Wooden decking boards | Ipé, Red Cumaru, Garapa, Bangkiri, Larch, Douglas fir and many more

A wooden terrace is the dream of many homeowners. This is understandable, after all a wooden terrace looks very beautiful and brings a piece of nature to the house. But the construction of such a terrace is time-consuming and not cheap. Therefore you should inform yourself well in advance about the possibilities and possible problems. One of the key decisions with a wooden terrace is the type of decking. Each type of wood has its own advantages and disadvantages. However, the range of wooden decking boards is so wide that you are sure to find something to suit your taste and budget. With a wooden terrace, you have a unique and unmistakable piece of furniture, because each piece of wood is different and therefore no two terraces look the same.

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Kaiser Parquet offers these types of wood as terrace boards

Douglas fir
siberian larch
Garapa
Cumaru
Ipé
Bangkirai
Thermo ash

Hardwood, softwood or thermowood?

Hardwoods have a particularly dense structure and are therefore heavier than the other types of wood. This also makes them more resistant and durable. They are usually darker in colour and therefore look noble. Bangkirai, for example, is one of them.

Advantages of hardwoods

very good weathering resistance
high life expectancy
very resistant to fungal and insect attack
Low shrinkage and swelling behaviour
high dimensional stability, the planks do not warp
high load capacity

Disadvantages of hardwoods

More difficult to machine, for example pre-drilling is necessary
since they grow more slowly than coniferous woods, they have a worse ecological balance

Softwoods, such as the Siberian larch, have a less dense structure and are therefore lighter than hardwoods. They are also cheaper.

Advantages of softwoods

Due to the high resin content they are weather resistant
easy to work on
are easy to paint
as they grow faster, they have a better ecological balance than hardwoods
cheaper than hardwoods

Disadvantages of softwoods

are not so resistant to fungal and insect attack
less durable than hardwoods
can crack or splinter quickly
the floorboards often have knotholes
due to the high resin content, resin may leak out

Thermowood, for example thermo-ash, is a type of wood whose properties have been improved by heat treatment.

Advantages of thermowood

lower sensitivity to weather conditions
higher resistance to pest infestation
warps less than softwood
no resin leakage
higher service life
the colour becomes darker, which looks more noble

Disadvantages of thermowood

becomes brittle over time, which can lead to tearing and splintering of the planks
has a worse load-bearing capacity than the other woods
in the initial period, rain can wash paint out of the thermowood

How long does a wooden terrace last?

The answer to this question depends mainly on the type of wood used. Wood species are divided into so-called durability classes. They indicate the resistance of the wood species to wood-destroying organisms. For terraces you should only use wood species of durability classes one to three. Class one is the most resistant. Class three woods last 10 to 15 years, depending on weather conditions and other stresses. These include hardwoods such as Douglas fir. Class two wood types, such as Bangkirai, last between 15 and 25 years. Ipé, on the other hand, belongs to class one. Planks from these species last for more than 25 years.

What influences the lifespan of a wooden terrace?

The most important factor besides the type of wood used is the correct construction of the terrace, especially the substructure. The substructure can also be made of wood or aluminium. In the case of a wooden substructure, the type of wood used must have at least the same durability class as the type of wood used for the planks.

What is constructive wood preservation?

This means the best possible ventilation of the terrace construction. This allows water to run off and prevents waterlogging. Therefore, the terrace should have a slope of 1% to 2% away from the building. The substructure must always be installed with a certain distance to the substrate. When installing the terrace, it must also be taken into account that the wooden planks swell or shrink due to weathering. Therefore, you should observe the specified distances between the planks. This will allow them to swell and shrink undisturbed. For this reason, a distance to fixed components, such as walls, must also be maintained.

How to maintain the wooden terrace properly

Usually a broom is sufficient for cleaning the terrace. However, you should carry out a basic cleaning of the wooden terrace at least once a year, preferably in spring. This will remove stubborn dirt, algae and moss. You will need water and a patio cleaner for this. You can also find corresponding products on the website of Parkett Kaiser. Mix the cleaner in the mopping water according to the instructions and use a soft brush to spread it. Then rinse with plenty of water. If you want to use a high-pressure cleaner for this purpose, you should keep a distance of at least 30 cm from the floorboard surface. All types of wood turn grey with time. Many patio owners appreciate the grey patina that develops in this way. If you do not like this, you can treat the planks with a colour oil after basic cleaning.