An outdoor space that is well-furnished not only acts as a natural extension of one’s home, but it also adds character to the entire abode. And what better way to further add character to your home than with a wooden decking for your balcony that radiates endearing charm? It is no wonder The Floor Gallery is seeing a growing number of homeowners looking to build that outdoor haven with wood decking.

However, as solid wood decking is an option that requires closer maintenance and care, composite wood decking has become an increasingly popular and stylish alternative. We’ve gathered a few of our composite balcony decking projects, which we hope will inspire. Have a look:

Project #1: The Azure at Ocean Drive, Sentosa

Given the location, this balcony would bear the brunt of Singapore’s tropical weather – especially the heat! To avoid “hot dancing” on the deck, the unit’s owners chose Eco Wood Composite Decking.

This wood plastic composite decking choice uses, as its name suggests, eco-friendly wood and has a unique and patented composition of 2/3 wood flour and 1/3 polyethylene. What this means is that it has less plastic than conventional composite boards, making the heat under bare feet equivalent to that of solid wood and more comfortable to walk on. This WPC decking is indeed one “cool” deck. And the lovely wood texture adds an oasis feel to the balcony too, especially with the breath-taking view!

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Want to find out more about our decking options? Get in touch with our decking specialists HERE.
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Project #2: Condominium at Gerald Drive

Where there is water on floor surfaces, slipperiness and safety is often an issue. However, with the use of The Floor Gallery’s Eco Fusion Wood Decking at a condominium at Gerald Drive, residents can feel safe playing around the pool deck.

This outdoor composite decking material has slip-resistant properties and, unlike regular solid wood decking, it is also splinter-free! Its durable qualities also make it great for long-term use, especially when the pool deck expects many visitors daily to test its strength. It is perfect for active children who love playing with water outdoors. To top it off, this outdoor decking also uses eco-friendly wood.

Project #3: Waterfront Isle Condominium

 If you do not fancy wood grain patterns because it clashes with your home design (but still want to enjoy the feel of wood under your feet), the grooved composite wood might just be the right fit. Just look at that beautiful balcony flooring! With subtle gaps between the boards of only 5mm, this groove-design deck from a condominium unit at the Waterfront Isle looks smooth and seamless. The homeowners of this unit now have a balcony exuding an earthy, cosy and homely feel, but with a contemporary touch.

As one of the options available under TFG’s Eco Wood Composite Decking range, this composite balcony decking has all the wonderful properties mentioned in The Azure project above, and more! An additional feature of this special deck is that you can sand it down in future without affecting the groove design! Along with all the other benefits of Eco Wood Composite Decking, you may have just found the most innovative decking for your balcony.

Ready to Deck?

The Floor Gallery offers two types of eco-friendly wood decking for balconies or outdoor decks: Eco Wood Composite Decking (as seen in Project #1 and #3), and Eco Fusion Deck (as illustrated in Project#2).

With more than 10 designs and colours to choose from both composite decking varieties, homeowners will be spoilt for choice. For that classic brown wood, the Auburn Brown Embossed design will do the trick. But, if you’re looking for lighter colours to brighten up the space, you might like the Gentle Grey Eco Fusion Deck. On the other hand, darker options to consider are Coffee Brown and Robust Grey.

Aesthetics aside, our WPC decking choices are accredited with Green Label Singapore, amongst many other quality certification labels. With great confidence, we also provide warranties for insect and fungus infestations, so that you can enjoy your balcony or outdoor deck with a peace of mind.

Feeling inspired? Please feel free to browse through our full selection of decking for balconies here. Should you have any queries, do not hesitate to contact us. We look forward to decking with you!

The post Design Your Dream Balcony with Composite Decking appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

Let’s look at the No first.

Why wood decking not good for balcony?

Firstly, maintenance can be one huge issue when it comes to wood decking. If you are the home owner who feels that it is troublesome to re-varnish, re-coat or re-paint your wood decking once every six months, then wood decking is not for you. Without good maintenance of the wood decking, you risk of having your balcony deck damage due to weather or wear and tear.

Secondly, splinter can be one issue especially for homes with kids or pets, when it comes to wood decking on the balcony. Hence, the only way to prevent the splinter problem is to avoid wood totally.

Next, the choice of wood decking materials can vary and often is complicated among the decking contractors. For example, a good quality chengal wood decking is usually produced from matured chengal timber. While a bad quality chengal wood decking is from young chengal trees. Even within the same matured wood species, there are different grades. Hence, it is up to the trustworthiness of your decking contractor to give you the best quality wood decking material, unless you are the expert in wood.

