As the weather gradually warms up, we increasingly think about the time we will spend in nature. This is especially relevant for those who have their own house and are planning to build a wooden terrace next to it. A terrace is one of the best ways to beautify the environment of the house and increase the area of ​​the house. But where to start? The first step is the selection of materials from which the terrace will be made.

THE MOST SUITABLE – CONIFERS

When choosing wood for a terrace, you should pay attention to the resistance of the wood to environmental influences. The so-called “soft” wood does not have such resistance. Most deciduous wood, except for oak or ash, is characterized by “softness” and low resistance, but the boards of these trees are expensive.

Meanwhile, conifers are more suitable for a wooden terrace both because of their properties and because of their more attractive price. Most often, larch, spruce or pine wood is chosen for this purpose. You can choose local raw material or imported wood. Conifers that grew in harsh conditions (for example, in Siberia) are especially valued – their resistance to the environment is higher.

 

NEED TO BE TREATED OR BUY ALREADY TREATED

Natural wood does not have such high resistance to moisture and pests as properly treated wood. If you purchase decking boards already treated, there will be fewer worries, but such wood is more expensive. If you are going to treat the wood yourself, it is important to know what materials are suitable for protecting different types of wood.

Pine or spruce decking boards are usually impregnated or thermally treated. Deeply impregnated wood is protected from mold, rot, insects, and fungus. Thermally treated coniferous wood has lower moisture content, and resins are removed from it using special technologies.

Meanwhile, larch decking boards do not need additional treatment. This wood has natural protective properties. If desired, larch boards can be oiled (oiled). It is said that a terrace built from larch decking boards lasts twice as long as one made from pine or spruce. However, larch is the most expensive conifer, so not everyone can afford its wood.

 

SURFACE – SMOOTH OR RIBBED

Decking boards can have a smooth or ribbed – grooved, wavy surface. A smooth surface is more pleasant to the touch, collects less dirt, but is more slippery. A ribbed surface collects dust and other dirt, so such boards require more maintenance. However, such a surface is more suitable for the floors of terraces installed near water for safety reasons. In addition, the wavy surface perfectly hides relief defects