Decking

Q .What sizes, or rather thicknesses of pressure treated ply do you stock?

A. Always nice to start with an easy question. We keep in stock thicknesses of 9mm, 12mm and 18mm.

Q. What is the difference between Pressure Treated and Tanalised ply?  

A. Pressure Treated refers to the process, "these ply sheets are due to be Pressure Treated". "Tanalised" refers to the application of the process. 

Q. Can I just buy a cheap waterproof ply? 

Possibly but odds are they aren't waterproof. These plys have to be indiividually "sticked" or spaced so that the surface face of each sheet is exposed to the preservative. It is somewhat time consuming and results will vary if the preocess isn't carefully conducted.

Q. Why do many of these products apparently have WISA Spruce stamped on their face?

Wisa is  a quality brand

Millboard design and manufacture a wide range of decking, cladding and assocated items. Many of these products are composite - think of the practicallity and strength of engineered materials. Then combine these aesthetics with the appearance of natural products to achieve the appearance of Millboard. 

A finished Millboard decking

By careful use of materials for the sub-frame oit should be posssible to achieve support for the decking levels as and where required. Differend coloured boards can be introduced to create "mood" areas which can then be opened up into play and activity areas for a little parental supervision.

Types of decking sub-frame

Because of the longevity of millboard we should be looking further than

Planning a fence, or a deck, is one thing. Transferring these plans into reality can be another matter.

Timing is everything

Planning a new fence is often taken out of or hands by the weather - weeks of wet-weather followed by a big storm leaves many a garden exposed. Here at Southern Timber we can offer solutions off the shelf, with a choice of fence panel styles and sizes. Timing can be an issue, but our experienced staff can help - advice on the options of ready-made fencing panels or maybe a component fence featuring featheredge slats, round-top pales or square edge slats.

Nobody can plan precisely for the demise of an existing garden fence, but we do our best by keeping large stocks of fencing panels and posts. Fencing stocks are kept at our Newton Abbot base, conveniently located for Exeter, Plymouth and South Hams customers.       

I have just been looking at some of the new Millboard Cladding and Decking products. One of the questions we frequently get asked is, ‘what is Millboard Decking made from?’ That prompted me to revamp an article written several years ago. 

It might surprise you to know that our Millboard deckboards contain no timber or plastic. Millboard decking is made from a revolutionary Polyurethane resin, reinforced with mineral stone, and surfaced with a unique Lastane® coating.

Conventional composite boards typi

Before checking the available colours it may be worth remembering the efforts made to make the boards look so lifelike. Moulded from selected oak boards for a textured look and feel, the Millboard decking collection accurately recreates the subtle nuances of natural wood. But how does Millboard decking look so much like real wood?

Firstly, to replicate the wood-look, each board is moulded from specially selected oak “masters”, allowing the capture of the interesting grains, textures and patterns found in timber.  The boards are also hand-coloured at the Warwickshire factory to mimic the unique colours and tones found in every single piece of timber. The relevant grain patterns then help change the board colours to look lighter or darker depending on the viewer’s angle.

Like wood, no two Millboard decking boards are the same colour, with the subtle differences giving the most natural appearance. This is to give your decking all the good looks of a timber deck,

A new year and a new product, Deck Tape.

The objective of Deck Tape is to protect the integrity of your timber deck frame.  Your decking is only as good as the framework it sits on.  This deck tape is self-sealing but easy to tear when fitting. It is not a Butyl based product and is UV Stable. We are initially stocking 30 metre rolls of 65mm for single joists and 30 metre rolls of 100mm tape for double joists. 

Other products we will stock from the same manufacturer include black Clad Tape and orange Scrim Tape. 

How to clean Mold and Mildew off Composite Decking

The effects of mold are generally more serious than those of mildew. Mold damage structures and cause serious long-term health issues. Reactions include breathing issues, fatigue and migraines.

Furthermore, those with a mold allergy could experience sneezing, congestion and eye, skin and throat irritation. For this reason, its critical that you remove mold from your deck as soon as possible. While composite decking is resistant to many things, it is not impervious to mold and mildew. Luckily, removing mold from your deck is not difficult. Just follow these steps:

1. Pressure wash. Using a pressure washer, remove as much of the mold as you can.

2. Prepare a solution. Make a solution of vinegar and water with two-parts

Mildew and Mold and Composite Decking

Another common issue that composite deck owners face is the growth of mold and mildew. Mold and mildew are similar in many respects – they are both types of fungus that grow and thrive in humid, moist conditions where light is minimal or non-existent. They both start growing when their spores find a suitable environment for their colonies. Both require porous material, such as wood, paper, fabric, drywall, clothing, insulation, padding or carpet. While they generally do not grow on synthetic materials such as plastic, metals and composite decking, dirt left on composite decking can feed mold and mildew spores.

Mold and Mildew differ primarily in their appearance. Mildew tends to be grey or white, fuzzy or powdery in texture and is typically found on plant leaves, making the plants appear to be sick. As m