Timber iQ December 2018 - January 2019 // Issue: 41 | Page 41

FEATURES
"Be very careful going this cheap
route. It's not worth taking
shortcuts on the hidden parts of
the deck to save a buck and have
it collapse or just sag a few years
down the line while the upper
surface is still perfect."
place strain on the tongue holding the decking plank
down as the wood moves – this is especially the case
with wider boards. He notes the exception to this rule
is with the advent of TMT decking. The stability is
unparalleled in this decking so feel free to use clips if
you don’t see screws as part of the charm of the deck,
Watermeyer advises.
When it comes to substructure, most decks built in
South Africa have CCA treated South African pine
substructures. “Be very careful going this cheap route.
It’s not worth taking shortcuts on the hidden parts of
the deck to save a buck and have it collapse or just sag
a few years down the line while the upper surface is
still perfect,” Watermeyer notes.
TAKE CARE OF YOUR TIMBER DECK
Timber deteriorates due to fungus eating away at the
fibres of the wood so be careful to install in a way that
doesn’t trap moisture on the timber, highlights
Watermeyer.
“Although the sun will dry the top boards of your
deck as the rain fades away, the substructure will still
be in the shade and will remain damp and therefore is a
fungus breeding ground if air movement isn’t allowed
to dry the unseen timber below. The best solution is to
use the same timber below as in the top structure but
unfortunately this will cost more, although long term
quality is assured.
“Remember to allow for the free flow of air, not only
between decking boards, but also around the bearer
beams to ensure evaporation of moisture under the
deck. Also, along south facing walls where the deck
isn’t exposed to much sun, moisture lingers longer and
fungus grows very easily. This makes the deck slippery
when wet and also shortens the lifespan of the wood,”
highlights Watermeyer.
Watermeyer adds that it’s also essential to leave
space between the boards to allow for expansion which
will close the space between the boards in wet winter
months as well as between the decking boards and the
substructure, he adds.
While the choice, planning and maintenance of timber
decking takes time, money and effort, the natural and
potentially carbon negative beauty of a wooden deck
outweighs it all. If it is carefully constructed and
correctly taken care of, a deck is for life.
// DECEMBER 2018 / JANUARY 2019 39