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CONSULTATION » DECKING » Grading

Our manual sorting

We only import decking boards that meet the highest international quality standards and come from sustainably managed forests. Before we send the wood to our customers, each decking board is checked according to our sorting criteria. Here you can find out what these criteria are and what you can expect from our decking boards.

A-side and B-side of the decking boards

Each plank is checked by us on both sides. Most of the planks are flawless on both sides. Both sides can be laid as a visible side. If errors are detected on one side, the other side is checked. If this is free of errors, the plank is dispatched, otherwise the plank is rejected. In the following, we refer to the visible side as the A-side and the underside as the B-side.

Note top and underside of decking boards

Our sorting criteria

Split-off decking board

A splinter is a wedge-shaped splinter that can form on the long edge of a plank. Planks with a split on the A-side are sorted out by us. These may occur on the B-side, as they do not impair the structural stability of the plank.

Knothole decking board

Firmly intergrown branches are not sorted out on either the A-side or the B-side. Hollow knotholes on the A-side are sorted out. On the B-side they are tolerated if they are not continuous.

The planks may show minor damage at the end due to transportation or cutting. For this reason, the planks are usually supplied slightly oversized. If the damage is so severe that an error-free catalog size can no longer be achieved after cutting, the plank will be rejected.

Wide decking boards

The widths of the decking boards change slightly depending on the humidity. Such natural changes in width are not sorted out. If the width of a plank changes along its length, i.e. if it is different at the beginning and end, it is sorted out.

Plank length

Decking boards are usually supplied with a slight oversize in length. This makes it possible to eliminate transport damage at the end of the plank and still install the plank in the specified catalog dimensions. Planks that do not reach the length of the catalog dimensions are sorted out.

Plank thickness

The plank thickness can vary by a tenth of a millimeter due to moisture and temperature changes. If the plank thickness is different due to a planing error (as shown), the plank will be sorted out by us.

End crack decking board

End cracks can occur at the cut edge of the decking boards. Good drying and front edge wax reduce the risk, but cannot completely eliminate it. If the end crack is so deep that the plank can no longer be installed in your catalog size despite the excess length after cutting, it will be sorted out.

No two decking boards are the same. Planks of the same wood species also differ in color. The decking boards are therefore not sorted according to their color.

Odor decking boards

Some types of wood can develop an odor – especially when freshly laid and when it is warm and damp. This is one of the typical properties of wood. Planks are not rejected because of their odor. The odor usually disappears after a few days or weeks.

Drill hole decking board

A hole with a diameter of more than 3 mm may have been caused by a moisture meter, a drill hole or an insect. Such holes are sorted out on the A-side and tolerated on the B-side. The holes can be closed with a round bar. Acute insect infestation can be ruled out due to the natural properties of tropical woods.

Planing defects are indentations or burn marks caused by the planer. Planing defects on the A-side of a plank are sorted out. They are tolerated on the B-side.

In rare cases, holes are filled with wood filler during production. We try to sort out the planks that have been filled on the A side. However, because the filling is sometimes very well implemented and barely visible, it can sometimes be overlooked.

Grain

No two planks, wooden boards or chopping boards are the same – even if they are made from the same wood. Growth rings differ in their coloring and arrangement. It is not possible to sort according to specific grain patterns.

Scratch decking boards

Scratches may occur during storage or transportation. A deep scratch (as shown) on the A-side is rejected and tolerated on the B-side. Slight scratches, which can be removed by simple sanding, are tolerated.

Surface cracks decking boards

These are superficial cracks that do not go through the full thickness of the decking board. Surface cracks can occur in floorboards after long periods of dryness, are a typical characteristic of wood and are not sorted out. Decking oil reduces the formation of cracks.

These are very small holes with a diameter of less than 3 mm and usually occur in groups. Pinholes are caused by insects in the tropics. Pinholes on the A-side are tolerated to a small extent (up to 10 pinholes per running meter), as they do not represent a design restriction. A stronger occurrence of pinholes on the A-side is sorted out. Pinholes are tolerated on the B-side.

Decking boards differ in their surface structure. Some planks may be slightly rougher or fine wood fibers may stick up after weathering. This roughness is a typical characteristic of wood and is not sorted out. If the boards are considered too rough, we recommend sanding them down with 120 grit after the first weathering.

Slating refers to a wedge-shaped split or peeling of the decking boards. Slate floorboards are sorted out by us. However, it cannot be ruled out that the planks will peel after installation and prolonged outdoor use.

Sapwood decking boards

Sapwood is the younger growth wood and occurs at the edges of a tree. Planks with a sapwood content of more than 5% on the A-side are sorted out. Planks with a sapwood content of over 20% on the B side are also sorted out.

Decking boards are stacked with wooden battens to prevent mildew stains and increase the stability of the stack. This can cause discoloration in darkening woods. However, as these disappear with weathering, discoloration due to storage wood is tolerated.

Soiling decking boards

During transportation and storage, water stains can form on the floorboards due to condensation, for example. In rare cases, there may also be traces of varnish, chalk marks or tape residue on the floorboards. As these blemishes can be removed without much effort – for example with soft soap – dirty floorboards are not sorted out.

Solid wood can warp due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. A vertical warping (left-right) of the plank of more than approx. 2% is usually sorted out. However, warping can also occur during transportation and can be installed straight in most cases. Horizontal warping (up-down) or minor vertical warping is tolerated, as these planks can be pulled straight and installed without any problems.

An alternating direction of growth of the wood fibers is referred to as alternating twist growth. As a result, not all wood fibers are planed smoothly during planing and streaky color changes can occur. Interlocked grain is not sorted out as it is one of the typical characteristics of wood. The fibers can be smoothed by sanding.

Teak decking boards 95mm, Switzerland

Our decking boards

from 6,60 

Cumaru decking boards, FSC 100%
Price from: € 70 per m2, resistance class: 1

Advantages: ✓ best durability ✓ particularly robust and scratch-resistant

Disadvantages: ✗ Partly rough surface ✗ High force development

Tip: Sand the boards after the first weathering.

from 9,10 

Cumaru decking boards, FSC 100%
Price from: € 70 per m2, resistance class: 1

Advantages: ✓ best durability ✓ particularly robust and scratch-resistant

Disadvantages: ✗ Partly rough surface ✗ High force development

Tip: Sand the boards after the first weathering.

from 11,85 

Cumaru decking boards, FSC 100%
Price from: € 70 per m2, resistance class: 1

Advantages: ✓ best durability ✓ particularly robust and scratch-resistant

Disadvantages: ✗ Partly rough surface ✗ High force development

Tip: Sand the boards after the first weathering.

from 9,10 

Garapa decking boards, FSC 100%
Price from: € 65 per m2, resistance class: 1-2

Advantages: ✓ smooth surface ✓ homogeneous, light color

Disadvantages: ✗ Ferrous materials lead to discoloration ✗ Tendency to warp if not screwed down

Tip: patio cleaning removes discoloration and
professional interim storage prevents warping.

from 9,80 

Garapa decking boards, FSC 100%
Price from: € 65 per m2, resistance class: 1-2

Advantages: ✓ smooth surface ✓ homogeneous, light color

Disadvantages: ✗ Ferrous materials lead to discoloration ✗ Tendency to warp if not screwed down

Tip: patio cleaning removes discoloration and
professional interim storage prevents warping.

from 9,10 

Jatoba decking boards, FSC 100%
Price from: € 65 per m2, resistance class: 1-2

Advantages: ✓ smooth surface ✓ strong color and grain

Disadvantages:✗Unoiled tends to crack ✗ Colored ingredients wash out

Tip: Clean and oil decking boards after installation.