All decked out

What is the better building material to use around the home?

Composite timber, hardwood or softwood timber can be used for decking and screening, but they each have a range of advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of so you can determine what product will represent the best value for your specific project.

Treated pine timber is light and easy to fix. It can be painted or stained and is relatively cheap. Unfortunately, it expands as it gains moisture and warps or bows easily, and quite often has lots of knots and other imperfections. It splinters and degrades quickly as it is susceptible to rotting, so it might only be suitable for a short-life project.

Merbau and spotted gum are popular hardwood timbers used for decking and screening in Australia. They are durable, mostly resistant to termites and rot and generally look good. Although both are popular hardwood timber options in Australia, it's important to know what might steer consumers away from this choice.