Handyman Sean Compares Decking Options

A Newcastle local, and lover of the outdoors Handyman Sean has made a name for himself as Newcastle’s Deck Guy.

Whether he is building decks with hidden storage, designing built in bench seats and planter boxes, or custom designing decks with built-in dog houses, Sean has been creating stunning outdoor living spaces, decks and patios for home owners throughout Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and the Hunter.

Working as a marine carpenter in Vancouver, Canada really highlighted the importance of choosing the right decking material for Handyman Sean. Now, having returned to Australia from abroad, Sean puts that hard earned knowledge to work for Squarepegs Handyman’s clients when discussing decking, patio and pergola projects to ensure Newcastle’s Deck Guy creates the outdoor living space our clients have been dreaming about.

Below, Handyman Sean shares the pros and cons of using some of the most popular decking material for building decks in Newcastle.

CHOOSING THE BEST MATERIALS FOR YOUR DECK

TREATED PINE DECKING

The biggest advantage of pine decking is price. Pine is the most cost effective option for making your deck, but it has a shorter lifespan than the more costly hardwoods.

Another advantage of pine is the very light colour. This gives you the greatest range of colour options when choosing a stain to colour and seal your deck. If you are trying to match a very light colour and don’t have a huge budget then treated pine is a good option for your deck. Treated pine decks require yearly application of a high quality stain and sealant to keep them looking their best.

Don’t worry, if the maintenance on a treated pine deck seems like too much effort, Squarepegs Handyman is here to help. Contact us here to schedule us to stain and seal your deck.

HARDWOOD DECKING

Hardwood decking is very popular in Newcastle. Hardwood is a good option because it is hard wearing, looks great, and feels good underfoot.

The most commonly used decking hardwood is Merbau. This timber is well known for its rich reddish colour and is popular because it is one of the most cost effective hardwoods. Other popular hardwoods include jarra, which has a lovely deep brown colour, and spotted gum, which has a lighter colour and shows the natural beauty of the knots and growth lines of the timber. 

Hardwood is heavier and more dense than treated pine so is more time consuming and costly to install, but will give a nicer looking and longer wearing finished product. Hardwood decks also require a yearly coating of oil or stain to keep them in top shape.

If you’d like your hardwood deck stained or oiled, contact us here.

COMPOSITE DECKING

Composite decking boards are engineered from a mixture of timber fibres and recycled plastics and offer an environmentally friendly alternative to timber. They often use rick husks or bamboo meaning no trees need to be cut down for their production. 

The biggest advantage of composite decking is that it does not require any maintenance. Once the deck is laid there is no need to stain or oil the deck. Some composite decking systems have specialty fastening systems that eliminate visible screws, and the boards are always straight and true making them easy to install. 

This disadvantage of composite decking is that it does not have the lovely natural and warm appearance of real timber. Despite this, in many instances this may better suit the aesthetic of your home and garden.

Composite decking can also get very hot in direct sunlight so this is something to consider when building an open deck or pool area.

FIBRE CEMENT DECKING

Fibre cement decking is the latest development in decking options. While it still needs to be sealed with a paving sealer or painted, there is little ongoing maintenance.

Fibre cement boards are very easy to install due to the aluminium channel system they mount to. They can be painted any colour, stained to look like wood, or sealed with clear sealer to give the appearance of polished concrete. 

Fiber cement boards are water resistant and splinter free so make a good option for pool-side decking!

Squarepegs Handyman Does Decks

Squarepegs Handyman works with lovely clients throughout Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland and the Hunter to create stunning decks, patios and pergolas that look like something straight out of Pinterest.

Contact us here to book a free, in-person estimate with Newcastle’s own Deck Guy and to find out how we will help you with your next project.

WHERE WE WORK

You’ll find Squarepegs Handyman in and around Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, the Hunter and beyond. Contact us to find out if we service your area. 

We cannot wait to work with you!

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