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Decking materials - 3 of the best

With so many types of decking materials available to choose from, here are 3 of our favourites.  The reason we recommend then?  Simple - they stand up well to our weather conditions here in the Queenstown Lakes District - the all day harsh sun and quick changes in temperature we get can play havoc with timber - especially softwoods - causing it to move, shrink and expand.

Kwila, Garapa and Thermory Ash decking timbers are tried and tested, which is why they're our most popular options.

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Of course there are other options available, make sure you let us know if there are different decking materials that you're interested in.

Kwila Decking

  • Kwila (Instsia spp) is a South East Asian tropical hardwood used for extensively for decking in NZ.  Due to its popularity and availability, it is our most affordable hardwood option.

  • Attractive reddy-brown coloured timber which will age to driftwood grey if left to weather.

  • Kwila is hard wearing, easy to work with and has good strength and durability.

  • Available in 140x19mm and 90x19mm widths.

  • New kwila decks are susceptible to a reddy-brown tannin bleed in the first few months of being laid, so it's good to be aware and keep on top if this around plaster cladding and concrete pads, especially after rain in the first few months.

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Garapa Decking

  • Garapa (Apuleia Leiocarpa) is a South American tropical hardwood used for decking in NZ.

  • Gorgeous golden coloured timber which will age to driftwood grey if left to weather.

  • Garapa is easy to work with and has good strength, durability and stability.

  • Available in 140x19mm and 90x19mm widths.

  • Does not bleed or leach tannins

Thermory Ash Decking

  • Our favourite hardwood decking timber to work with here at DS Fencing, Thermory Ash (Fraxinus Americana) is a White Ash, which is sourced from Northern America and European forests, and has been thermally modified.

  • Lovely rich brown colour throughout the full thickness of the timber, which naturally ages to a platinum grey.

  • Beautiful grain patterns.

  • Thermally treated for maximum strength and stability, meaning it is less susceptible to warping, splitting and cracking.

  • Available in 132x20mm width

  • The original colour and tone can be preserved with UV protectant oil, or alternatively stained darker with a tinted oil.

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