General information

Defects in wood

The main disadvantage of timber decking is the need for regular and demanding maintenance to protect the wood from pests, mould and weather conditions. High-quality, regular maintenance is also financially demanding.

Although timber decking can be installed at a lower initial cost compared to WPC composite material, after a few years these costs balance out, and the quality of timber decking remains incomparably lower. Woodlook™ is the ideal combination of a durable, maintenance-free material with the touch and appearance of wood. Unlike timber decking, it is immune to wood-boring insects and mould and requires no seasonal maintenance. Wood, as a material prone to splintering, can cause unpleasant injuries. By contrast, standard Woodlook™ composite material is made from 60% and Woodlook™ HT even from up to 70% high-grade wood flour, completely preventing splintering.

Timber decking must be treated regularly with protective products against weather conditions. To protect wood from UV radiation, rain, dust particles and emissions, you need to apply alkyd, acrylic, polyurethane or oil coatings that increase its durability. If this protection is insufficient, the wood dries out and cracks form, allowing water to enter and mould and fungal spores to settle, leading to timber destruction after 12 – 18 months. Splinters then form from the cracks, overall reducing the usability of the decking. These splinters increase the risk of getting a splinter in your foot when walking barefoot. This risk persists with timber decking, even when regular maintenance is carried out.

There is always a risk that wood-boring insects will attack timber decking. Timber decking is protected against this unwanted effect through pressure impregnation. Pressure treatment protects wood against pests, wood-decay fungi, soft rot and weather conditions. Wood treatment mostly uses water-soluble chemical impregnating agents based on organometallic and inorganic copper and boron compounds, which have a negative environmental impact. Yet even this protection is not always 100% effective.

On finished timber decking, black discolouration may appear, caused by metal components. These components are used during decking installation, and the formation of black spots cannot be prevented.