Go Hard Or Go Home: The Advantages Of Choosing Hardwoods For Constructing Poolside Decks

Construction & Contractors Blog

A poolside deck can add an extra touch of luxury and convenience to an already luxurious pool, and despite the advent of modern synthetic materials, timber is still highly prized for poolside deck construction. When built well, timber poolside decks boast beautiful looks and practical durability that few other materials can match—but only if you choose the right timber.

Many less-expensive timber decks are made from so-called softwoods, such as pine, fir and spruce. While these timbers are generally cheap and easy to work with, they can also be quite fragile and prone to various problems such as warping and fungal rot. As such, if you really want your new timber pool deck to stand the test of time, you should construct your deck from quality hardwoods. Here are some of the key advantages of choosing hardwood for your poolside deck:

Increased durability

A common misconception is that every hardwood is tougher than every softwood—after all, balsa wood is technically a hardwood. However, the hardwoods carried by most reputable hardwood suppliers significantly outperform commonly used softwoods when it comes to durability, weather resistance and resistance to impact damage. Hardwood decks can therefore be expected to hold up to far more abuse than their softwood counterparts, and their increased longevity makes them a far more attractive long-term investment.

Increased resistance to rot

Mould and fungal rot are constant enemies to any poolside deck, and the constantly moist environs around an above- or below-ground deck can quickly leave softwood decks riddled with mould. However, hardwoods are as a rule far more resistant to the effects of mould and fungi, and need considerably less maintenance and oversight to keep mould-free. Applying fungicidal oils and coatings can supplement this natural resistance, while some hardwood species (such as wood taken from the native jarrah tree) are impregnated with natural fungicidal oils created by the living tree.

Increased load-bearing strength

Hardwoods usually have more load-bearing strength than softwoods and are less likely to bow underfoot while you walk on them. This increased strength is particularly crucial if you seek to build a raised deck for an above-ground pool—the extra strength provided by hardwoods means hardwood raised decks generally require much less support and reinforcement, saving you money on materials and labour.

Takes well to sanding and re-treating

Despite all of these advantages over their lesser softwood counterparts, hardwoods are not invulnerable, and even the most well-maintained hardwood deck will eventually start to discolour and become unsightly. However, while aged softwoods that lose strength and rigidity generally have to be replaced, hardwoods are far more long-lived, and can often be sanded down and re-treated with stains and oils to create a brand-new surface to your deck.

16 May 2017