When the time comes tobuild your wooden deck, it is important to fine-tune your project. The choice of gasoline is a point not to be neglected. The terrace must indeed be able to withstand bad weather over the years and retain its aesthetic quality for a very long time. Here are the species that lend themselves best to the construction of a terrace and some examples of prices that allow you to get an idea of the average budget to devote to it.
Outdoor terrace: which wood is best suited?
The wooden terrace brings a natural note to the outdoor space, warm and authentic. It is suitable for all universes and one appreciates walking there barefoot. It is the perfect extension of the interior living space. But in order for it to retain its original beauty, its maintenance must not be neglected, and this is valid for all species.
As a general rule, it is recommended to apply an oil (saturator) to the wood every year or every two years (with the exception of composite wood). It is also essential to clean your wooden deck after a period of heavy rain in order to eliminate mosses and lichens likely to develop there because they are slippery and therefore represent a risk of falling, especially if the blades have grooves. Be that as it may, the wooden terrace remains an element of development popular.
Different species of wood are used for the construction of a terrace, and are classified into four distinct categories.
exotic woods
These are species that have serious advantages because exotic woods are rot-proof and resistant due to their high density. For example, they resist stains and their durability is important. However, it is necessary to maintain them regularly to prevent the wood from graying. A good dusting is also essential.
Among these exotic essences, we mainly find:
- Teaka very classy tropical species, renowned for its resistance.
- The answer, an orange-yellow to red-brown, slightly shiny wood that takes on a darker color when exposed to light. The one from East Africa is noticeably lighter than the others. Tali is well suited to outdoor landscaping because it is resistant to termites, fungi, insects, and is one of the species with interesting durability.
- This Goda very hard wood with a regular grain and whose orange-golden honey color brings a note of originality.
- Le padouck, a flagship gasoline straight from Africa, with interesting mechanical characteristics. Padauck is a stable, durable wood, and once laid, it varies very little dimensionally. It is also suitable for swimming pool terrace and at the coping because it is resistant to humid environments as well as all types of bad weather and strong climatic variations. It sports a beautiful hue, with a warm Orange-redthen over time acquires a patina to become purplish and finally silver gray.
- ipe is well suited for a terrace because it has few dimensional variations. It is tough and durable.
- Le massaranduba with its beautiful light red to purplish brown color brings a touch of modernity to the terrace.
Softwoods
With a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, European woods make it possible to build a less expensive terrace than exotic woods. We choose labeled wood (FSC and PECF) to have a quality product that respects the environment. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) et PECF (Programme for the recognition of forest certifications) guarantee the sustainable management of forests.
We classify for example:
- The Ashoften considered among the exceptional woods with a beautiful brown and caramel color, and whose lifespan is at least 25 to 30 years.
- Larch, highly resistant to shocks, bad weather, it also resists fire and is virtually rot-proof. Its shades range from yellow to brown through orange.
- The Douglas fir. It is the softwood among the most frequently used for the construction of terraces and grating. It represents excellent value for money. It resists insects, fungi and this, naturally. It should be noted that one can find Douglas Pine originating from North America, Central Europe but also (and it is preferable for the planet) decking boards in French Douglas fir.
Hardwoods
They do not require pre-treatment. In this category, we mainly find:
- Robiniaperfect because it is a local wood and what is more, of great resistance, especially to prolonged contact with water. But it is better to raise it – as is the case with all woods – if you want to increase its lifespan. A robinia grating can easily last more than 20 years.
- The Oak which is a great classic. Of excellent quality, it brings a real refinement to the terrace.
- The Ash which is essential if you want a terrace in very dark wood because it is blackish brown (wengue). It gives a noble aspect to the exterior layout. It is a hard wood, which has few knots, and its deformation is low.
- The Cedar.
composite wood
It is not pure wood, but a material made of plastic resins (thermoplastic binder) and wood fibers. It is called Wood Plastic Composite (WPC). Today, the wood look is unmistakable and many owners opt for this solution because this material is splinter-free and does not require no maintenance. Nor is it necessary to repaint your composite wood deck after a few years. The surface is very homogeneous and the WPC comes in a rich palette of shades.
Type of wood for terrace: prices
Building a wooden deck requires a higher budget than using simple concrete. But the effect is not the same. Here are some examples of prices observed depending on the fuel chosen.
- Terrasse Padouck : section 21 x 145 mm, 70 €/m²
- Robinia terrace: section 22 x 100 mm, €75/m²
- Ash terrace: from €80/m²
- Larch terrace: from €50/m²
- Composite wood terrace: from €100/m²
A minimum budget of:
- €3,500 for a 40 m² terrace in European wood,
- €5,000 to €6,000 for a 40 m² terrace in exotic wood,
- €4,000 for a 40 m² composite wood terrace.
It is of course necessary to add the price of the joists essential to build a wooden terrace as well as all the necessary screws and bolts. For example, clams in exotic wood planed on 4 sides of 40 x 60 mm cost between 4.50 and 5.50 € per linear meter. Similarly, the preparation of the ground represents a cost to be defined on a case-by-case basis. Finally, it is necessary to take into account the labor cost if you entrust the construction of your wooden terrace to a artisan.
To study the services and the prices charged, it is better to use a online comparator. We can thus receive several quotes and freely choose the solution that fully meets their expectations.