Get personality outdoors with wooden decks

A recurrent presence in exterior and interior decoration, wood decks are architectural elements that help in the circulation of spaces. Its main functionality is to cover a virgin or irregular floor with wood, and can be executed with ecologically treated reforestation material or even synthetic.

The word "deck" refers to the external environments of ships, used by crew and passengers, and today it is applied to designate certain environments, usually in residences or condominiums. Nowadays, the application of wood decks goes beyond floor covering, it is present in other forms of decoration, such as lining the wall for a horizontal garden or acting as a paneltelevision.

Why invest in a wooden deck?

The architect Elton Carlos, from Hamabi Aruitetura, explains that the choice for a wood deck must be analyzed by the owner and the professional who develops the project, since the conditions of the environment to be installed must be observed, as well as the intensity of use of the environment."Everything influences the correct choice of material, but aesthetics and price cannot be ignored. For the use of wood, we recommend small to medium-sized environments, optimizing the product's resistance", adds the architect.

Besides leaving a cozy and charming look, having a wooden deck is a good option to increase the leisure area or give a special touch to a specific place in the house. It can be applied in the most varied terrains, as long as it has the proper infrastructure.

Get inspired to plan your wood deck

Whether in outdoor spaces around a swimming pool, on a balcony, as a base for a vertical garden, adding personality to a hallway, or highlighting a television when used as a panel, the possibilities for using this feature are many. To get inspired on how to use a wood deck, check out the photos below and choose your favorite application:

Stepped Deck

Wood Deck on the Balcony

Wood Deck on the Terrace

Deck as balcony

Jacuzzi deck

Deck on floor and wall

Wood Deck

Deck on the veranda

Wood Deck in the Pool

Wood Deck on the Balcony

Vertical decking

Wood Deck on the roof

Wood Deck in a Swimming Pool

Deck for swimming pool

Wood Deck on the Wall and Balcony

Wood Deck on the Balcony

Wood Deck for Swimming Pool

Wood Deck

Wood Deck on the Terrace

Wood Deck on the Terrace

Wooden decking for garden

Wood Deck

Wood Deck

Wood decking for outdoor area

Wood Deck for Spa

Wood Deck with Vertical Garden

Wood decking on the entire exterior of the residence

Wood Deck for Ofuro

Wood decking on floor and wall

Wood Deck

Wood Deck

Outdoor wooden decking

Wood Deck with Parchment

Wood Deck

Outdoor wooden decking

Outdoor decking

Wooden deck around jacuzzi

Wood Deck

For architect Sandra Pompermayer, the environments that can receive a wood deck can be very diverse: apartment balconies, circulation around swimming pools, where there is the need for an empty space below for the equipment, balconies at beach or farm houses; landings of belvederes at abysses, even sliding decks to close swimming pools.

As with any investment in home decoration, one must analyze whether the chosen feature meets expectations and is cost-effective.

Advantages and disadvantages of wood decking

The architect Elton informs that it is advisable to study the need for the installation of a deck, because it will have a reasonable cost and periodic maintenance to increase durability. Once the use is decided, think about the environment to be installed: whether it should have anti-slip characteristics, exposure to intense sunlight or water. As a general rule, the use of noble wood - previously treated, resistant to termites androtting, such as the ipê and itaúba - is frequent.

To clear up any doubts that may arise when choosing wood decking, Sandra presents a list of advantages and disadvantages of this resource when decorating:

Advantages

1. Fast assembly, not requiring many days for installation;
2. Most of the time the wood comes ready to use, in the correct measure, not needing many adjustments and cuts;
3. The rusticity of the wood generates a certain identity in the project;
4. The thermal sensation of wood compared to porcelain tile floors around swimming pools is much more pleasant;
5. The cost is affordable compared to an athermic cementitious floor, which feels the same when walking as it does when not burning your feet;
6. If compared to a cement deck, besides the value, the difference in maintenance is very important.

Disadvantages

1. Maintenance must be done annually;
2. The wood chosen must be of high quality, otherwise you may have problems, especially in relation to the supporting timber;
3. Insects can be considered a disadvantage. They love the gaps in the wood to lodge and breed, but this problem can be solved by applying a glue with sawdust to seal the gaps in the wood.

Once all your questions are answered, installing a wood deck in your home requires a few steps that an architect can help you with.

How to plan and build a wood deck

To demonstrate how to plan and build a wood deck, architect Elton lists the step-by-step steps for the application to be done in the most favorable way possible:

1. First of all, it is essential to plan the space where the deck will be installed. It is important to know the measurements of the site and calculate how many timbers or modules will be needed;
2. Wooden boards are sold with standard measurements, so you must use the services of a woodworker to cut them to the desired size. Have the correct measurements at hand;
3. Cleaning the ground where the decking will be applied is an important step to ensure that it is level;
4. To install the deck, the ideal is to hire a professional to concrete or level the floor and insert two parallel timbers where the nails for the future deck will be drilled;
5. These timbers must be a little higher so that the deck does not have direct contact with the ground and there is room for water runoff, ensuring the integrity of the space;
6. After this, you must place each board next to the other and insert the nails, preferably the stainless steel ones without heads for a better finish;
7. To finish, clean and sand the wood to receive the protective varnish, which has a great variety of finishes and colors.

How to maintain wooden decking

"To use wood outdoors, you must use varnish or similar, extending its useful life and thus ensuring that the investment is not lost. In the case of wood decking, in particular, also make sure of the origin of the wood and the treatments it has undergone, such as drying in autoclave, for example. Everything influences the choice of material and manufacturer," reveals Elton.

For the architect, constant cleaning and more precise evaluations periodically are advisable for the greater durability of the product. As a general rule, one should follow the indications of the manufacturers, seeking information from companies specialized in this type of maintenance, thus ensuring that the investment is long-lasting.

"During maintenance work, worn wood, rusty nails and screws, among other elements that no longer fulfill their original role, must also be replaced," adds Sandra.

With tips from the experts, adding charm and warmth to your home becomes even easier. Choose a location, contact a professional, and have your own wood deck in your home.