DECK the HALLS
Decking is a simple way to make a statement, says Leigh Bramwell
WHEN I WAS A KID, nobody had a deck. Our houses had porches and, if you were lucky, maybe a balcony or a verandah. But we didn’t sit out on them having wine and nibbles with friends because outdoor living hadn’t been thought of. Any outdoor space was usually attached to the house and was really only wide enough to walk along.
I don’t know who invented decks and, when I asked Google, she thought I was talking about playing cards, not about sitting in the sun with your feet on the railing sipping a beer.
Then, probably in the early 70s, wooden decks began to appear. They were small to begin with, but during the excesses of the pre-stock market crash period of the 80s, they got bigger. And bigger.
The term “outdoor living” exploded into our vocabulary and decks started became extensions of the house instead of tacked-on additions.
After years of devotion to terraces and patios, I became a convert to decks about five years ago, my enthusiasm fuelled by The Landscaper and his sidekick’s ability to knock up very stylish deck spaces in no time, and for much less money than it cost to cover the equivalent space in pavers.
Weary of scrubbing red wine and cat vomit stains off our pale grey courtyard flagstones, and continually brushing the grouting sand back into the spaces between them, I commissioned two adjoining deck areas and a wee boardwalk to cover some of them up. That this has been a success is beyond question, evidenced by the fact the decks are still there and I haven’t been tempted to replace them with the latest trend — whatever that may be.
The beauty of decking is that it can be as simple or as complex as you like. A plain, single-level, rectangular piece of deck can make a real statement, but if you prefer you can add built-in bench seats, planter boxes, two or three levels, broad steps, diagonals — you name it. If you’re using timber you can stain it, oil it, varnish it or paint it, but remember to consider wear and tear, then ongoing maintenance.
And there is a wide choice of materials, too, which will likely be led by your location, climate, level of use and tolerance for maintenance.
Materials that look great and can weather all sorts of conditions, withstand substantial use without frequent maintenance, and provide outdoor living space without harming the environment are likely to be requirements for the decks of the future.
Call me old-fashioned but I still lean towards timber. Pine and macrocarpa are cost-effective options, while tropical hardwoods like kwila and jarrah are more expensive but none-the-less popular options.
Composite timber decking is made from a combination of materials to create a timber look-alike that is generally more durable than its solid timber counterpart. You’d be hard-pressed to pick the difference from real timber, which is probably why it’s becoming a popular alternative.
Bamboo is another option, and these days you’ll see it used in everything from flooring to lingerie. Anyone who has it growing will be aware that it’s one of the speediest, most renewable plant sources, with the wood able to be harvested repeatedly from the same plant.
When you’re choosing your style and materials, keep in mind how you plan to furnish and use your deck. Our two main deck areas have fairly lightweight timber chairs and tables because we like to move around according to where the sun is. We don’t have outdoor rugs, although the dog is pestering for one, and I try to minimise anything on the decks that need to be moved if I want to sweep or waterblast.
There are no container plants because they need plastic drip trays and I hate them, so instead we’ve planted soft, weeping lomandra grasses around some of the edges to add colour, texture and contrast.
And don’t be trapped into thinking that a deck has to be large, or attached to the house. Certainly if you’re going to use it for cooking and entertaining then you might want it spacious and handy to the kitchen, but small, intimate deck spaces hidden in the garden can be an appealing addition to your garden style.