Decking questions

[Walshie]

Hi,

I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after a major rebuild.

 

I plan to finish with a Victorian type veranda on the front of the house. It will be about 10m wide and about 2.4m deep.

 

I plan to build a timber deck beneath it. We’ve looked at composite - but don’t really like it.

Given it’s the end of a nine month build, the old bank balance is not what it used to be!

My questions are:

 

What timber would you recommend for a long lasting deck that will look good and be a reasonable maintenance proposition?

 

Any advice on sub-structure to ensure a long life etc?

 

Once it’s built, what preservative should I use which will look natural and be effective?

 

Thanks for your help,

 

W

[JohnMo]

27 minutes ago, Walshie said:

Any advice on sub-structure to ensure a long life etc?

 

I would say have the wood away from the ground, I use hot dip galvanised metal plates concreted into the ground and built the structure from there. Build heavy duty, not lightweight, I have perimeter structure in doubled up 10x2, infill is all 6x2 on 400mm centres. It's super solid under foot

 I used composite boards.

[saveasteading]

See if you can keep the wood structure completely dry . as @JohnMo , but also with clear space underneath (not boxed in) so that it can have draughts and dry 

Unless you use very special timber it will start to go mouldy and rot immediately, and a 10 year max life should be expected for the wooden surface.

[Gone West]

I used ipe, pronounced eepay, for my balcony decking at the last place. No treatment required, very hard wearing and resistant to insects and rot. Also expensive though.