Which wood for pool decking?

[coansha]

Hi, apologies if this has been answered before and I know it is a bit subjective but what would be the most suitable wood for poolside decking?
I have a large area to do (80m2) and live 100km south of Sydney. I have used Merbau for some decking around the house already but am wondering if there is a more suitable wood for use around a salt pool. Obviously I wish to keep the cost down but my main concerns are splintering, warping and water damage. I will use one coping stone and then the deck. Also anyone any advice on supplier in the shoalhaven area? Thanks.

[dan76n]

I have used Merbau and am very happy with it, I think any decking would probably be fine as long as it has the right finish on it. Like most I will be using Spa N Deck as my protectant.
As for where to buy your decking your best bet would probably be bunnings in Nowra $3.98 per Lm for Merbau.

[mcarthur]

So, if I can add up write (sic!), $3.98/l.m is $2300/cu.m if we're talking 90x19's. Is there any reason that people (read "we" as woodworkers) don't mill our own? I would have thought that we could get quite nice hardwoods for $2300 or less. OK, so you've got the time to plane and thickness and lose 10-20% to both (or more!), but you'd get a top-class deck with beautiful colours, wider planks than 90 which look good, etc.

Obviously I haven't built a deck :D, but I'm intending too sometime this year. So I'm wondering why people on these forums don't go down that road at all/more often?

Rob

[Dr - 307]

If using merbau make sure you don't overhang the boards. Butt up against the paving edge or 'perimeter board' around the pool. Don't want any merbau tannin leaching into the pool.

What species of decking have others used around decks? Anyone?

Dr - 307.

[pharmaboy2]

I just finfished a deck around a pond with merbau - it overhangs and then goes down to the top of the water. in order to get around the tannin prob, I water blasted all timber before installation, hosed it a couple of times as well, then oiled back, sides and top of boards that were immediately at edge of pond. so far there is the tiniest bit of colour in the pond after 2 days of rain - probably from the cuts and 2 boards that i forgot to coat the back of before install (so no oil on the part on the joists)

If I was doing it for a pool (my pond is black inside), I would use tallowood - i have seen that done right down to waters edge before, and it gets used in wharf type jobs as well. In my instance I just couldnt be bothered trying to source only 120 lm of tallowood - bunnies was just easier...

[Dr - 307]

I'll keep the tallowood in mind.

Cheers,
Dr - 307.:2tsup: