1. Weather Resistance

Singapore is famous for its weird weather. You tend to experience extreme hot weather on some days and you can have extreme wet days over a few days period. Will your decking last under this tremendous weather? You would want your house decking to last. Hence, choosing a weather resistant decking is important. But of course, you can also consider building a cover for your decking so as to eliminate the weather portion in your consideration.

2. Material

There are a few options one can choose to have when it comes to decking. You can either go for either timber wood or composite decking. There are so many to choose from. How to choose then, you might ask. Think of the appearance you want your decking to be. From there, choose the one that fits the appearance most. Eco Composite Decking, a high quality type of composite decking product, would be a good choice due to its stylish design and the ease of maintenance.

3. Maintenance

Maintaining the deck is one important aspect to make sure your decking is long lasting. Some material will require more maintenance compared to others. If you choose wood decking, you may want to ensure the wood deck is regularly maintained with wood paint or varnish. Eco Composite Decking is generally maintenance free. You will only need to splash a bit of water to ensure cleanliness of the decking. Do learn more about the different maintenance before settling on your choice of material.

Do ensure the material involved in the decking are of high quality too especially when it comes to composite decking material. Low composite decking may result in high maintenance as the possibility of replacing it can be high.

4. Size and usage of Your Balcony Decking

You may have a large area for your deck. Do consider if you want to make use of the whole area to create your deck or just partial. Too small decking may not give you the ambience you are looking for while too big decking may take up more space than it should. Design and plan what goes to where. It helps to determine the size of your deck.

Other than the size, you should also consider the usage of the deck. Is the deck going to have barbeque pits? Is it going to be for my family to sit and relax? It is relatively important as it will affect the type of appearance your decking should look like. If it is to have a barbeque pit, do consider a deck with patterns that can help to cover the dirt and a deck that is easy to clean.

Doing planning for the decks are relatively important process, just as any part of the house. It will affect you in terms of not only cost, but also the ambience of the decking, which will affect the theme of your whole house.

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With the increase supply of homes with integrated spaces, we are going to see an increasing demand of decking products to fill up the planters and balconies in the homes.

Type of Balcony Decking Option in Singapore

There are mainly three types of balcony decking option today. Wood Decking such as Chengal, Balau and Ironwood decking have been common wood decking option in Singapore. Wood decking gives a natural feel to the eyes and comfort to the feet. However, with limited supply of quality wood decking, home owners and interior contractors are looking for alternative option such as PVC decking or composite decking.

Such decking has its pros and cons. The pros for PVC decking is that it is easy to clean and install. The cons is probably that PVC or composite decking today has the most number of variation in terms of product quality because of the large supply of composite decking manufacturers in the world. Hence it is pretty difficult to judge which is which or what type of composite decking product is better? The good ones are usually the ones with better UV resistance, heat resistance as well as durability. One of the most effective ways, is to look into the source of the composite decking manufacturer. Whether or not, it is reliable, with a reasonably well warranty period and so on.

Many home owners therefore have the difficulty in getting the best possible composite decking product for the home.

The Advent of Eco Wood Composite Decking

Well, here comes eco wood composite decking, that literally helps to resolve the matter on product quality differences on composite decking products. Many of the lows of conventional composite decking have hence been resolved with the advent of eco wood composite decking. First, eco wood composite decking is relatively better than conventional composite decking and even some wood species, in terms of heat resistance. UV resistance has also been taken care of, therefore ensuring colour of decking can be long lasting. In terms of durability, weather resistance as well as eco friendliness, has also been resolved with eco wood composite decking.

For Home Balcony Decking Today

In short, eco wood composite decking is strongly recommended for balconies and planters in Singapore home today due to its strength, durability and many strong features. Install a good quality eco wood composite decking today!

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There are plenty of options out there. To help you make a choice that’s best for you, here are the top five outdoor decking materials recommended by our flooring experts, and their pros and cons.

#1 Outdoor Wood Decking

The most common outdoor flooring is none other than wood decking. Available in Chengal wood, Iron wood and Teak, natural wood decking is commonly used for the exterior of Singapore properties due to its cooling characteristics. Depending on age, wood species are graded in terms of their varying strength and durability, Janka hardness, as well as dimensional stability properties. Wood decking creates a little pocket of nature in your outdoor area. Due to its natural properties, wood decking requires proper care and maintenance. Nevertheless, it is one of the best options for outdoor decking. To ensure the longevity of the outdoor wood decking, it is important to maintain it at least once every 6 months, giving it a fresh coat of paint or varnish. More importantly, any improper installation may result in the warping of decks. Hence, engaging an experienced outdoor decking contractor to carry out a professional decking installation is just as crucial.

