Different Options for Decking Material

Over the years, timber has been a popular choice for decking boards. Right now though, there are a lot of available choices for you depending on the kind of deck boards you need.

Decking boards are popular building materials used in many applications. It can be used as:

• Part of garden landscapes
• An extension of house floor area
• Materials for building and/or construction

Depending on the type of application you need it for, you may choose from a variety of different decking board materials like:

Pressure treated deck boards – with its hard exterior and high resistance to moisture, pressure treated deck boards are still the number one choice as a decking material. Readily available, this type of deck boards is easy to cut, resistant to rot and insects and lasts up to 30 years if properly maintained. The fact that pressure treated boards is very affordable as well as sturdy makes them a popular choice material for decking.

Redwood and cedar deck boards – popular for their natural beauty, rich colours, and durability, Redwood and Cedar are two deck materials that are naturally resistant to insects, rot, and decay due to the chemical tannins. Both Redwood and Cedar may last up to 20-30 years.

Wood and plastic composite deck boards – this type of decking material have the look, feel, and style of real wood. Their main advantage is that they don’t splinter, shrink or rot. Usually made from wood fibres and recycled plastic, composite deck boards are extremely resistant to harsh weather conditions as well as stains making them low-maintenance.

Vinyl deck boards – need little or no maintenance at all. They’re a popular choice for decking materials since they virtually last for a lifetime, need no staining or sealing, and is designed to be slip-resistant.

Rubber composite deck boards – are usually mixtures of polyethylene resins and recycled tires to create hard decking materials able to withstand extreme temperatures. This type of board is not very popular making them hard to find. Rubber composite deck boards only require periodic cleaning and may last up to 25 years.

Metal deck boards – typically made of aluminium, metal deck boards are popular in construction as building materials. Extremely resistant to mold, slipping, high temperatures, and even fire, metal deck boards practically lasts a lifetime.

At UK Timber, we provide a wide variety of decking board materials to suit your every need for building construction or garden landscaping.

Give us a review and know more about our company or simply visit our website to browse through our products. 

The Wood and The Bad : Safety Tips for Woodworking

Woodwork is such a very fulfilling and tiring activity, whether it is a part of the job or just a personal hobby. It requires a lot of skill, patience and hard work that one can only get through experience. With a task that requires a lot of lifting from small wooden boards up to the big and heavy decking boards, cutting and use of machineries, it sure can get messy and dangerous at times. To avoid accidents, here are some tips that can help you avoid being caught in these gruesome situations.

WHAT TO WEAR

Leave the designer clothes inside the closet because there is no place for those in woodworking. Safety is always the priority in woodwork since a simple mistake may lead to an accident. Woodwork must be taken seriously and one must always dress to the “occasion.”

Before beginning the woodworking process, one must prioritise their safety before anything else. Ask those who work in a workshop for their recommendations when it comes to the proper attire for woodworking. They will surely tell you that wearing anything loose is a big no. These loose clothing may get caught during the process. Aside from avoiding loose clothing, one must also wear clothes depending on their location. It is good if one can minimise the exposure of the skin as much as possible, but it doesn’t have to be that way all the time.

Typically, an aware and experienced person that has been on the woodworking business would recommend that one wear fitted shirts or sleeves and pants, a pair of gloves, mask or safety goggles and an apron for the body to avoid accidents and debris coming from the machine. With these, one can minimise accidents.

WHEN USING EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERIES

Woodworking will take forever if one follows the traditional way, which is using nothing but one’s bare hands and a saw. Today, technology has allowed woodworkers the availability of different equipment and machineries, making the workload easier and quicker. However, carelessness and arrogance may cause dangers to the workers.

Simple as it seems, a woodworker must always have a clean and organised workspace. Though it seems nearly impossible, it can be done. A neat and well-arranged workspace means easy access to equipment and tools and less rubble that may cause accidents. Another thing that one must note is a routine checking and maintenance of the tools used in working. Woodworking uses a lot of blades that will surely cause harm if not used properly, which is why it is very important to check and change them every now and then. Lastly, always ask for assistance if one has concerns and questions regarding the function of a certain tool. It is alright to ask for help than lose a part of your body.

WHAT NOT TO DO BEFORE AND DURING WOODWORKING

This one does not need to be taught by anyone else since it applies to almost everything. Woodworking is just like any other activity. The only difference is that other activities do not work closely with sharp blades, unlike woodworking.

Do not be easily distracted while working. A simple glance at the back or a turn of the head may cause an accident that may cause varying degrees of injury. Always be focused while working, those sharp and speeding blades cut through the hardest wood and they will cut anything that touches them. Avoid forcing oneself when working. If you’re feeling tired or weak, don’t be afraid or shy to call in sick. The human body can only take so much and if one feels ill, they should tell it in advance to avoid bigger problems.

Being aware and smart is enough to keep one safe from accidents but these tips would help minimise the chances of having an accident to zero. Follow and remember these safety tips and an accident-free work is a sure thing.

