What You Need to Consider Before Installing a Hardwood Decking in Your Landscaping

04 November 2021

Nothing fits the Australian culture more than enjoying a meal at the comfort of your backyard deck. The things you can do with such outdoor features range from enjoying a meal with friends to lounging alone under the sun. Due to its variety of uses, it is very popular in the landscaping industry. And a more popular material to make such is hardwood. Using hardwood for decking is undoubtedly one of its most popular uses. Not only do decks look great and perform well, but decks are a cost-effective alternative for creating a level terrace on a steep site. However, there are things you need to consider in incorporating hardwood in your landscaping design. Below are some of them.

Types of Hardwood Decking

Spotted Gum

One of the most popular premium Australian hardwoods, Spotted Gum is striking in appearance and with a high degree of natural durability, making it an ideal choice for exterior applications. Spotted Gum is typically light brown in appearance with beautiful tonal movement within each piece.

Merbau

Known as one of the softer hardwoods, Merbau is a great hardwood for decking as it’s less prone to cupping and movement. People either love or hate the deep red tones of Merbau, and watch out as it leeches tannins more than just about any other hardwood.

Blackbutt

A premium Australian hardwood with light tones that even give off a light pinkish appearance. It is also one of only several hardwoods that are often suitable for bushfire-prone areas.

Rosewood

A common hardwood used in furniture making, Rosewood is also a great option for hardwood decks and screens.  While Rosewood does initially look quite yellow, it does fade over time to a beautiful silvery grey colour if left untreated. Rosewood is a premium hardwood and you can expect to pay a premium price for it too.

Benefits of Hardwood Decking

Hardwood Deck is Versatile

No other building material is as versatile as hardwood.  It can be cut, bent and shaped to suit any application.  It’s been great to see a resurgence in the popularity of full hardwood-built houses around Australia.  There’s always at least one (normally more) hardwood feature within our landscape designs.

Hardwood Deck Brings Warmth

One of the many reasons that hardwood is popular within landscape designs is the warmth it brings to any space. Often the landscapes around pools are naturally hard, cold and structural which makes hardwood an effective solution to bring warmth and soften the space.

Hardwood is Environmentally-Friendly

Hardwood is by far one of the most environmentally friendly building materials as many other materials require larger energy inputs during manufacturing.  These same materials also require far more energy to dispose of, if they can be at all.

EB Landscaping offers a comprehensive range of services, including paving, decking, water tanks, irrigation, water features, retaining walls, fencing, gates, garden maintenance, synthetic and natural turf, bobcat and dingo digger work, decorative gravel nature strips, screens, espalier, veggie and planter boxes, as well as clothesline and letterbox installation.

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