Durable wood, "native" terrace decking

I also don’t like these plastic solutions such as this WPC etc. The idea of thermo wood sounds plausible to me and as a possibility, and of course, with your mentioned variant it is also helpful. On the other hand, I think that one can only delay the aging process to a limited extent when it is exposed to the environment, and depending on the cost of processing, I then consider whether the wood will outlast me anyway or what it would cost to replace the decking in x years, if that is even necessary. I think in these natural regions, the locally available and cheapest wood is used, and when it eventually breaks, it is replaced. We here are probably much more sensitive in that regard.

Larch lasts very long and does not need to be treated - if you appreciate the weathered grey look. A distance of over 50cm to the next support point is acceptable under normal load, the additional effort for a greater distance is minimal. Our carpenter built a terrace surface made of thermally treated beech for experimental purposes. It still looks perfect after more than 5 years. Beech is not well suited for outdoor use. I draw the unchecked conclusion from this that thermal treatment has a very positive effect on durability and I have confidence in it. Nevertheless, we chose larch - as well as for the facade and the carport.

"just take larch" .... :rolleyes: (yes, you are right)

I have also thought about oak (Robinia is supposed to be even better, but I have never consciously had it in my hand)
Admittedly, I prefer wood in its freshly planed color to gray, but if wood turns gray, I don't complain.
I find the dark brown on the south side of wooden houses particularly beautiful again ... especially where there are such color transitions.

For me, conditions are more exciting than taste. Every material has its peculiarities - not to say: special features - and experiencing them is more interesting to me than enforcing my opinion.

Finding the "right" material for certain purposes is one of the nicest and most exciting tasks for me in designing (whatever it may be).

: In my opinion, proper installation of the floorboards is much more important than the wood itself. Good ventilation, no standing moisture, end grains of the boards swelling, etc. Basically, this allows you to create a long-lasting terrace from any type of wood. In my opinion, long-lasting means at least 15-20 years.

The wooden terrace resembles the boat dock. The decking is basically ventilated underneath. Very good. The substructure must be very well protected. Plenty of Carbolin helps. Critical points are also contact points where the deck board touches the substructure and both are nailed together. These spots also tend to retain moisture and rot. Therefore, apply Carbolin particularly well there, and additionally place some tar paper as a spacer in between. Be sure to use galvanized nails.

In my case, the substructure will be made of galvanized steel. It will be a metal construction placed in front of the currently small balcony, approximately 5 x 2 meters, which will have a walkable surface and be waterproof underneath (there is a second terrace below that serves as a workplace for me). This probably means: it will be fastened from below with stainless steel screws. The upper bearing surface of the steel frame (where the wood will be placed) is probably 60 millimeters wide. When screwing it on, I will put something in between so that moisture can dry away more easily. I would find thick stainless steel washers the nicest option. Maybe I can stick them firmly over the pre-drilled holes before laying down the wood...? ... but that is less of a problem here. It is clear that the "proper construction method" – protected from constant moisture – is important. :cool: