If you love the outdoors then no doubt you will have been busy these past weeks with prepping the back yard for some summer fun outside.
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A new deck will be stained and polished ready for summer, and an existing one sanded and reoiled to cope with foot traffic and the hardy sun.
But there are other tips you should follow when preparing for summer, including ensuring your home bushfire ready by choosing the right product for the job.
Boral Timber spokesman Clinton Skeoch says with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a hot and dry summer, homeowners should conduct a deck check to prepare their property for an increased bushfire risk.
“A well prepared home can offer families better protection from bushfires, whether they live regionally or in suburbs near bushland. Homes in bushfire prone areas are not exempt from using timber decking as part of an outdoor design scheme, but it is important that homeowners, builders and landscapers in these areas exercise vigilance in choosing and maintaining decking materials year-round,” Clinton says.
“For those building a new deck, it is important to be aware of the property’s Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) and the regulations and standards surrounding the construction of a deck. The BAL, which measures a home’s potential exposure to radiant heat, ember attack and direct flame contact, should be calculated in conjunction with local council or a suitably qualified consultant," he says. "It will guide key decisions around decking materials, design and surrounding landscaping.”
Some species, including Blackbutt and Spotted Gum, are bushfire resisting timbers, with Blackbutt also offering termite resistance. “These qualities are ideal for Australian conditions,” Clinton says. Boral Timber decking in Blackbutt and Spotted Gum species meet the requirements of BAL-29.
Clinton says Boral has achieved Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) chain of custody certification (AS 4707-2006) for its solid hardwood timber products. This means the timber used to produce its solid hardwood flooring, decking and structural timber has been sourced from certified, legal and sustainably managed resources. The Australian Forestry Standard Scheme also has mutual recognition by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Scheme (PEFC) - the world's largest forest management certifier.
If you have an existing deck or are building a new one, Boral Timber offers the following tips for checking their deck is suitably prepared for bushfire season:
- Ensure the veranda is well maintained by sealing timber with a non-combustible seal.
- Fill in small gaps around the deck structure where an ember might be able to lodge - larger openings can be fitted with ember guards (such as perforated mesh with 2mm openings).
- Check that decking is spaced at around 0-5mm; gaps of 5-10mm have been shown to be particularly vulnerable to ember attack.
- Remove leaves and twigs from the roof and gutters.
- Flammable shrubs and wood chips can become fuel in the event of a bushfire. They should not be used for landscaping immediately adjacent to the deck. Instead, opt for decorative stones and fire-resistant plant species.
- Ensure no flammable products are stored under the deck.
- Property owners in high bushfire-risk zones should check with their local council on removing trees near fences or on property lines.
If in any doubt contact your local fire authority for more information or download the Timber Development Association’s Domestic Deck Design Guide.
