Decking

How to choose decking

The right hardwood decking comes down to three things: the look you want, how durable it needs to be, and your budget. Here's how our timbers compare across all three.

By look

IPE is a deep, rich brown (the premium choice); Iroko a warm golden-brown; Yellow Balau a honey-brown all-rounder; Jatoba a red-brown; the thermally modified boards (Thermo-Ash, Thermowood, Spruce) a warm even brown. All silver gracefully to grey if left untreated..

By durability & maintenance

all our hardwood decking is naturally durable and built to last outdoors. IPE is exceptionally dense and hard-wearing (one of the most durable decking timbers there is); Balau, Iroko, Jatoba and Tali are all robust hardwoods; the thermally modified boards gain their stability and durability from the heat process, chemical-free.

By budget

Yellow Balau and the thermally modified softwoods (Thermowood Pine, Spruce) are the more affordable choices, with IPE and the denser hardwoods at the premium end. See each range above for live per-metre pricing.

Smooth vs grooved (reeded) decking

Most of our boards come **smooth** (a clean, contemporary finish) or **reeded/grooved** (traditional ribbed profile). Smooth is the modern default and easier to clean; grooved suits a classic look. Both perform the same structurally — it's an aesthetic choice.

Fixing & finishing your deck

Hardwood decking should be pre-drilled (we recommen the Spax step drill) and fixed with stainless steel decking screws , or use hidden fixings (Deckwise) for a clean fixing-free surface. Left untreated, hardwood decking silvers to grey with no loss of durability. To keep the original colour, use a decking oil (Osmo / Owatrol ) — apply after the boards have seasoned, and re-coat as the colour fades. Build on a well-drained, ventilated frame.