For making outside terraces and decks, the mostly used is a weather-resistant wood. Within the first period after the installation, the tannins might secrete from exotic tree species. If it’s rainy, they might colour or stain the rainwater. This is a perfectly natural occurrence. The tannins mixed with rainwater might also colour the surrounding area of the terrace and the facade. The most intensive coloration is caused by merbau wood. Milder coloration might also appear with other types of wood. We recommend that in the initial period after the installation, you observe what happens during the rain and if necessary, protect the area around your terrace (stone, ceramic, meadow, facade, drains and runoffs, etc.) to prevent potential damage.
Wood is a natural material. Due to environmental impact it changes its colour, dimension, shape and weight. Colour change does not affect the stability and durability of wood. The different colour shades may appear early on – during the construction. The colour of wood changes over time; the changes are the most intense within the first months of the installation. All wooden floor coverings installed on external surfaces tend to go naturally grey and might also crack. The customer is obliged to remove the dangerous splinters that might cause injuries. Type of wood and exposure to weather conditions are the two factors that mostly affect the intensity of the change. If you do not want your wooden terrace to change its’ colour, dimension or shape too much, or if you want the changes to be smaller, we recommend oiling with proper oiling agents. Oil coating must be applied if necessary. It will additionally protect the wood and prevent it from becoming damp or dry too fast. Oil coating also protects the wood against damage, cracks and warping or buckling. Oiling does not significantly prolong the lifespan of high quality wood types, which are resistant to impacts of the weather. We recommend that you fixate (fasten) every board with a pair of suitable stainless steel screws at a distance of 400-500 mm, taking into consideration appropriate deviation and distance from the edges and cross-cut position of the board. The boards should be drilled beforehand, if necessary. The width of the fissure between the boards adapts to the tree species, weather exposure, and moisture in the wood during the installation and the board width, which is normally 4 to 7 mm. Before the installation the wood must have appropriate (balanced) humidity. We recommend the installation of wooden boards with smaller dimensions. For WPC (wood-plastic composite) other installation instructions apply becausei its thermal expansion is bigger.
Only invisible fastening onto the substructure is allowed (WPC screwing is not allowed). The alteration of fissures between the WPC boards is a common occurrence and cannot be the subject of complaint. For more information see WPC decking installation and maintenance instructions on www.floor-experts.com.
In order to make high quality terrace water drainage must be ensured. The wooden substructure must not be in direct contact with the ground. The substructure must provide proper support and aeration for the wood and WPC.
All the changes on the external wooden or WPC terrace, originating from the material itself and being the subject of changes occurring due to weather conditions and aging are expected and therefore can not be the subject of complaint. Cracking and bending of wood along with the expansion and shrinkage of WPC also can not be the subject of complaint.