Timber Decking

Timber Decking

Timber Decking Installers

So you are wanting to sort out a timber deck to enjoy over the spring and summer months - and possibly into autumn? We art Zest Decking can sort out your timber decking installation regardless of whether you are looking to install softwood, hardwood or even layered timber deck boards.

Perhaps you even weren't aware of some of the timber decking choices which are available, if that is the case we hope the following information will help you in your journey in deciding if wooden decking is for you, and if so which timber decking would be most suitable for you and your budget. All the Zest Decking teams are fully familiar will all the wooden decking options and are happy to have further discussions on your new, replacement or extension decking project.

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Softwood Decking

Softwood is still the most widely used decking material in the UK, this is mainly due to it providing the lowest initial install cost which means if you're on a tight budget but really want to have a deck area, this deck wood will provide the best option to get this garden project completed. From an installation perspective it is one of the easier materials to work with, which also helps keep labour costs down along with the material costs.

Softwood does not literally mean that the wood is soft - it's a general terms which refers to the woods which come from a number of evergreen or coniferous trees. These trees are generally some of the fastest growing which is why they are so common for wood projects and replacement trees planted to keep the cycle of wood availability and sustainability going. As well as the cutting and shaping of the wood, decking boards also undergo a treatment process known as pressure treatment. This is a similar treatment which some fence panels also go through where chemical preserves and insecticides are introduced to the wood in a pressurised environment. The pressure means that the preservatives go all the way through the wood and result in a much longer lasting product, more resilient to insect and moisture damage. The alternative to pressure treating is dip treatment which is more common on fence panels and as the name suggests the wood is simply dipped into a pool of preserve. This results in an outer coating of preserve rather than a thorough treatment all the way through. It's a cheaper process and as a result does not provide a long lasting end product. This treatment really shouldn't be used for deck boards so if ever you get an unusually cheap quote for timber decking be sure to question the source and treatment of the deck boards.

Softwood decking will show signs of wear if it is in high use, which will require more regular treatment to the boards with protector and oils to maintain a more waterproof coating and show off the colour of the wood.

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Hardwood Decking

Hardwoods are a reference to wood coming from slower growing trees. As a result the replacement and regeneration of hardwoods is a much slower process. The net effect of this means that hardwoods such as ash or oak will cost substantially more than softwoods. In the case of deck boards the woods most commonly used are ipe, iroko, teak, cumaro and balau most of which are not native and therefore need importing from countries in South America and Africa.

If your budget allows this will be the choice of the purest - a natural wood product, most of which will have a distinctive natural colour - some golden and others a deep red/brown. Hardwoods have a natural resistance to fungi, rot and insect infestation however, the level will vary slightly from hardwood to hardwood and whilst there will be significantly less maintenance require than softwood decking some level on preservation work will be required, especially if you want to maintain a particular colour level as over time most hardwood decking will change colour over time again the nature of which will depend on the individual wood, but most will tend to darken.

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Layered timber deck boards

These type of boards are not commonly promoted and therefore known about but for some people this additional safety feature can be an important addition or option for their decking.

The build up of algae on wooden decking can provide a very slippery surface when wet, especially if you have decided that you want to have the smooth side of your decking as the one you walk on. For some families this risk is a little to great, especially with older relatives so timber deck boards provide a non slip option.

Retrospective slip resistant strips can be applied to decking but  better option if to have a board which has been layered in the factory. Typically a board will either be layered will a very thin layer of artificial grass or hard wearing rubber which will provide the slip prevention surface addition. Whilst this may not be the most aesthetic of choices for many people it is a preference to a trip to hospital with a friend or relative.

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Timber Decking Maintenance

So what's involved in timber decking maintenance and how often does it need doing? Whether you've decided on softwood or hardwood decking you will need to look after your wood, however hardwood owners will have a much less frequent chore than those with softwood decks.

One aspect to be mindful or with regards to the level and frequency of maintenance treatment on decks will be depend on the level or usage and also the location of your deck. Clearly decking which is used very frequently by larger groups of family and friends will be subject to more wear. As a result you may need to apply decking oil every 6 months or less if in direct sunlight rather than every 12 months, which is a more standard approach. The oil will provide colour fade protection and waterproofing to softwoods. If you are a hardwood decking owner your treatment regime may vary on the particular wood you've chosen and you should also check the suitability of decking oils or stains before applying them.

