What is the best decking wood?

The following applies to decking boards: Only the tough get into the garden! Weather-resistant, dimensionally stable and durable – a wooden decking must have these properties. FSC-certified tropical wood best meets these requirements.

Unlike industrially manufactured products, however, each decking board is unique. International quality standards and DIN norms therefore help in the search for high quality: Products from different suppliers and origins can thus be compared.

Decking wood hand-sorted and particularly durable

The abbreviation “FAS” for the best grading and the term “Premium” have become established for wood quality. If you pay attention to this marking, there should only be very few cracks and knotholes on the A-side of the decking boards in the best grades.

The durability of the wood is assessed using resistance classes. A terrace that is exposed to wind and weather should achieve the highest resistance class 1.

You can already do a lot to ensure the longevity of the decking during construction: the boards should be supported by a substructure The boards should be well ventilated, rainwater must be able to drain away and care should also be taken to ensure that leaves do not form damp pockets.

Wood is a natural product and changes due to cold and heat. If you pay attention to how the decking boards have been dried, your decking will retain its shape and will not warp over the years. Technical drying (KD – kiln dried) is a better way of preventing later warping than with exclusively air-dried wood.

Certified decking wood protects the rainforest

Especially when buying tropical timber, the FSC seal is particularly important when buying tropical wood: it indicates the socially responsible and sustainable origin.

At Betterwood you only get premium and FAS wood. We even sort every order by hand. Anything that does not meet our high standards can be found in the remnants. For example, we can guarantee at least 95% heartwood, no dead knotholes or cracks on the top side of the planks. In addition, we only stock resistance classes 1 to 2 and only offer FSC-certified wood.

If the quality specifications are correct, you only have to decide on one type of wood: Teak also known as kingwood, is supple and takes on a light silver tone. It is very dimensionally stable and ages without cracking or splintering.

Cumaru – a reddish-brown wood with a striking pattern – and the dark reddish-brown, even Garapa can warp more, but are more resistant.