Now, let’s look at the Yes!

Wood decking for your balcony exudes many benefits. One benefit is that it is a good insulator of heat compared to traditional plastic decking. Constant heating from the sun will not cause one to ‘dance’ around the wooden deck, but he or she will ‘dance’ around on low quality plastic decking. When the weather outside is very rainy and cold, you will not feel cold feet as well when you step on wood decking.

Secondly, wood decking gives your balcony a natural unique look. This is because each plant of wooden deck board is different from each other. Therefore, your balcony decking will not look uniformly similar when you installed wood decking instead of composite decking.

Lastly, if you know how to maintain your wood decking, your wood decking will last very long. Hence, if you are the type of person who is not lazy in maintaining your decking on a regular basis, then consider wood decking.

At the end of the day, want to go with Wood or No Wood? It will be up to you!

The post Is Wood Decking Good for Your Balcony? appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

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 →

The post 5 Types of Outdoor Decking in Singapore appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

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.

The post Converting your Planter into a Mini Deck appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

1) Conventional Composite Decking

For standard composite decking, the varying material content among the different composite decking products in the market may give rise to different standards of quality. One way of identifying and assuring a good quality composite decking product is to look at the manufacturer’s warranty. A good quality composite decking product is relatively better in terms of dimensional stability, weather resistance and slip resistance. As such, compared to solid wood decking, composite decking is a much more suitable material when it comes to designing a balcony or outdoor patio.

2) Wrapped Composite Decking

Considered one of the newer entries in the market, Wrapped Composite Decking comprises of a composite decking with a layer of composite encased around it. As this form of composite decking has only been around in the market for about 3 years, it is pretty difficult to see its pros and cons. Often, composite decking products tend to expand and contract when faced with sudden temperature changes, especially in places with tropical climates, such as Singapore.

However, one thing about wrapped composite decking is that during such sudden temperature changes (cool weather to hot weather), both the inner composite and outer composite expand and contract in tandem. The trapped heat and changing shape of the inner composite material may cause the whole decking to warp and become unstable in the long run. Therefore, as it is a very new composite wood decking option, home owners may want to check the credibility of the manufacturer’s source before purchasing.

3) Eco Composite Wood Decking

The third and last option would be Eco Composite Wood Decking. This innovative decking material has relatively better performance in terms of dimensional stability, durability and overall weather resistance. Due to stringent manufacturing standards and the use of sustainable materials from outstanding manufacturing sources, eco composite wood decking is of higher quality than most conventional wood composite decking and wrapped composite decking material. It is still important for home owners to check with their flooring contractors on the manufacturer source of the composite decking.

With the wide array of composite decking products available in the market, it’d be wise for home owners to carry out more research before deciding on a composite wood decking product for their outdoor balcony, patio or gardens.

Finding a suitable composite wood decking for your property? Feel free to get in touch with our decking team HERE.

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Being onе оf thе mоst sоught-аftеr sоlіd hаrdwооd іn Singapore аnd оthеr trорісаl соuntrіеs, Сhеngаl wood іs а wеll-lоvеd wооd material for outdoor and balcony dесkіng installation, and it hаs bееn usеd thrоughоut thе сеnturіеs bу оur аnсеstоrs fоr thе buіldіng оf trаdіtіоnаl hоusеs. Here are a few reasons why Chengal timber decking is so high in demand, and might be worth the investment in the long-term.

1) Durability of Chengal Wood

Рrіzеd fоr іts sturdіnеss, durаbіlіtу, аnd rеsіstаnсе аgаіnst tеrmіtеs, Сhеngаl wооd іs сlаssіfіеd аs a hеаvу trорісаl hаrdwооd bу tіmbеr аuthоrіtіеs. Its hardy material ensures that the decking does not rot as easily when exposed to temperamental wеаthеr conditions, making it perfect as a balcony decking material in Singapore’s tropical climate.

(Interested in Chengal wood decking for your property? Get in touch with our decking team here.)

