By Trace Lara
If you are planning a garden revamp in the near future, a place for rest and relaxation will certainly be part of the plan; if you are sitting on the fence regarding this, here are some pros and cons of timber decking and stone pavers for your terrace area.
Timber or Composite Decking
The Pros
The most popular deck as far as Australian homeowners co, is Trex decking, which is a composite material that looks and feels like timber. Tongue & groove solutions make for perfect placement and there are special clip connectors for a seamless look; buy from the online supplier and they will deliver everything you need for the project, including support posts and edging, with enough timber to build a handrail. Composite decking requires no maintenance and the material can handle everything the Australian climate can muster.
The Cons
If you choose solid timber, you will need to preserve the wood and give it a coat of varnish for weather protection. We can’t see any other potential downsides to timber decking; if you can, do let us know! Most homeowners prefer composite over solid timber decking, as it looks like wood and is maintenance free.
Stone Pavers
The Pros
Natural stone is elegant and extremely durable, while man-made pavers are cheap and easy to install. If you have a healthy budget, marble or granite makes for a perfect terrace floor. Travertine is cool underfoot, even during hot days and it looks stunning; all forms of stone pavers are easy to install. If you have a lot of old broken slabs, why not create a crazy paving patio? Sand and cement is all you need to wet lay crazy paving and if you have never done this before, there are ‘how to’ videos on YouTube.
The Cons
Natural stone is never going to be cheap, yet it will last a lifetime; of course, cutting stone is lot harder than timber and therefore more difficult to cut and shape. Stone is heavier than timber and you therefore need a solid concrete base on which to lay the pavers.
To conclude, composite timber decking ticks all the boxes and with online suppliers, you can plan your project and still have the second part of the summer for the ultimate rest and relaxation. Choose from a wide range of finishes and order all the accessories you will need to finish the project.
