Decking your backyard

Decking continues to be a key feature of the backyard

"Raw or finished, decorative or structural, hardwood timber decking continues to be a popular choice for the backyard," says Jamie Durie, horticulturalist and landscape designer.

The fact that timber is still such a sought-after material for the garden has a lot to do with its versatility. Timber offers a never-ending number of design options for the garden, making it ideal not only for decking and structural use but also for creative and innovative designs. Gazebos and pergolas can add European flavour to the garden, decorated with colourful summer flowers for a vibrant aesthetic. Timber tabletops and seating make a striking design statement while screens made from decking are both functional and add a contemporary feel to the modern garden.

"Timber is a truly versatile product, lending itself to a wide variety of outdoor applications," adds Durie. "I particularly enjoy using timber decking because of the natural warmth that it brings. Plus it feels great under bare feet."

Timber also delivers environmental benefits. Timber products are carbon positive, storing carbon which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere. Timber is also a reusable product so that at the end of its life, instead of being wasted it can be turned into a new wood product. Even if it is disposed of in its existing form it will continue to act as a carbon store.

Boral Timber's decking offers the added benefit of having achieved Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) Chain of Custody certification, proving that its products are sourced from certified and legal sources. AFS is the largest forestry certification scheme in Australia and meets Australian Standard AS 4708-2007. It is also mutually acknowledged by the PEFC - the largest forestry certification scheme in the world.

To learn more about certification, visit www.forestrystandard.org.au. To read more about the environmental benefits of wood products, visit www.naturallybetter.com.au.