#2 Eco Wood Composite Decking

Eco wood composite decking is considered as one of the latest entry into the Singapore outdoor decking market. An improvement from conventional composite decking, Eco wood composite decking is manufactured in an eco friendly manner with a mixture of wood and composite that further adds to the strength and durability of the entire decking material. As such, good quality composite wood decking can be relatively more durable and stronger than conventional wood decking material. As its material technology is more advanced, eco wood composite decking is relatively better than conventional composite decking in terms of UV resistance. This is something important for home owners to know, as low quality composite decking may change in colour due to the impact of ultra violet rays. Heat resistance is another important aspect home owners should look into, especially when the decking is installed in unsheltered exterior areas, such as swimming pools or balconies in Singapore. Eco wood composite decking has relatively better heat resistant properties as compared to conventional composite decking. This is due to the larger percentage of natural wood in it.

Want more outdoor decking options?

Get in touch with our team here →

#3 Resilient Tiles Decking

Resilient tile decking is not so common in Singapore, but we are starting to see it in some commercial properties. This outdoor decking option is simply made up of designed tiles that are installed in the exterior. They have a healthy level of durability and resistance to rain and shine. However, resilient tiles may not be suitable if the decking is constantly under strong sunlight, as this may result in colour disfiguration. As compared to composite wood decking, resilient tiles are not as slip-resistant. This may result in a slippery outdoor flooring if the decking is left wet for a long period of time.

#4 Treated Soft Wood Decking

These are mainly soft wood species that may not be recommended for outdoor decking or high walk in traffic projects. However, due to chemical treatment, the soft wood becomes stronger, durable and even harder than some wood species with high janka hardness. Thus, making this type of product good for decking purposes. However, such softwood are typically not grown in tropical countries such as Singapore or Malaysia. Being slightly malleable, constant foot traffic on soft wood decking may result in wear and tear such that the surface may look unclean. Therefore, coating has to be implemented at least three times a year using darker wood paint instead of clear or light wood paints.

#5 Conventional Composite Decking

The group of conventional composite decking is another common type of outdoor decking product in Singapore. We can say that even in conventional composite decking materials, quality varies. It is relatively difficult to ascertain which particular composite decking material is of higher quality. The reason is because such decking products are relatively easy to mass produce, thereby causing the market to have multiples brands of conventional composite decking. Apart from depending on one’s luck in finding a reliable composite decking product, choosing a credible composite decking supplier in Singapore is just as important, as credible decking contractors will select good quality composite materials to ensure consistent quality in their projects! Here are a few other important factors to consider before purchasing outdoor decking.

Interested in installing outdoor decking for your balcony, terrace, backyard, or patio area?

Discuss your best decking options with us →

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Decking are usually used for balcony flooring as they can withstand the outdoor climate and exposure to sunlight and rain. Wood decking is popular in Singapore. Having a natural look, Wood decking gives your balcony a clean natural wood texture and appearance.

Wood, being a natural insulator of heat, makes it a good choice for outdoor decking. Heat resistance property is important, especially in hot climates like Singapore. The natural texture of wood also enhances comfort and makes the balcony a cozy space to spend some outdoor time in.

Good wood decking material with relatively high Janka hardness makes the decking very durable and weather resistant. Good quality wood also provides high dimensional stability to the outdoor decking.

In addition, wood can be renewed and reused over and over again. Home owners can reuse the wood decking when they move to another home in the future. This helps to preserve eco sustainability, and at the same time also makes it cost efficient in the long run.

Popular wood decking options like Chengal and Ironwood decking are commonly installed in home and even commercial projects in Singapore. The Floor Gallery is a flooring company that also provides installation of such decking services. So do contact us for more information when you need to have your balcony decking done!

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Of course, some home owners have a planter, but chose not to plant anything on their planter bed space. Because plants require a lot of care and attention. Those busy home owners who cannot afford the time to care for their plants, will rather cover up the planter bed with decking instead. This will convert the planter bed into a mini version of a normal balcony deck. In this way, home owners can step out into their ‘mini balcony’ and enjoy the view outside their home too.

Finding a suitable decking for your planter? Feel free to get in touch HERE.

Plants, beside needing a lot of care and attention, also will tend to attract birds and insects. Nature lovers will find them beautiful. However, some home owners find them a pest, and would rather do up a deck in place of plants. This will ensure they have no birds or insects which will accidentally fly into their homes. Of course, it will be easier to clean and maintain too!

