a natural product, no guarantees can be given for
how long the material will last, and environmental factors play a
large role. Typically, the hardwood materials have a lifespan of
between 15 to 20 years (excluding Pine and Saligna).
PREPARING THE STAGE – THE DECKING
SUBSTRUCTURE
Some architects and clients request the silver-grey colour, which can
be accomplished with time – but be careful of surface cracks due to
dryness.
www.timberiq.co.za
Vermeulen says that the most common material used for the
substructure is CCA Treated Pine. The abbreviation CCA indicates
the treatment process – Chromated Copper Arsenate. This wood
preservative is used to impregnate timber for outdoor use, in order
to protect it from attack by microbes and insects. The treatment is
available in different gradings:
• H3: Outside, above ground use
// APRIL / MAY 2020
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