13 February, 2017
Written by NewTechWood

Timber and Water – Fencing & Decking for Your Seaside Location

Here in Perth, especially in the western suburbs, it’s great to live by the beach to find relief from the hot summer sun. However, that scorching sun and that beautiful salty air that feels so great against our skin aren’t so great for our outdoor areas and building exteriors. Special care and consideration need to be taken in coastal regions to ensure the longevity of your fencing, decking, and even your home.

The Problem with Timber

Timber is a classic material that many homeowners love to use for their homes and gardens. However, if you live near the ocean, timber is a poor choice for decking your outdoor living area or using fencing, as it’s not likely to last very long, even with proper care and maintenance. This is because UV rays dry out and crack the paint and seals used to maintain the timber, and the salty moisture in the air then seeps into the wood, causing mould and rot.

Similar Issues with Metal

To avoid the common issues that people have with wood, many choose to use steel fencing instead. However, the use of metal comes with its own set of issues. Salt is highly corrosive to steel, causing it to rust much more quickly than it would in non-coastal areas. The closer your home is to the waterfront, the more severe this problem will be.

Composite Materials

That said – outdoor living is such a huge part of the Australian lifestyle that you will still want to invest in your outdoor living space to enjoy the sun and the sea breeze. So what are you to do to prevent your decking and fencing investments from going down the drain after a few short months exposed to the sea air?

Composite materials provide the answer that you are looking for. While you’ll still get that welcoming and traditional aesthetic that timber offers, composite timber materials do not have the same weaknesses as their timber and metal counterparts when exposed to the elements, making them the perfect choice for seaside homes. Rather than having to constantly maintain, repair and replace your decking and fencing, composites deliver long-lasting durability, being UV-resistant and rot-free.

With quality composite timber (like the level of quality you’ll find in NewTechWood products), you’ll get a deck or fence designed to fully mimic real wood, right down to the grain texture. This way, you can achieve the classic look of wood that people love so much, but without all the hassle and cost of frequent maintenance and repairs.

Composite Cladding

Urban direct wholesale, cladding by Laura and Charles photography, North Perth

As well as a composite being a fantastic material for your decking and fencing, composite cladding for your home’s exterior walls is also a great option for coastal areas – it doesn’t get affected by the salt air and so protects the walls of your home from succumbing to the harmful UV rays and salt air near the coast. Even cladding the exterior wall facing the coast or facing the sun at the hottest point of the day can have a huge impact on your home’s longevity.

To learn more about our products and what we can do for your home, get in touch with us today!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a NewTechWood composite deck cost more than a timber deck?

In the short term, it does. However, when you compare the maintenance, material, time and labour cost on traditional timber decks every year the costs really add up. In less than three years, you will be able to see all the time and money you would have saved by using NewTechWood composite timber.

How much does NewTechWood cost?

We are the wholesale importers and thus we only supply the stores that sell NewTechWood and are unable to provide pricing because we don’t sell direct to the public. You can find the stores who do sell NewTechWood on our website here: or you can submit an enquiry through our website, and we will make sure to connect you with the nearest NewTechWood reseller to get an exact quote for you.

Where is NewTechWood made?

NewTechWood is an American family-owned company, which began in Houston, Texas. They then built their own, quality controlled, manufacturing plant in China. The American owners now manage the complete manufacturing process on site. (Manufacturing in China enables them to provide top quality products at an affordable price.)

Where can I buy NewTechWood or get samples?

What state are you in? Please send us your postcode and we will advise the closest reseller store to go, see display, get free samples and quote for your deck. Otherwise, you can find where the stores are listed on our Store Locator page. They all carry samples as well. Some have large displays, and some do not – you can give them a call.

Do you install?

We’re wholesalers and we don’t do the installation. However, we have a list of recommended installers on our website and you can find comprehensive Installation Guides on our website.

Does NewTechWood cladding meet Australian building standards?

Whether or not any building product meets an Australian building standard depends on the application and the class of building on which it is being installed. For this reason, it is best to consult your architect, or Planning Officer at your local authority, for the particular standard(s) you need to meet. This will determine how it is to be constructed/used to ensure it meets the required Standard(s).

What fire rating/energy efficiency rating does the NewTechWood Cladding have?

BAL Fire ratings and energy efficiency ratings are not absolute values specific to a particular product, but apply to the way in which the product is installed, or the system of building in which the product is an element.

NewTechWood Cladding does not have a BAL bushfire rating. Refer to your building engineer as you may not require a BAL rating, and may be able to be used with an engineered, fire-rated system in place. Refer to the Materials Safety Data Sheet downloadable here:

https://newtechwood.com.au/technical-information/

Does NewTechWood contract and expand?

NewTechWood, like all wood plastic composite products, will expand in hotter ambient temperatures and contract in the cooler temperatures. The degree of expansion will largely depend on the type and ratio of timber & plastics used.

NewTechWood profiles will expand around 1.1mm per metre from a 15°C to high ambients.

Our hidden fix systems allow for this natural expansion & contraction to occur without affecting board creep or the design of the deck.

When installed properly, taking into account the ambient temperature at the time of installation and leaving a sufficient but not excessive gap, the spacings between the boards should always be negligible.

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