Wooden terrace: we answer all your questions!
The wooden terrace has many advantages: charm and authenticity, eco-responsibility, ease of maintenance and robustness. The wooden terrace seems to have everything good. As a professional in terrace pedestals, allowing you to arrange your own wooden terrace, we receive your questions about this noble and natural coating. We answer your questions in this article, follow the guide!
The realization of your wooden terrace
What should I put under my wooden deck?
The first step in laying a wooden deck is preparing the ground. To do this, start by delimiting and tracing the perimeter of your terrace. For this, use stakes and strings.
Once this is done, it is necessary to work your ground. To do this, excavate to a depth of 15 cm, place a geotextile felt to prevent the growth of weeds and backfill with crushed gravel. All you have to do is compact everything to obtain a flat surface, ready to accommodate your joist pedestals!
How to make a wooden terrace without visible screws?
To implement your wooden terrace, you can opt for invisible kits. Ingenious, they allow you to fix your wooden boards to your joists, without any visible screws. Very aesthetic, this fixing system is simple to set up. In addition, they limit the stagnation of water at the locations of the fixings, which has the effect of perpetuating your wooden boards.
To create a wooden deck without visible screws, simply screw the clips onto the joists. The latter are housed in the groove of the boards on their edge. This efficient and robust laying system has only one constraint: having grooved wooden slats. If this is not the case, you will first need to groove the sides of your boards with a groove milling machine in order to secure the clips.
What wood to use for an outdoor terrace?
There are many species of wood. For outdoor use, it is recommended to choose class IV wood. Treated resinous wood or exotic wood, these types of wood are resistant to humidity and rot-proof. They are ideal for our European climate. In addition, they offer the best value for money.
Class IV softwoods are generally:
- The Scots Pine also known as the Northern Red Pine
- The Oak
- The Douglas
- Larch
- The Chestnut
Class IV exotic woods are :
- The Kapur
- The Camaru
Ipé, on the other hand, is an exotic class V wood. It is therefore very resistant and will be perfectly suited to use in permanent contact with salt water. It will therefore be ideal for the edges of a saltwater swimming pool, for example.
When choosing your wooden boards, do not forget to prefer class IV or V wood, if your budget allows it.
Maintenance of your wooden terrace on pedestals
When to treat a wooden deck?
Wood tends to dull or lighten over time. To prevent your softwood deck from graying, do not hesitate to treat it the day after laying or at the latest, 3 to 6 months after laying it. This will prevent your wooden deck from turning gray a few weeks or months later and even more so, you will avoid the appearance of cracks, splitting or warping of your wooden boards.
If your terrace is made of exotic wood such as Ipé, Cumaru or Kapur, be aware that they are much more resistant to bad weather. However, we recommend that you treat them in the same way, in order to keep their beautiful original color and to facilitate their maintenance.
In terms of maintenance products dedicated to wooden boards, two types of treatment are necessary: the sore remover which eliminates the dirt on your wooden slats and restores the light color of your terrace, and the saturator which can be used immediately afterwards to protect your terrace and restore its warm hue.
To preserve your wooden deck and ensure it has an optimal lifespan, consider repeating this operation: cleanser then saturator every year.
When and how to clean a wooden deck?
The wooden deck requires little maintenance. So, twice a year, clean your terrace. To do this, simply wash it with a brush and water. Avoid the use of detergents which can attack the wood. Always brush in the direction of the boards. Do not forget to clean between the boards also using a spatula or a knife. Through these two annual cleanings, your wooden deck will retain its shine.
If your terrace is really dirty, you can add a few drops of delicate cleaner for all types of floors and coatings. Be careful, however, to choose an ultra-mild cleaner that is suitable for wood.
The daily use of your wooden terrace on pedestals
Can you put a brazier on a wooden deck?
The brazier, or outdoor fireplace, works on a wood fire. It may seem strange to place it on your wooden deck due to the risk of starting a fire. To install your fire pit on your wooden terrace (or on your lawn), always make sure to insert a tile or other heat-resistant support below your fire pit. This intermediate plate between your wooden terrace and your brazier will avoid any disappointments and guarantee your safety. If your brazier has a large steel base, no problem, you can use it on your terrace.
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