Do a Google search for ‘Best hardwood decking timber’ and you’ll find over half a million results, all presented in less than a second! So if you’re in search of a hardwood decking timber solution, how on earth do you choose? While choice is good and as consumers we’re constantly (and rightly) insisting on more and more choice; with so much to choose from, making the right decisions can be tough. If you’re in the market for a hardwood deck right now, we’d like to help you make the right choices for your unique project.
Hardwood decking is a hugely popular choice, made by people across the board, for decks big and small, with budgets big and small. Typically made from the likes of teak, ipe, iroko and cumaro it’s a completely natural product that is the result of years and years of growth. Seen by many as the only ‘real’ decking option, hardwood decking timber does call for a tiny bit more maintenance than composite decking, but is well worth the extra effort. In this article we’ll review a range of different hardwood decking timber options to help you decide which would work best for you.
Teak
When people think about hardwood decking, one of the first woods that comes to mind tends to be teak. This is probably because early decks were typically made from teak. A really stable wood that has great resistance to moisture, it’s easy to see why teak was the hardwood decking material of choice for such a long time. However, teak today has taken a back seat to some of the more recent solutions on offer. This doesn’t mean that teak hardwood decking doesn’t still have its place, but at Wood and Beyond, we believe there are better, more cost effective options currently available.
Ipe
Typically coming from one of the South American continent countries, such as Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia or Peru, ipe is really appealing due to its interesting olive colouration. Exceptionally resistant to insect infestation and fungi, it’s recognised as a really tough option. A hardwood that darkens as it matures, it’s particularly suited to sunny exposure and won’t disappoint. You can see our full ipe decking timber range here.
Iroko
Hailing most commonly from the east and west coasts of Africa, Iroko is a stylish and affordable hardwood decking choice. Looking very much like teak, iroko boasts an irregular grain and a course texture and mellows with age. Particularly suited to anyone who likes the idea of a deck that changes colour over time, this decking is currently on offer at 20% off. Here are the iroko decking timbers that we have in stock, ready for distribution right now.
Cumaru
Often hailed as Brazilian teak, cumaru is one of the hardest woods available, making it resistant to rot, insect infestation and algae. What’s more, it’s a really popular choice, thanks to it’s affordability. Starting life typically a rich, reddish brown colour, this hardwood has a tendency to darken over time as the sun takes its effect, which means it’s ideal for anyone who is happy to have a deck that changes as time goes by.
Garapa
Often referred to as a budget decking option, garapa is recognised as being significantly less tough than the likes of ipe. Starting out a golden yellow colour, garapa matures to an amber glow with silver hightlights over time. While it is less tough, it is as stable as the likes of ipe. These things, together with its similar rot and insect resistance means that it is a good budget option for anyone seeking a decking option that may have a shorter lifespan than some of the other solutions.
Balau
Balau decking is highly recognisable. A rich, dark red colour, this truly is a hardwood decking option that oozes class. This decking solution is perfect if you want a deck that gets better as time goes by. Starting out rich and dark, it loses none of its charm, but takes on a silvery hue as the years pass. What’s more, balau is known for its extreme stability which means that when you choose this option, you won’t need to worry about warping or cupping, nor gaps that develop due to expansion and contraction. And thanks to its natural resistance to the likes of fungi, decay and insect attack, this hardwood decking option only calls for minimal maintenance, so doesn’t only look good – it makes for an easy life too! You can see our whole balau range (with 20% off right now) here.
So there you have it, a good round up of some of the most popular hardwood decking options on the market right now. Which is best? At Wood and Beyond, we try to avoid having favourites, but in this particular case, our list of 3 best hardwood decking timber options would be ipe, iroko and balau. Around the office we differ on the order from 1-3, but you can check all of them out here.
If you’re still unsure and you’d like more help to choose the best hardwood decking timber for your unique project, why not get in touch? We’d be more than happy to help you make the very best choice for you.
Comparison of Hardwood Decking Timber Options
| Material | Origin | Appearance | Durability and Resistance | Maintenance | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teak | Various | Not specified | Stable, resistant to moisture | Requires more maintenance than composite decking | Not specified, stated as less cost-effective |
| Ipe | South American countries like Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru | Olive colouration, darkens as it matures | Exceptionally resistant to insects and fungi | Varies | Not specified |
| Iroko | East and West coasts of Africa | Similar to teak, has an irregular grain and a course texture, mellows with age | Varies | Varies | Affordable |
| Cumaru (Brazilian Teak) | Not specified | Rich, reddish-brown colour, darkens over time | One of the hardest woods, resistant to rot, insect infestation, and algae | Varies | Affordable |
| Garapa | Not specified | Golden yellow colour, matures to an amber glow with silver highlights | Less tough but as stable as Ipe, resistant to rot and insects | Varies | Budget option |
| Balau | Not specified | Rich, dark red colour, takes on a silvery hue as it ages | Known for extreme stability, resistant to fungi, decay, and insect attack | Minimal maintenance required | Not specified, currently has a 20% discount |
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FAQ
Question 1: Why is hardwood decking a popular choice?
Answer: Hardwood decking is a popular choice because it is a completely natural product resulting from years of growth. It is seen by many as the only ‘real’ decking option. Although it requires slightly more maintenance than composite decking, the extra effort is considered worthwhile for the product’s natural look and feel.
Question 2: What are the characteristics of teak as a decking material?
Answer: Teak is a very stable wood that has excellent resistance to moisture, making it suitable for outdoor use. It’s often associated with traditional decking solutions. However, while still a viable option, there are now more cost-effective and innovative hardwood solutions available on the market.
Question 3: What makes ipe a viable choice for decking?
Answer: Ipe, often sourced from South America, has a unique olive coloration. It’s also exceptionally resistant to insect infestation and fungi. Ipe hardwood is also known for its durability, maturing and darkening as it ages. It’s particularly well-suited to sunny exposure.
Question 4: How does cumaru hardwood decking change over time?
Answer: Cumaru, also known as Brazilian teak, is one of the hardest woods available and is resistant to rot, insect infestation, and algae. Initially, it has a rich, reddish-brown colour, but it has a tendency to darken over time due to sun exposure, creating a changing aesthetic for your deck.
Question 5: Why might someone choose garapa for their decking?
Answer: Garapa is often seen as a budget decking option. While it’s not as tough as some other hardwoods, it’s still quite stable and shares similar rot and insect resistance qualities. Garapa starts out with a golden yellow colour and matures to an amber glow with silver highlights over time.