3 Alternative Options to Timber Patio Decking
Posted on: 27 April 2016
One of the major advantages of living in Australia is the beautiful summer weather. You no doubt want to invite friends and family to your garden patio on the weekends to enjoy cocktails and barbecues. But your patio can only ever be as good as your patio decking. While natural timber looks beautiful, it requires a lot of upkeep. So what are some alternative decking options that give the effect of wood without any of the hassle?
Timber look tiles. With any kind of outdoor flooring, you really have to make sure that it's weather resistant. This basically means that wood is not an option. When timber is exposed to heat and moisture, it can warp and crack – not ideal for a comfortable patio area. Because it's a natural material, it can also attract fungus and mould growth, as well as insects such as termites. But what if you could have the look of wood, without actually laying down a timber floor? This is where timber look tiles come in. These are typically made of porcelain, but they look just like wood with a beautiful wood grain. Porcelain is the kind of material that repels moisture, is easy to wipe clean, and won't attract pests.
Bamboo. If you want decking that looks like wood but isn't, bamboo is another option. That's right – bamboo isn't a type of wood, it's actually a grass species, which means it has different properties that make it a far more suitable patio flooring option than timber decking. Bamboo is light but strong, ideal for construction projects. You also won't have any termite problems with bamboo because termites are not attracted to this material. On top of this, bamboo is an extremely green material, so if that matters to you, bamboo is the perfect choice.
Aluminium. When you think of patio decking, you probably won't think of aluminium. After all, a sheet of metal can't look that attractive on a patio floor, can it? Well, actually, aluminium decking can be produced to look any way you want. This means that you can create an authentic looking wood grain on an aluminium deck without having to deal with the upkeep of real wood. Aluminium is also the perfect material for outdoor use. It repels water, it doesn't rust like other metals, it is naturally inset resistant, it repels water, it won't warp or crack, and it won't attract mould either.
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