Timber Decking and You

In its most basic sense, timber decking or wood decking is simply installing outdoor decks that are elevated from the ground. If you’re thinking of improving your home in style, decking would be a good choice for a wooden veranda, garden decks or even as an alternative to a stone patio.

Timber Decking: DIY or Professional Services?

Now goes the question of whether you should hire a professional deck contractor or perform the DIY-project of timber decking yourself.

Anyone with basic hardware knowledge and construction skills can build a deck like a simple DIY project. However, installing decks require thorough planning so that you can get the right amount of timber to work on, space to occupy and the time it will take for you to complete the project.

But obviously, it would be for your peace of mind to contact a deck contractor to ensure that your decks are made safe, sturdy and secure. UK Timber is just the right company to go to if you want the all-out convenience of services and materials to be available to you.

Untreated and Treated Decking Boards

Choosing high quality decking boards are a must to start with and you generally have two types to choose from: untreated and treated wood.

If you’re after aesthetic appeal, then you should choose untreated decking boards. On the other hand, if you don’t want to worry about insect infestation, decay and premature board wearing, choosing treated boards would be good for you.

Three Categories of Decks

1. Low-level decks – common extensions of your house and are usually at level with your floor.
2. Remote decks – usually found in gardens, ponds, and swimming pools.
3. Hillside decks – give you more moving area and are usually installed over sloped or uneven grounds.

Different Types of Decking Accessories

If you want to add several finishing touches to your decks and make them look even better, you may do so with several decking accessories like:

• Balustrades
• Hand and base rails
• Newels
• Panels
• Posts

Spindles

Timber Decking at UK Timber

At UK Timber, we offer a variety of decking woods available to make sure your garden decks meet your expectation of both quality and beauty. With decking woods available in English Oak, English Larch, English Western Red Cedar, Yellow Balau, Pressure Treated Softwood and even continental Redwood deck boards, you won’t run out of timber options for your decks.

With our decking calculator, you’ll be able to know how much of decking materials you need and even get your quote in no time. We also supply custom cut decking joists as well as a full range of decking accessories to complete your garden decks.

Easy to install and easy to maintain, timber decking not only adds beauty to your house or your garden. It also provides you with the ideal of enjoying the outdoors in comfort too. 

Balustrades & Decking

TIMBERS AND DECKING

Timbers are the best material to use if you want to achieve an aesthetic look for your project. Not just used for its aesthetic appeal, timbers are also the perfect material if you are to make a durable outdoor or indoor project. However, a timber project would not be complete if there are no finishing touches. Spindles, handles, hand base rails and balustrades will surely add the finishing touches for any of your project. One of the most used finishing touches for decking is balustrades.

WHAT ARE BALUSTRADES?

Balustrades are posts that are held up in the top and bottom of railings. Often times, the design of the balustrades complement the interior of the house if it is installed indoors or the decking of the porch if it is installed outdoors. Some balustrades are more rounded and thicker than the others but basically, the design should fit the taste of the consumers.

Balustrades are not made mainly for its design alone. The main purpose of balustrades is to keep people from falling off the steps of stairs. They serve as support to railings and handles of the stairs. When designing balustrades, the spacing is considered. The general rule in spacing is to follow the size of the square bottom section of the piece. However, for economical reasons, some builders or makers intentionally install the balustrades further apart so that fewer pieces will be used.

Aside from serving as a support for the railing and handles, balustrades also serve as ornaments for the interior of a structure.

GARDEN DECKING AND BALUSTRADES

Hardwoods such as English Oak, Yellow Balau and English Larch are commonly used for garden decking. The said type of hardwoods are perfect for producing high quality decking boards that are fully functional as a support in any garden project. In UK Timber, we stock on the best quality hardwoods such as the abovementioned. Additionally, we also keep a good number of softwoods such as Pressure Treated Softwood and English Western Red Cedar. To complete your project, we also offer the best quality balustrades, spindles, hand and base rails and complete panels. All those are ready made to ensure that there is ease of fitting in your desired project. To know more about our products for timber decking, visit our website or give us a call at +44 (0) 1536 267107. Alternatively, you can email us at sales@uk-timber.co.uk.

Oak Beams at UK Timber

Oak beams are considered as one of the most popular construction materials that are used today. They are very much favoured because of their natural beauty, durability and versatility. They can be used to construct almost anything, especially those that are related to gardening and landscaping projects. Oak beams, among other materials, are also affordable and very easy to maintain.  

Characteristics of Oak Beams

Many builders and home designers choose oak wood because of their quality and special characteristics.

• Oak beams are considered versatile materials. They can be utilised to create various things from gardening purposes to landscaping projects.  
• Oak beams are also great to use because they can last for a very long time. Their durability is a characteristic that many people look for in a building material.
• Oak beams are budget-friendly. They are perfect for those who want high quality beams, minus the cost.
• Oak beams are naturally beautiful materials. Their colour change from silvery grey to a pretty dark grey after some time and with the cooperation of both the weather and the sun.
• Oak beams do not require much maintenance. They are also usually untreated making them safe and ideal for almost any project. On the other hand, if you prefer the oak beams to retain their natural colour, that’s the time that you can opt to use a treatment like decking oil.

