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In choosing the species of lumber for exterior
decking, one of the important considerations is the
initial colour of the wood. Maybe you have solid wood
hardwood flooring indoors and wish to create a smooth
transition to the exterior space. In this case you would
probably want to use a similar colour species on you
deck. Or maybe you have a particular theme in mind for
your deck which requires a bold statement and dark
timber color. Or maybe it’s a small courtyard where a
light timber color is required so as not to overwhelm
the proportions or make the space look even smaller.
Fortunately there’s a wide range of suitable timber
species available with excellent durability
characteristics that span the entire colour spectrum -
from light straw, to pinks, to light browns, chocolate
browns, dark brown, orange red and dark red/brown - even
purple. Just some of the hardwood species in these
various color ranges that could be considered include:
Light straw – Tallowwood, Blackbutt
Light/mid brown – Teak, Selangan batu, Cumaru,
Spotted gum. Merbau
Olive brown – Ipe, Grey Ironbark Chocolate brown
- Bongossi
Red brown –, Jarrah, Karri
Dark red – River red Gum, Red Ironbark, Forest
Red Gum, Jatoba Purple - Purpleheart
Note however that for some species the colour of the
timber can vary quite significantly, even along a single
plank – Spotted Gum is one such example. In other
species such as Jatoba for example, the colour variation
is not so great. And other species may have grain
flecked with yellow, such a Cumaru for example. And the
source of the timber can have bearing on the timber
color as well as the age of the actual trees. Jarrah
from young trees for example is generally a salmon pink
color compared with a darker red brown from more mature
trees.
Remember also that several of the species can change
color quite rapidly on exposure to sunlight - generally
turning darker in color. Whilst Purpleheart for example
is initially purple in color, it will change to a brown
colour on extended exposure to sunlight.
And of course no lumber species will retain its
original color forever. Without a regular regime of
coating with a good quality decking oil, the UV in
sunlight will gradually cause the timber to fade to a
soft grey colour; some species more rapidly than others.
But even with the application of a good quality
decking oil at regular intervals, you can only slow down
this fading process. The only way to restore the colour
of your decking is to sand back the surface to remove
the weathered top layer of the wood. Some chemical based
restoration preparations are available, but generally
they will be unable to bring the wood color back to its
original brightness, but leave a somewhat grey undertone |
