Choosing the Right Decking Timber for Your Canterbury Home
As Canterbury's outdoor living specialists, we know that choosing the right timber is one of the most important decisions in any deck or fence project. Every material has its strengths — and the best choice depends on your budget, lifestyle, and how much sun, wind or rain your outdoor space gets. We offer softwood, hardwood and eco-friendly composite options, and we're always happy to talk you through the pros and cons at your free site visit.
Softwood Decking — Pine
Pine is always a popular choice — it's good quality, widely available, and one of the most affordable decking options. As a softwood, it is more prone to splitting over time, and its natural golden colour gradually fades to a soft silver. To protect the timber and extend its life in Canterbury's variable climate, we recommend staining or oiling regularly.
At Deckit, we use premium grade pine on all our softwood builds — which has fewer knots than standard merchant grade, making it noticeably more durable. You can choose from a wide 140mm board width or the narrower 90mm option depending on the look you're after.
Hardwood Decking — Kwila & Garapa
Hardwood decking is our most popular premium option — and our personal favourite at Deckit. Several species are available, but Kwila stands out for its striking deep-red tone, natural durability and beautiful finish. Garapa is another excellent choice with a warm golden appearance.
Hardwoods are significantly more resistant to dents, scratches and weathering than softwood. They have an elegant, almost indoor-flooring quality — and because they're naturally dense, they're easier to maintain long-term. If you want a deck that looks stunning from day one and holds its character for decades, hardwood is worth the investment.
Composite Decking — Low Maintenance, Long Life
Composite decking is made from recycled and sustainable materials, making it an environmentally responsible choice. It costs more upfront than traditional timber — but we've seen composite decks outlast pine builds significantly and require far less ongoing maintenance. No staining, no splintering, and a consistently clean finish year after year.
Composite boards also have fewer visible joins — or hidden joins entirely — giving decks a polished, modern aesthetic that's very hard to achieve with natural timber. For busy families or those who simply want a beautiful outdoor space without the upkeep, composite is often the smartest long-term decision.
Bamboo Decking — Plantation Bamboo X-Treme & N-Durance
Plantation Bamboo X-Treme and N-Durance are premium decking products that offer outstanding stability and longevity. Unlike many other decking materials, they won't leach colour, warp or crack significantly — even in Canterbury's often demanding climate of hot summers and wet winters.
Key advantages include:
Invisible stainless-steel clip and screw fixing system for a seamless, clean finish
Tongue and groove end joins for a professional result with less cutting and wastage
Wide board spacing at 462mm joist centres — reducing installation time and cost
Eco-friendly and sustainable — bamboo is one of the fastest-growing natural materials on earth
Extremely hard, dense and durable — built to last with a 25-year warranty
Not Sure Which Timber is Right for You?
We'll come to you, assess your site, and recommend the best option for your budget, lifestyle and Canterbury's climate — completely free.
📞 Call Wayne on 021 085 23714
Free quotes available Monday to Saturday — including weekends.