HIT THE DECK!

FOR THIS COUPLE, REPLACING AN OLD DECK AND PAVERS WITH A MODERN ALTERNATIVE MEANT LESS UPKEEP AND MORE DOWNTIME

Brisbane couple Tim and Julie’s two-storey home in the leafy suburb of Middle Park is an entertainer’s paradise. Located beside the Mcleod private golf course, its lavish outdoor entertaining and pool area flow to native gardens and an expansive lawn. But every home needs maintenance, so when it came time to upgrade some of the more high-traffic areas earlier this year, Tim and Julie commissioned building contractor Oxford Construction and Development to replace their home’s deteriorating wooden front steps and paved pool deck. Their brief was to find a solution which was low maintenance, resistant to moisture damage, long lasting and aesthetically pleasing. Cue Hardiedeck™.

SAFETY FIRST

The project’s timing was partly due to safety concerns, according to Tim. “The paved deck around the pool had become uneven underfoot, and it was time to replace the timber steps at the front of the house, as the wood was rotting. Re-staining them had become a chore we were having to do at least twice a year, to keep on top of sun and moisture damage,” he says.

A BETTER ALTERNATIVE

Although fans of the traditional timber deck, the couple were uncertain about the prospect of replacing their section

“After seeing the Hardiedeck™ stained in a timber finish at the Build and Design Centre, I knew instantly this was the deck I wanted

of paving stones with an attractive but highmaintenance wooden deck.

This led them to choose Hardiedeck. Resistant to damage from termites and moisture, able to be used in high bushfire attack zones and splinter free, Hardiedeck is a fibre cement-based, durable, lowmaintenance alternative to timber.*

It was the prospect of low maintenance that caught the couple’s eye when they were shopping around for options, according to Julie. “After seeing the Hardiedeck stained in a timber finish at the Build and Design Centre, I knew this was the deck I wanted,” she says.

INSTALLATION CHALLENGES

A request to keep to the existing size and design of the deck and steps meant the Oxford Construction team had to create a timber look that also accommodated a curved section in the deck overlooking the pool. “This was one of the reasons we chose Hardiedeck, as it is perfectly suited for pool areas,” Tim notes.

Cabots stain was used to give the boards the traditional timber appearance that Tim and Julie wanted, minus the seemingly constant need for upkeep.

PICTURE PERFECT RESULTS

Now finished and ready in time for summer, Tim says he and Julie are sitting pretty and will be for many years to come. “We’re rapt at the way our choice of Hardiedeck and building services came together to re-do our outdoor area. Now there’s less upkeep and more time to relax and enjoy for us!”

STAIN FOR A WOOD GRAIN FINISH, OR PERFECTLY MATCH IT TO YOUR PAINT COLOUR