With spring upon us, it is time to think about adding or maintaining a residential deck. Timber decking creates spaces that are functional, practical and aesthetically pleasing. With the right design and care, a timber deck will make a valuable addition to any home or business, creating an outdoor living space that will be enjoyed for years to come.
As an external structure carrying large loads and traffic, timber decking has high structural performance requirements. In addition, decks are usually raised clear off the ground and fully exposed to the weather, meaning an effective deck must cope with wear and tear from repeated use and discharge rainwater efficiently.
With the extensive range of potential solutions for a timber deck overlaid by the National Construction Code requirements, selecting the suitable material for timber deck construction can be daunting. Based on the WoodSolutions Guide No 21 Domestic Timber Deck Design guide, presentations are given on the specification of timber decks, focusing on the range of timber species, hardwood, and softwood available for constructing a residential deck.
Furthermore, decks need to be resistant to more than just the weather in the modern world, requiring consideration of the surroundings to bushfire threats. Consideration will also be given to meeting the Building in Bushfire Prone Area AS 3959 requirements, including information on the recently approved BAL 40 all timber system, utilising a new dual preservative and fire retardant product.