With a deck in place of plants, home owners can also step onto the ‘mini deck’ to enjoy the outside view of their homes too. If there are plants in the planter bed, it will be impossible to take a step out onto the planter bed without stepping on the plants.

Planters being converted to a mini deck has been increasingly popular. This is because of the fast paced lifestyle in Singapore nowadays. Everyone is busy with work and has a hectic schedule everyday. Few people, especially young couples, have got time to sit and stare and care for the plants unlike retirees.

The Floor Gallery has 2 types of decking – namely Wood Decking and Eco Composite Decking. Both can be used to do up your mini deck, and they both come in different designs and colours. With a wide range to choose from, home owners can ensure that their mini balcony will be done up nicely and neatly by our floor specialists.

If you’re thinking of converting your planter bed into a mini ‘balcony’, feel free to get in touch with our decking team HERE.

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Wood decking and composite wood decking are two of the most common decking options for balconies in Singapore homes.
With a growing number of apartments with fresh floor plan designs, more home owners are choosing homes with al fresco private spaces for a different, cosier feel.

(Wondering how a balcony wooden decking would look in your home? Get a free consultation)

Adding a wooden deck to your balcony definitely adds to its al fresco vibe. The question is: Which outdoor decking material should you use for your balcony – natural wood decking or composite wood decking? We take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of these two decking options:

1) Wood Decking

It is important for home owners to know that there are different kind of materials available for solid wood decking, such as Chengal Wood, Ironwood, Balau, and Merbau. The most common option installed in balconies across Singapore is Chengal decking, as it is firm, stable, and has a relatively more absorbent coating as compared to other wood decking species. Due to its natural qualities, wood decking gives your balcony in tropical Singapore a true sense of nature. It also provides relatively better protection against heat and UV rays. However, unlike synthetic composite decking, it is necessary to maintain the balcony wood decking on a half yearly or yearly basis.

Want to find out more about Chengal wood decking?

Get in touch with our decking team here →

2) Composite Wood Decking

Composite wood decking is a generally more durable balcony flooring option in Singapore as it is made of man-made resilient material that is resistant to outdoor weather conditions. It is also easier to maintain as compared to wood decking.

However, it is important for home owners to know that composite decking products vary in terms of quality due to their differing manufacturing standards. One should find out about the manufacturing source (and not the marketing source) of the decking product, especially with the huge number of manufacturers around today.

After all, it is what is inside of the composite decking that really matters. Responsible composite wood decking manufacturers will make sure their product is of the highest quality in terms of dimensional stability, so look out for credible accreditation such as the Singapore Green Label and PEFC.

Composite wood decking products come in different structures – some in a honeycomb structure and some in a full solid structure. A seller may tell you that their product’s structure is the most stable. However, what’s most important is to look at the manufacturer’s warranty.

Is the warranty from the distributor or the manufacturer? If it is from the distributor, it may be difficult to claim when there is a need to. Hence, if you are thinking of installing composite decking for your balcony in Singapore, look at the manufacturing source before making a decision on the best balcony decking option.

At the end of the day, regardless of the material you choose , knowing the credibility of the distributor and manufacturing source is the most crucial factor when you are looking for a suitable balcony decking for your home.

Interested in more balcony floor decking options?

Get in touch with our decking specialists here →

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However, there are some factors to consider when deciding on the best type of balcony decking to choose from and they are:

1. Cost
   This is one of the main factors everyone considers. How much would it cost and do I get a good quality deck with my budget? Of course, the quality of the deck you buy depends on cost. So if you want a quality deck, you’d have to spend more.
2. Different types of Decking
   There are different types of decking in the market and so the type will heavily depend on your needs, budgets and preferences. Also consider the materials the decks are made of. Some decks are made of concrete while others are made of wood. Concrete decks are stronger while timber decks are easier to clean.
3. Size
   Another important factor to consider is size. Make sure to get a deck that will fit your balcony by taking a measurement of the size of your balcony.
4. Safety
   You should put safety into consideration as well, like whether you have kids or not. Make sure the decks you get are made of strong materials. For safety, concrete is usually preferable than any other type of deck option out there. It is more secure than any other type of deck options that you can find in the market.

It is also important that the balcony decking is durable as the deck is constantly exposed to the outdoor weathers. There are many types of good decking suitable for use in the balconies in the market these days, and hence, it is important to choose one that will serve you for the longest time.

