Selwyn Times: October 18, 2016

SELWYN TIMES Tuesday October 18 2016 39
HOME PROFESSIONALS
Decks, patios and paving
The choice of a deck, concrete patio
or paving will largely be influenced by
personal preference.
Patios and paving are low maintenance
and last longer than a deck, the aesthetics
of which is more appealing.
One advantage of a deck is the seamless
movement it creates from house to
outdoor living area. With no need to step
down, there is a feeling of having a larger
home with an outside room, especially if
the roof overhangs a part of this area or
there is a pergola structure overhead.
Concrete patios can be smooth and
grey, coloured or exposed aggregate
and lines can be cut into the concrete to
create a paved effect. When raised off the
ground, the cost of the concrete may make
the patio more expensive than a wooden
deck would be. However, concrete patios
are easy to keep clean and the concrete
lasts considerably longer than wood. It
will also be a smooth splinter-free surface
on which children can play. On the down
side, concrete heats up with the sun and
can be glary.
Paving is easy to lay and change. It is
also reasonably easy to maintain though
the pavers can shift over time causing
an uneven surface, especially if the
foundation on which they were laid has
not been prepared properly. Dirt can also
build up in the cracks causing weeds to
grow, resulting in the need to spray or
scrape these out.
If choosing a deck, options include
pine, hardwood, bamboo or a composite
wood look product.
Radiata pine is the most affordable
wood for decking. It has the advantage
of being treated and is available with a
smooth surface or grip tread though is
perhaps the least attractive of the decking
timbers available.
Currently hardwood decks are very
popular, due to the attractiveness of the
wood. Hardwood can bleed and stain
surrounding concrete and brickwork and
it will need regular staining to minimise
the chance of it splitting and maintain its
rich golden brown colour, something that
could be a chore.
Kwila, vitex, Pacific jarrah and garapa
are popular decking hardwood timbers.
They can be purchased smooth cut or
with a tread on one side. While Kwila
is the most popular, you might wish to
check out that the timber has come from a
sustainable source.
A decking product that is relatively new
to the New Zealand market is bamboo. If
sourced from a credible supplier such as
the local Christchurch brand, Evoca, then
bamboo is said to be environmentally
friendly. Bamboo’s advantage as a decking
timber is its density and strength.
Still more hardy and permanent are the
natural wood looking composite products.
These are made out of recycled materials
and come in a range of colours. While
pricier than wood, composite decking is
said to be non-slip, hold its colour, and not
warp, crack or splinter the way wood can;
features that make it pleasant to walk on
in bare feet or for the children to play on.
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Call Rohan Rudd anytime Mon-Sat
for a no-obligation assessment & quote
0800 486 532 03 982 8850
New Builds
Home Alterations
Bathrooms
Decks
BUILDERS LTD
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Extensions
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Insurance Work
Phone Keith:
027274 9359 or (03) 325-4452
ktmbuilders@xtra.co.nz
Fully Qualified Builder