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Materials overview, decking planks

Once you have decided to build a terrace, choosing the right terrace decking plays an important role. The range of possibilities is so varied that serious thought should be given to the decision. Here we will explain to you the advantages and disadvantages of the various materials.

We have the right decking to suit every taste, whether it's timber, stone or WPC terrace planks. The various deckings have certain advantages and disadvantages depending on what you want to use your terrace for, and it is essential to also factor these into the planning before your terrace is constructed.

Timber terrace

Timber is one of the most popular materials for terraces. This classic material provides a warm radiance, is pleasant to the touch, and is available in different variations, from rustic hardwood terraces to bamboo terrace planks to exotic Bangkirai terraces.

The advantages and disadvantages of timber terraces

Besides being attractive to the eye, a timber terrace also has a few practical advantages. Firstly, timber has low thermal conductivity, which means that the material does not heat up as much under the midday sun as stone, for example. Secondly, timber terraces dry very quickly and this is very practical during autumn and winter in particular. This ecologically-sound material can be used not just as decking at lawn level but also for slightly elevated, existing terraces.

The advantage of a timber terrace, namely that it is a biological material that degrades naturally, is at the same time a major disadvantage. The greatest enemy of the timber terrace is the risk of parasite infestation and rotting. Fungal growth and insect infestation are caused by, among other factors, damp and contact with the ground. There is also a risk of deformation as a result of factors such as climate change. Timber is not normally a smooth, slippery material, but the growth of moss can increase the risk of slipping. Although it feels good to walk barefoot across a timber terrace, it can be very painful if there are small splinters on the surface.

The amount of work involved in looking after a timber terrace should also not be underestimated. Timber terraces should be cleaned once annually and then, for best results, treated with a special oil for real timber terrace planks

Terrace deckings: Timber terraces

The types and development trends of timber terraces in Germany

Stone terraces

Stone terraces, particularly natural stone terraces, are currently very popular. This material impresses above all by virtue of its versatility: The stones are available in an extremely wide range of colours, textures and shapes. No natural stone is exactly the same as any other, which enables you to create a terrace with an exciting and unique appearance.

The advantages and disadvantages of stone terraces

Stone terraces have other advantages besides the variety of colours and textures. Thanks to their obvious material properties, stone terraces are normally very resistant, durable and hardly change in appearance over many years. If the stones are smooth, the terrace is easy to clean and requires hardly any care.

The permanence of stone terraces can prove to be a problem if you then decide that you want to convert the terrace or construct a new one. That's when the amount of work involved becomes very great. Unlike timber terraces, stone terraces can hardly ever be laid on an existing substrate. Instead, they require a special subsurface. This makes the preparatory work for stone terraces particularly labour-intensive and time-consuming. Stone terraces are also very slippery, particularly when wet. Consequently, a fall can be both painful and dangerous.

WPC terrace planks

WPC terrace planks are a very special material. Wood-polymer composite is a mixture of wood fibres and plastic that combines the best properties of both materials. This innovative material possesses a number of impressive positive aspects and is now being used more and more in terrace construction.

The advantages and disadvantages of WPC terrace planks

Wood-polymer composite, or WPC for short, is the ideal material for outdoor use. The advantages of this material lie in the combination of wood and plastic. The WPC terrace planks look virtually identical to real timber planks. The feeling of walking barefoot across the terrace is also hardly any different to the feel of a timber floor.

WPC therefore offers almost all the positive properties of timber while eliminating the negative ones. Consequently, WPC terrace planks are weather-resistant, durable and easy to look after. In addition – and unlike timber – WPC terraces have no painful and hazardous splinters and gaps. WPC is also environmentally beneficial: The material is 100% recyclable and environmentally sound.

The disadvantages of WPC terrace planks are very minor. After a time, very powerful UV light exposure can cause slight colour changes. And as is the case with timber or stone terraces, WPC terraces can be damaged by ongoing and extreme weather conditions.