2) Quality of Chengal Wood

This is especially important today, as wе mіght bе fасіng a shоrtаgе оf mаturеd Chеngаl tіmbеr frоm fullу grоwn trееs currently. Yоung Chеngаl trееs аrе being сut dоwn as a substitute instead․ Yоung Chеngаl tіmbеr іs nоt rесоmmеndеd, аs іt соntаіns а rеlаtіvеlу higher amount оf sарwооd that іs nоt аs durаblе аs mаturеd Chеngаl․

Оftеn, hоmе оwnеrs аrе nоt сlеаr аbоut thе dіffеrеnсеs bеtwееn уоung аnd mаturеd Chеngаl․ Моrеоvеr, еvеn іf it is mаturеd Chеngаl tіmbеr, thе sоurсе оf thе tіmbеr іs оftеn unсlеаr․

Wіth аdvаnсеmеnt іn Ѕсіеnсе tоdау, rеsеаrсhеrs frоm Fоrеst Rеsеаrсh Іnstіtutе Маlауsіа (FRІМ) hаs іnvеntеd а DΝА dаtаbаsе trасkіng оf Сhеngаl іn оrdеr tо сurb thе rіsіng issue оf іllеgаl lоggіng wоrldwіdе․ Тhіs technological brеаkthrоugh greatly protects thе fоrеst. It also gives hоmе оwnеrs the assurance thаt their source of Chеngаl tіmbеr is sustаіnаble, ensuring eco-friendly outdoor and balcony decking in their homes.

It is therefore important to find a reliable chengal wood supplier with a credible source for your decking installation. Check out The Floor Gallery’s range of Chengal timber decking here.

How do We Gauge the Durability of Chеngаl Woоd?

Рrосеssіng mеthоds and рrасtісеs аsіdе, thе durаbіlіtу оf Сhеngаl wооd іs lаrgеlу dереndеnt оn thе mаturіtу оf thе chengal trее аt thе tіmе іt іs lоggеd․  One essential point to note is the difference between the qualities of young Chengal timber and matured Chengal timber.

Matured Chengal timber is often preferred for its durability and dimensional stability, and has a very long lifespan as an outdoor decking material. Young Chеngаl wооd is softer, and dоes nоt оffеr thе sаmе resistance to everyday wear and tear. In addition, thе hіgh соntеnt оf nаturаl sugаrs іn уоung Сhеngаl wооd соntrіbutеs tо bасtеrіа grоwth, ассеlеrаtіng thе rоttіng рrосеss оf the balcony decking.

(Have questions about Chengal wood decking? Feel free to get in touch here.)

The post Why Chengal Wood is the Best Option for Outdoor Decking appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

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) Easy to Maintain

As eco wood composite decking is produced from high quality flooring manufacturers with well equipped technologies, it is highly easy to clean and maintain. All home owners need to do is to wash the wood decking by spraying water on it. As simple as that! Unlike conventional wood decking which requires at least re-painting or re-varnishing to maintain the deck, home owners can save refurbishing costs with wood composite decking products.

2) Environmentally Friendly

Setting itself apart from standard composite decking manufacturers, eco wood composite decking is manufactured with high amounts of natural wood flour (more than 60%). This makes it eco renewable and recyclable. By substituting solid wood decking with eco wood composite decking, more trees can be saved and home owners can play a part in protecting the environment.

3) Stronger Weather Resistance

Credit: Pinterest

Eco wood composite decking is also highly durable and weather resistant to rain or shine. Compared to conventional wood decking material, eco wood composite decking has higher levels of heat and UV resistance. This makes eco wood composite decking ideal for outdoor areas such as the balcony, patio or swimming pool, where home owners and their family members often walk bare-foot on. As the decking material is naturally waterproof, it is a recommended option for outdoor decking purposes.

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Learn more about the heat-resistant benefits of Eco Wood Composite Decking HERE.
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4) Better Dimensional Stability

Wood composite decking has a relatively stronger dimensional stability than standard composite decking and some soft wood decking materials that are commonly used in Southeast Asia, such as pine or cedar wood.  A good quality decking product with better dimensional stability will adapt better to changes in surrounding temperature as well as moisture conditions.

5) Greater Comfortability

As mentioned earlier, eco wood composite decking has relatively better heat resistance. This makes it comfortable for the feet. Moreover, unlike natural wood decking, it does not cause splinters to occur due to its synthetic make-up. Beyond its comfort levels, a good quality wood composite decking is tested for slip resistance, therefore making it a safe option for families with children or seniors.

A good quality eco wood decking gives a firmer feel when stepped upon. As compared to softer wood species used for decking purposes, eco wood composite decking gives a firmer and more balanced feel when one steps on it.

In summary, the characteristics of eco wood composite decking places it a notch above conventional composite wood decking as well as soft wood decking products. Property owners who are looking for a durable and eco friendly outdoor decking material that is easy to clean and maintain, can turn to eco wood composite decking.

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Considering wood composite decking for your home? Feel free to contact our decking specialists HERE!

The post What is Eco Wood Composite Decking? 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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