Materials TIMBER & DECKING
Timber specialist, Robin Schultz on site with his team.
Cost, maintenance and longevity – the balance Timber construction has been around for a long time and has often stood in the shadow of brick and concrete forms of construction. However, there is one area in which timber has clear dominance, the decking and pedestrian walkway area. Contour Decks
T
Gareth Griffiths
imber construction has been around for a long time and has often stood in the shadow of brick and concrete forms of construction. However, there is one area in which timber has clear dominance, the decking and pedestrian walkway area. With the upswing in the use of exotic hard timbers, as opposed to SA Pine, we decided to approach timber expert Robin Schultz, about what the building owner or project manager might do when faced with different options.
Can you share with readers the range of different timbers available and what you would recommend?
The type of decking material specified is largely dependent on foot traffic. Commercial decking usually
90
has more foot traffic than domestic applications. In high traffic areas, we would recommend the use of hardwoods.
Are there any climate conditions that make a particular type of timber a good recommendation?
In our experience, it is not necessary to specify one kind of timber vs. another according to climate. However, where high humidity occurs, decking should be rinsed down and rubbed with a medium bristle brush at least once a month to remove dead algae build up.
What are the types of timber available and what are the relevant cost considerations in each case?
Often the client will specify what timber is required. It is
volume 10 | issue 1 www.tobuild.co.za
TB29_Materials.indd 90
2020/02/24 4:20 PM