The post How to Decide on the Best Balcony Decking appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

Іrоnwооd hаrdwооd іs usеd рrіmаrіlу fоr ехtеrіоr соmmеrсіаl аnd rеsіdеntіаl struсturеs, suсh аs dесks, dосks, оutdооr furnіturе аnd dесkіng, bоаrdwаlk, turnеrу, shіnglеs, hоmе sіdіng аs wеll аs tооl hаndlеs, іndustrіаl flооrіng, tехtіlе mіll іtеms, dесоrаtіvе vеnееrs аnd many mоrе․ Тhе аіr-drіеd hаrdwооd іs nаturаllу fіrе (sаmе аs stееl аnd соnсrеtе), іnsесt, mоіsturе, аnd mоvеmеnt rеsіstаnt аnd lаsts twо tо thrее tіmеs lоngеr thаn оthеr оutsіdе lumbеr, suсh аs сеdаr, rеdwооd, аnd ріnе․

Duе tо іts іnsесt rеsіstаnсе аnd durаbіlіtу, Іrоnwооd wооd іs іnсrеаsіnglу рорulаr аs а dесkіng mаtеrіаl sіnсе а dесk іs subјесtеd tо thе wеаthеr соndіtіоns all уеаr rоund аnd іs dеfіnіtеlу nоt tаkеn саrе оf оn а rеgulаr bаsіs․ Dесkіng іs usеd tо еntеrtаіn раrtіеs оr lаrgе grоuрs, thus gеnеrаtіng thе dеmаnd fоr а vеrу strоng mаtеrіаl whісh dоеs nоt rеquіrе replacement fоr а vеrу lоng tіmе․ Тhе lіfеsраn оf Іrоnwооd varies frоm 50 уеаrs uр tо 100 уеаrs wіth sеаlеr․

А sеаlеr саn bе аррlіеd tо mаіntаіn а nаturаl lооk․ Оthеrwіsе thе wооd wіll rеасh а sіlvеr-grау соlоr оnсе wеаthеrwоrn․ Іrоnwооd іs аvаіlаblе іn mоst stаndаrd lumbеr dіmеnsіоns, mеаnіng еntіrе рrојесts саn bе соmрlеtеd wіth оnlу Іrоnwооd wооd․ Тhе Вrаzіlіаn hаrdwооd іs nаturаllу rеsіstаnt tо surfасе сhесkіng аnd mоlds, whісh аrе “thе twо mоst dеstruсtіvе fоrсеs tо thе fасе оf dесks․”

Іrоnwооd lumbеr саn bе sоmеwhаt dіffісult tо wоrk wіth, аnd саn bе dаmаgеd bу hаnd tооls, аs wеll аs dаmаgе аnd blunt thе сuttіng еdgеs оf smаllеr tооls․ Тhе уеllоw dust рrоduсеd durіng ореrаtіоns hаs bееn knоwn tо саusе іnflаmmаtіоn оf thе skіn (dеrmаtіtіs) іn wоrkеrs․ Іrоnwооd саlls fоr рrеmіum саrbіdе tірреd blаdеs аnd hіgh quаlіtу роwеr drіlls․ Рrе-drіllіng аnd соuntеr-sіnkіng wіth stаіnlеss stееl sсrеws іs nесеssаrу․ Маkе surе уоu hаvе numеrоus ехtrа drіll bіts hаndу․ Іrоnwооd рlаnks dо nоt bеnd wеll, but thе wооd fіnіshеs аnd sаnds quіtе smооthlу, wіth nо sрlіntеrіng․ Соmрlеtеlу аіr-drу thе wооd bеfоrе usіng іt. Thіs wіll іnsurе mахіmum stаbіlіtу аnd аttrасtіvеnеss․ Κеер іn mіnd thаt surfасеs shоuld bе dеsіgnеd wіth а slіght grаdе аnd wіth suffісіеnt sрасе bеtwееn thе grоund аnd struсturе, аllоwіng wаtеr drаіnаgе аnd vеntіlаtіоn․

Іrоnwооd hаrdwооd іs аlsо а tоugh wооd tо fіnіsh․ Іts ехtrеmе dеnsіtу рrеvеnts mоst fіnіshеs suсh аs wооd stаіn оr tор соаt, frоm gеttіng thrоugh thе surfасе․ Іt іntеrfеrеs wіth thе аbsоrрtіоn, thе аdhеsіоn аnd thе drуіng рrосеss․ Іt tаkеs а bіt оf ехреrіеnсе tо асquіrе thе ехреrtіsе fоr еffісіеnt соvеrіng․ Тhеrеfоrе І strоnglу rесоmmеnd рurсhаsіng рrе-fіnіshеd Іrоnwооd wооd․

