The very popular & traditional decking material, i.e., Timber, has been in the flooring world for a long time. The reason behind why everyone is obsessed with Timber is its classic appearance, durability and toughness. But over the past few years, various other decking alternatives got introduced at a wide range of pricing options.
In this blog, we present you with the best decking material options in NZ other than Timber.
6 Best Decking Material Options to Look for in 2022
Composite decking
The first decking material in the list is the environment-friendly Composite Decking. It consists of recycled wood pulp, fibre/sawdust mixed with plastic and machine-extruded into uniform boards.
There’s a variety of composite decking, including Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) Resin Mineral Composite (RMC). You don’t have to worry about their maintenance as these composite decking won’t warp, rot or splinter.
Bamboo X-treme Decking
‘Bamboo X-treme Decking’ is created from compressed and strand-woven bamboo. Being one of the most strong and durable decking materials, Bamboo decking is extremely environment-friendly. Why? Because bamboo grows much faster than wood.
Moso Bamboo is the primary species used to manufacture flooring and plywood among the bamboo decking options with multiple shades.
The best thing about this decking is that there’s no need for professional help to install it.
Lastly, you can easily order your Bamboo decking from Plantation Bamboo. And to get the assurance whether you want this decking material or not, you can get a free sample from Plantation Bamboo.
Kwila Hardwood Decking
The famous South East Asian tropical kwila hardwood, decking timber, is used widely for decking in NZ. Features like easy installation, low maintenance requirements, long lifespan etc., are a few reasons for Kwila’s popularity.
But one negative factor associated with this decking material is that it will bleed tannins when first laid, so you need to be aware of that.
Tonka Decking
Also known as Cumaru and Brazilian Teak, ‘Tonka Decking’ is 100% environmentally certified. With a fine texture and medium lustre, this decking material is known for its characteristics like:
- Superior strength
- Durability
- Attractive Color
In short, Tonka Decking is an ideal choice for boardwalks, bridges, piers, and other structural end uses.
Vitex Decking
For almost 30 years, Solomon Islands tropical hardwood, ‘Vitex Decking’, has been widely used as exterior decking in New Zealand. With a pale yellowish to creamy-grey appearance, Vitex is a great choice for residential & commercial decking and boardwalks.
Unlike Kwila, Vitex has minimal bleeding of tannins, so it is less likely to leave stains.
Macrocarpa
Last but not least decking material option we have for you is Macrocarpa – a New Zealand grown decking exotic cypress softwood timber. As compared to the options mentioned above, Macrocarpa is perfect for the more budget-conscious deck builder. But don’t assume that it’s not good in terms of strength and durability.
Despite this, Macrocarpa is extremely strong and is naturally durable. But even though pre-oiling is required so that this decking can season throughout the year, these decks are surprisingly durable and need minimal maintenance.
Tips to Choose the Right Decking Material
Before you choose the decking material for your home or any other space, you need to consider a few things so that you love the result.
#1 Budget: Budget will likely be a huge factor in the decision-making process as building a new deck can cost heavy on your pocket. So, try to look for more affordable material or make a smaller deck.
#2 Type of Maintenance: There’s no such decking material that doesn’t require zero maintenance. Some of them require a lot more work than others, while some stay for a long time. So you have to decide how much time you want to invest in maintaining the deck each year.
#3 Durability: It’s always important to consider a decking material with the highest durability as you may not want to replace it in just a few years.
#4 Rot & Insect Resistant: Insects and rots can cause expensive repairs on your end. Therefore, look for materials that are resistant to rot and insects.
When it comes to choosing the right kind of decking material for your New Zealand home or property, keep your practical and aesthetic needs aligned.
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