American Softwoods

Southern Pine Decking Provides Luxury Solution To Outdoor Living

Decking is fast becoming the most desirable and luxurious way to extend a home's living space ? whatever the size of your house and garden. This is perfectly illustrated by two very different projects ? a decked area with a 'Mediterranean' feel in the garden of a detached house, and a split-level deck transforming a small garden of a terraced home.

The decked area is surrounded by white marble cobbles and Mediterranean type planting mixed with more native trees and shrubs. A row of small trees adds interest at the back of the area while a bespoke water feature, supplied by Alison Armour Designs of Sussex, provides a striking centrepiece built into the decking. Both the decking and the water feature - a large acrylic globe suspended over a stainless steel saucer - can be lit up at night, with additional lighting to the larger specimen plants and trees.

The position of the decked area, about 20 feet from the house, means it catches the sun most of the day and is a perfect extension to the home's living area - ideal for al fresco dining and simply relaxing.

Says Mrs Jill Gee who helped to design her new home and is now concentrating on completing the garden: "I was looking for something very modern, and also a 'beach effect' which the white cobbles and the wood as it weathers will achieve. I'm absolutely delighted with it, it's exactly what we wanted."

A second project, in Tylers Green, Buckinghamshire, shows how a decked area can totally transform a small garden ? particularly on sloping ground. The split-level deck extends from the French doors at the back of the house and incorporates built-in seating, planters, and a pebble and stone water feature.

The garden design also includes a bark play area below the patio for Melanie and Hendrik Strydom's two small children with a slide secured to the deck accessed via a small gate disguised within the balustrading.

Garden lighting was also installed including uplighters to highlight planting and the water feature, plus LED lights in the deck step risers to give direction.

Says Mrs Strydom: "We're thrilled with it. Previously we just had some very uninspiring flagstones there, and could really get no use out of the area. When the decking was being built, we couldn't wait to start using it. It's just like an outdoor room, and I love the warm, earthy appeal of the wood."

Simon Blair, the Landscape Manager at Chenies Landscapes Ltd who designed and built the 40 square metre decking area, is a stickler for quality. That's why he's so particular when it comes to choosing wood for decking projects. His first choice every time is Southern Yellow Pine from American Softwoods.

"I always recommend Southern yellow pine," says Simon, "not only for the decking itself, but even more importantly for the sub-frame the deck is built on - there have been cases of sub-frames made with inferior wood collapsing because it can't stand the test of time.

"Southern Yellow Pine is supplied with a 40 year guarantee against rot, and is one of the best timbers to use for a number of reasons. It's very strong and durable and is thoroughly treated - unlike some timbers which only allow a limited penetration of preservative chemicals.

"From an aesthetic point of view, the colour and grain are beautiful and there are very few knots, which can detract from the aesthetics."

Southern Yellow Pine is one of the most versatile and durable of American produced Softwoods and is ideal for both urban and rural locations.

When pressure-treated it is one of the strongest of all softwoods and is also environmentally-friendly, being harvested from the USA's managed forests.

Some customers enjoy the colour of the wood as it gradually ages to a silver grey, but it's also possible to maintain a particular colour with specially designed opaque stain products. The quality of the wood is complemented by the quality of the construction which, says Simon, is also of paramount importance if the deck is to provide long life. This typically includes double screws at every joist.

"We never use nails, as they are totally unsuitable for decking," says Simon.

"Boards naturally want to cup or bend towards the edges, and even very subtle movements in the timber will cause a nail to dislodge. We're also careful to use quality screws that won't react with the timber and cause staining."

Says Eddie Pearce of American Softwoods: "Southern Yellow Pine is renowned as 'the supreme structural wood of the world' due to its durability, treatability and design versatility. It has exceptional strength and is perfect for outdoor applications such as patios and boardwalks, as well as industrial applications, flooring, roof trusses, and furniture."