Furthеrmоrе, Іrоnwооd іs іnсrеаsіnglу сhоsеn for use in оutdооr аnd іndооr furnіturе․ Тhе rісh brоwnіsh tоnеs еnhаnсе vіrtuаllу аnу stуlе аnd dеsіgn․ Сhаіrs, fеnсеs, lоungеrs, аrbоrs & реrgоlаs, рlаntеrs, sсrееns, sіdіng, аnd tаblеs аrе аmоng рорulаr іtеms․

Іf уоu аrе wоrkіng wіth а рrоfеssіоnаl dесk рlаn, уоu аrе surе tо bе рrоvіdеd wіth thе ехасt wооd dіmеnsіоns nееdеd tо соmрlеtе уоur рrојесt․ Маkе surе уоu аrе tаkіng уоur mеаsurеmеnts tо thе nеаrеst hаrdwаrе stоrе аnd hаvе thе ріесеs рrе-сut аt thе stоrе whеnеvеr роssіblе․

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Comparing to tiles, wood decking and wood composite decking both have heat resistant properties, whereby under the hot sun, your feet will not feel hot when you stepped on the outdoor decking. Both good quality wood decking and eco wood composite decking are durable and all weather resistant to rain or shine.

Wood decking will have its natural look compare to composite decking so for home owners who wanted a “nature look” for the home balcony, wood decking is a good choice. For composite decking, the look is usually uniform, so therefore wood decking gives a more unique look for your balcony. For wood decking, you may have to be careful as there may be splinter while eco wood composite decking is spinter-free. In terms of dimensional stability, eco wood composite decking has relatively well-balanced and higher level, as better quality control is made during the manufacturing process, compare to natural wood which are often went through kiln dry or water extraction process.

If regular maintenance is something that you do not like, then eco wood composite decking will be the best choice for your balcony. To make your wood decking long lasting, a 6 months re-furnishing of your wood decking is often recommended. As eco wood composite decking, maintenance is much easier, all you need is to clean it with recommended cleaning solution and water. As simple as that!

In summary, the quality of the decking materials is what matters whether you choose a wood decking or a composite wood decking. Therefore, choose a reliable and credible flooring and decking contractor so as to ensure that the quality of your decking material is always of the better standard.

The post Wood Decking or Composite Decking for Your Balcony? appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

1) Wood Decking

Wood decking is quite popular among today’s homes due to its natural look, texture and feel. Wood decking itself is eco friendly and they contribute greatly to better air quality in the atmosphere especially balcony is attached to the indoor living room of the apartment.

One common option of wood decking is Chengal wood decking. Chengal wood gives a natural yellowish brown colour to the decking, and as it matures the colour naturally become brownish. Thus giving your balcony decking an elegant wooden nostalgic look. Chengal decking is strong, durable and resistant by nature. However, the home owners may have to find good source of credible decking contractors who have successfully installed Chengal decking in various residential and commercial projects.

Another popular wood decking option will be ironwood decking which is a family of hardy wood species found in various part of indo-chine regions. Due to its strong structure and high dimensional stability, ironwood decking is often installed in high traffic area like the commercial public places, stadiums and more. Ironwood is also useful in the construction of trellis, pergola and cantilever for building project, not only for outdoor decking purposes.

Balau and pine decking is also common but as these wood species do not have relatively stronger janka hardness, these wood decking options may not be recommended for areas with high walk in traffic. Light traffic decking areas such as home balconies or planters are considered fine.

2) Composite Decking / Eco Wood Composite Decking

Composite decking are made of polymer mix with wood flour. Just like vinyl flooring or resilient flooring, they are highly water resistant, therefore it can be recommended for outdoor purposes. However, as eco wood composite decking is highly easy to be manufacturered, there may be many version of composite decking. Home owners may have to carefully select the right composite decking material such that it has relatively better heat UV resistance, weight resistance and many more.

Two ways to help the home owner find a better source of composite decking product that is to look for one with high eco friendly credentials, this may subtly means that stringent quality control and standard are being applied while producing the eco wood composite decking by the manufacturer. The other way is therefore to look for a credible flooring distributor who is also stringent in finding and sourcing the right decking product for the home owners.

So there you have, two common outdoor decking options in Singapore. Do take your time to learn more about outdoor decking options so as to give your home balcony the best decking it can get. Happy shopping!

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