The Different Oak Beams at UK Timber 

Structural Green Oak Beams – If you are searching for fresh sawn European and English oak for structural oak beams, oak boards and oak posts, then UK Timber is the perfect choice for you.

Air Dried Oak Beams – UK Timber has huge stocks of high quality air dried oak beams, so if you are in need of this kind of beam, then there’s no other place for you to look for this but here.

Custom Milled Oak Beams – Because UK Timber aims to provide its customers with all their needs, the company has seen to it that it can provide almost everything oak beams for every trade.

Douglas Fir/ Larch Beams – At UK Timber, the allowed dimensions for Douglas Fir are as follows: Length: 20-9000mm; Width: 20-350mm; Depth: 20-400mm

Oak Dowels – These materials have been in use for centuries and if you are looking for quality oak dowels, then you can definitely find them here at UK Timber.

Oak Mantel Pieces – These are made to order materials and are made from a natural product.

Yellow Balaus at UK Timber

Wood is the best material to use if you want to make a cost-efficient project and yet you do not want to compromise with the quality of the output. Unlike other materials, woods are natural and can be grown anywhere. Aside from that, woods have wider varieties when it comes to providing you with the best options. As for timber decking, Oak and Yellow Balau are the top choices of structural engineers.

WHAT IS YELLOW BALAU?

Yellow Balau is a wood that is inherent in the Southeast Asia most especially in Malaysia. The wood is the top choice of home builders not only because of its yellowish appearance that adds to the aesthetic property of a project but also because of its durability. Yellow Balau is a type of hardwood that is resistant from weathering, insect attack and decay even if left untreated.

Under tedious testing, it was found out that untreated Yellow Balaus have a minimum lifespan of 15 years, making it one of the most durable timber. Furthermore, Yellow Balaus are believed to be 50% stronger than oakwoods.

MORE REASONS WHY YELLOW BALAU IS THE TOP CHOICE OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS:

Other reasons such as the following makes Yellow Balau the top choice of structural engineers and local home builders:

• It has the capacity to dry slowly. When a hardwood has the capacity to dry slowly, it means that the wood is advantageous for woodworking. It provides efficient re-sawing before a final product is made.
• It has the best tensile strength. Structural engineers choose Yellow Balau whenever they can for their projects because of its tensile strength to handle stress before breaking.
• It is environment-beneficial. Yellow Balaus are always sourced in sustainable established agencies making it beneficial for environmentally conscious individuals or businesses.
• It is suitable for almost any kind of project. Yellow Balau is undoubtedly one of the best woods to use when making projects that require strength and durability. The timber is suitable for heavy construction, flooring, timber decking and crafting heavy furniture.

UK TIMBER’S YELLOW BALAU

Being one of the largest providers of quality timber in the mainland UK, UK Timber provides only the best types of Yellow Balau. The type of Yellow Balau that we have on hand is air dried to a stable state and therefore readily available whenever you want to use them. Furthermore, the decking board is intentionally made to be reversible so you have the option of choosing which side to use -- the one grooved or the reeded one.

Oakwood as Building and Crafting Material

As we all know, wood has been one of the more traditional and basic material that people have been using for building and crafting. Not only because it is readily available from nature and is naturally sustainable, wood has also been known to be a sturdy but flexible long lasting material. Wood is basically defined as the fibrous material that composed the stem and branches of a tree or a plant. Having this definition of wood, it is easy to point out that this material comes not only from one source but from a wide array of plants present on land. One of the most notable sources of good a quality timber product is the Oak Tree.

The Oak is a common name of a tree or shrub that is mostly associated as a part of the genus Quercus that are considered as flowering plants. But further study about oaks has found out that these plants actually belonged to two genera which are the genus Quercus and genus Cyclobalanopsis. Under the two classifications of the common oak name is a long list of species belonging to the same family. Though oak is a name used for a number of different plants, these trees have the same qualities to belong in the same classification.

Oaks are best known to be the material of choice of both early people and modern human beings. Through history, oak has played an essential role in the timber industry as one of the highest valued and most demanded timber products. Because of the sturdiness and the strength that it has, oaks have been developed to be one of the basic traditional building materials used by people. Oak beams have been known to be a good choice in building houses. Not only does it make a structure’s stability better, it also accentuates a building’s aesthetic features.

Timber products such as oak timber are also good materials for crafting. A lot of products like wooden barrels, chairs, tables, desks, and cabinets can come from oak timber. Oak barrels are the most common containers used in brewing and aging good quality liquor all over the world. Other uses of oak timber in crafting include artworks made from the material. Though most commonly used as a material for sculpting, oak trees because of its natural beauty has also been known to be a subject for a lot of visual arts.

Because of its longevity as a plant itself and as a harvested material for building and crafting, oak trees has been one of the best known composite sustainable materials available from nature. With proper preservation techniques, oak timber products can last long and remain strong and durable throughout its use. Oak trees are not only flexible, they are also versatile in uses and people are sure to run out of purposes for oak timber products.