Once upon a time, building an outdoor deck meant using traditional timber boards. Not anymore. Homeowners are embracing new trends to ensure their entertaining area is stylish, welcoming and – most importantly – low maintenance and long-lasting, and that means timber isn’t the first choice.
Take a look at these three trends to see why timber is being eschewed in favour of more weatherproof, versatile and time-and-budget-friendly options.
TREND 1
Fibre Cement: A Modern Alternative
Perfect for the Australian climate, this innovative material is being embraced by homeowners who want a deck that lasts a lifetime. Boasting the same look as timber boards, this hardwearing material requires less re-staining and sealing – with minimal effort for maximum return helping renovators save big on time and money.
Fibre cement decking is particularly well-suited to families as it is resistant to damage from heat and moisture, which can cause timber to rot and crack. This means kids can run and play on its safe, smooth surface without the worry of splinters and weakening boards caused by exposure from the sun or rain.
Get peace-of-mind with HardieDeck, a durable alternative to timber that won't splinter in the sun, making it perfect for uncovered outdoor area.
TREND 2
Colour-Matching: Creating a Seamless Extension of Your Home
Homeowners recognise that a deck should be a natural extension of the home, with a similar look and feel essential to creating an inviting indoor-outdoor entertaining space. Key to achieving this smooth transition is to match the colour of your deck to that of your indoor flooring, which will double the appearance of a living area.
While coloured decking can be problematic with timber boards, there are alternative materials that offer more versatility when it comes to design – for example, fibre cement boards be colour-matched to your home with durable sealers that can tinted in a range of colours. With this modern alternative, contemporary homes featuring a neutral palette can choose to expand their living and dining area seamlessly with a range of greys, from light dove grey to charcoal. Owners of a more traditional-style abode might prefer terracotta as a match to indoor tiling.
Fibre cement decking can also be installed low to the ground to meet your living room, further complementing indoor flooring. Bringing colourful décor and textiles outside that match indoor furnishings can help to blur the lines between indoor and outdoor.
Three Birds Renovations used a neutral colour palette and the clean, strong lines of HardieDeck to create a contemporary outdoor area that reflects the aesthetic of the house structure.
TREND 3
Low Maintenance as a Priority: Busy Homeowners want Fuss-Free Alternatives
A new deck doesn’t necessarily mean relaxation, which is why renovators are looking to timber alternatives. While it starts off looking great, timber can quickly lose its lustre and calls for a lot of effort to stay in top shape. Those thinking of building a deck can benefit significantly by first considering how much time and budget they have available to spend on outdoor maintenance.
Looking to alternatives such as wood plastic composite and fibre cement boards helps renovators feel confident that their new deck will be more about entertaining than upkeep. Sturdy and weatherproof, fibre cement decking is perfectly suited to a busy lifestyle and, unlike timber, won’t be a cause for concern when to comes to sun and rain damage. Quick and easy to install, this fuss-free alternative is ensuring homeowners have more time to enjoy relaxing with family and friends.
Spend warm summer afternoons maintaining your deck rather than maintaining it!
