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When considering a professional decking installation either for domestic or commercial, do you always specify or request 21mm thickness hardwood timber?
21mm Hardwood Decking
21mm Ipe, Kurupay (INFONA) or Teak (FSC), perhaps most durability class 1 timber would be acceptable for the majority of installations, although, in some cases thicker timber is more appropriate.
The advantages of 21mm timber is that it will suit a wide range of applications, is cost effective and when installed correctly will provide a stable area for loads up to 4 kN per square metre.
28mm Hardwood Decking
28mm Massaranduba or Lapacho, again there are many different decking hardwood species to choose from. So the thickness increases and so does the price, there are also benefits to consider!
Enhanced longevity, increased board width, wider joists span (500mm/400mm) and quicker installation. This is the intermediate board thickness usually used for increased foot traffic or the large garden party deck. This board thickness should be considered for pubs and restaurants, the thicker the board the more durability you are going to have.
Now we are increasing the decking thickness we should perhaps consider is it worth installing over a standard treated pine sub-structure? Hardwood timber carcassing would be advantageous as the increase of longevity in the thicker board will surely last longer than the substructure; why not have a hardwood substructure that will last the same?
35mm Hardwood Decking
35mm thickness, Elondo (FSC) or Merbau (FSC) the supreme and highest quality decking material available. This ultra thickness is only attained by using the very highest quality and select raw timber materials.
This timber is rather expensive and a once in a lifetime install. Once installed over a hardwood timber substructure, using stainless steel fixings, this decking will outlive all other timber decking. It is by far the most durable and will take the severest of punishments of heavy foot traffic and is suitable for all marine applications.
The substructure joists centres can now be as much as 600mm making an easy option for balconies with steels already in place at these wider intervals.
The stability of this timber is in a class of its own and has been supplied to some of the world’s largest and most luxurious installations.
For more details of the origin and evolution of contemporary outdoor wooden flooring consult Exterpark by Exterior Decking.