So should you treat your timber decking with and oil or stain? Oils generally soak deeper into the wood to provide good protection against warping and cracking. Oils will tend to try and bring out the natural colour of the wood rather than creating an additional top coat and consequently they are a better option for patch repairs. Stains as the name suggests provide more of a colour top coating which provides a protective hard wearing seal for the wood, but as a result can be more slippery than an oil treatment when wet. Both provide protection against mould and algae. Stains will need stripping if you wish to apply a different shade, or if the seal shows signs of cracking, which can be very tricky with a grooved board.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Decking Tips

  • How long should timber decking last?

    Clearly, a major factor in how long timber decking will last will depend on the level and frequency of wood treatment. Using good quality decking protective treatment applied at the very least every three years should mean that your softwood decking lasts about 15 years. If you’ve inherited decking by moving house the telltale signs mentioned earlier such as cracking and shrinkage may mean that your decking has gone beyond retrospective treatment and you’ll need to look at full deck replacement. If your structural timber is in good condition it may mean a simpler and less costly task of simply replacing the deck boards. Even with a timber structure, composite decking can be still be fitted onto this base to provide a low maintenance alternative to timber deck boards. Otherwise, prepare yourself for deck treatment work every couple of years to make your new softwood timber decking last at least 15 years!

  • When does decking need replacing?

    There will be a number of indicators that your decking is past its prime. Clearly, the final decision will rest with you in terms of how long you leave it and of course whether your finances will allow for a new decking this year rather than next. 

    That said, we’ll try and provide you with some points to review and hope that when the time comes you will give us at Zest Decking a call.

    If you have boards where gaps are growing between them, or there is deck board movement, this can be an indicator that there may be an issue with the supporting structural timber below as well as the deck boards on top. A good way to check is to remove at least one of the boards to decide if the issue is with the decking boards, the structural timbers or both. If you have balustrades and handrails which also have a lot of play in them it’s a good indication that your decking structure has pretty much had its day.

    If the structure has been checked and given the thumbs up but deck boards have extensive cracks, splinters, colour variations or other damage you can simply replace the boards.

    Ideally, if you are having new or replacement timber deck boards it is prudent to have these fitted with a slight slope to allow rainwater to run off and not stagnate or puddle in the deck grooves.  Therefore the decking should be laid so that the slope runs along the length of the grooves to allow water to run off the wooden decking helping it to last longer.

    If you have movement of the total structure or it looks like it is leaning, then there is an issue with the structure, most likely around the structural deck posts. Clearly, this poses a potentially serious hazard and replacing your decking completely, should be recommended.


  • Which decking boards are best?

    Well, that depends on what you’re looking for. Best for the price will be softwood decking as this will be the cheapest decking board option but the downside is that they will require by far the most maintenance so long term may not be the cheapest if you were to add up the time, effort and treatment materials for over 15 or so years. However, if your initial budget is limited this is a great way to finally getting yourself a decking area for your garden. The better wood-alternative is hardwood decking but this can end up being one of the most expensive decking materials. It is expensive as hardwoods such as walnut and balau are much slower growing than softwoods so are not as widely available. They will generally have a natural darker appearance and will look like an expensive interior floor and will require quite little maintenance. If looked after well, they can last almost as long as composite boards, so will have a lower cost if the total cost of your decking is divided over the number of years it lasts. 

    Finally, composite and plastic boards are the lowest maintenance options by far. For the general look and feel composite will provide a more authentic wood effect due to the natural wood fibres also since the production process is slightly simpler the cost of plastic should be slightly less than composite. Plastic decking will typically ‘look more plastic’ than composite decking and there have been instances where if plastic decking has not been laid with appropriate expansion gaps warping may occur. For the smaller additional cost of composite decking to have a great looking virtually maintenance-free decking which should last at least 30 years composite will generally be the best long term decking both in terms of overall lifetime costs and aesthetics.


  • Where’s the best place for deck lights?

    Adding lights to your decking can make your decking a real showpiece as darkness starts to decent on your garden in later summer. However, too few and they provide little practical use and you would still need to provide additional lighting for your decking. Too many and the aura will be overbearing and unpleasant for most people. 

    Since deck lights can be placed in a number of locations getting the correct balance between them will make a big difference to the overall look of your decking at night.

    Incorporating decking in the centre of a deck board, avoiding joints and between 1.2m and 1.8m apart is a good rule of thumb. Where you have stairs leading to your deck, aim for the lights per step being a similar distance apart. Where you have wall lights at the side of your decking, since these serve a more decorative purpose, extending the space 2-3m apart should work fine whilst lights on balustrades should be 1.8m-2.5m apart.


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