I have miles of decking at two houses. All timber when put in the Australian sun will suffer. When building our beach house we decided to go for Spotted Gum and let it grey. Why fight it? We applied Cutek, and will on a regular basis. At our main house we have lots of Merabu or Quilla. Will not grey the same, and leaches lots of red stain. Cheap, but would not use again. What ever you use, use a good quality oil that seeps deep into the wood not a traditional stain/or top finishing product.

From the point of view of how we manage our time, which is unrelentingly finite, I don't find oil a practical seal for the traffic and spills of the kitchen area, unless you enjoy constantly tending something, cleaning and re-oiling regularly. Timber floor finishes have changed a lot in recent years. Polyurethane gives timber a distinctly tan/orange colour. Water based seals are a bit more expensive but far more durable in low sheen than polyurethane, and doesn't add that orange tint. If you wet a piece of your timber you will see a similar effect to water-based seal - it intensifies the marks, grains, tones and colour differences somewhat - just like wetting a dry rock or shell intensifies the marks and colours briefly. You can experiment on a piece of your flooring first before making a decision. Good luck with the results - I too think your flooring has great potential.

Thanks. So, you could have access to a external tap garden near by? You could put some small irrigated vertical gardens in this space and plant out some grasses or low growing or cascading plants. This option will require some thought to the wall structure and allow the water to drain away and keep the wall space relatively dry. The other could be (the photo is not good to see) run horizontal wires internally in a set spacing you desire on the timber cladded wall. Then, plant outside in that corner (in ground or in a large pot) and grow a climbing plant (star jasmine or similar) and train it to grow on the wires you set inside that space. This will tone down some of the hard materials and add some softness... Just a thought!

Timber or composite decking also depends on what area you live in, regards the climate and where your deck will be. Merbau hardwood is an Indonesian timber that fares very well in Western Australia as the climate is hot and dry which tends to suit the Merbau. It can leech tannins, especially if wet, if not oiled straight after installation when these tannins are locked in. We laid a Spotted Gum deck for clients in Perth a year ago that needs constant oiling, every two months, to withstand the severity of the sun. Spotted Gum looks lovely but being in Perth, it is better to be covered. However Merbau hardwood decks are more stable, durable and don't tend to twist or shrink as other timbers such as Jarrah, Batu, Spotted Gum and pine may do. Merbau is a hardwood we recommend to clients in they are unsure what timber to go for. A timber deck fully exposed or beside a swimming pool will need more oil applications than one under a veranda or patio. NexGen composite is a beautiful board manufactured in the USA that comes in various colours and is secret clipped. This is maintenance free other than a wash down with warm soapy water every now and again. Trex is also an American board that is highly recommended. Millboard is a very good choice also and has a more of a natural look. This board is a bit more expensive than NexGen and Trex and looks great. Cons for composite is that it does get hot if exposed to the sun however, timber will get hot too. From experience, its also better to lay your composite decking when the boards are cool, not too hot as they expand and contract length wise. Composite is also scratch resistant but isn't scratch proof. Things to consider before having your deck installed are 1) how much maintenance am I prepared to do to upkeep my deck? 2) Is my deck in a termite or fire prone area? 3) Do I need a council permit? (if it is 500 mm off the ground in which case you'll need balustrading) 4) What look am I going for? (Modern, natural, rustic or contemporary) 5) How much money am I willing to invest? 6) What material do I like better? Whatever material you decide on, enjoy your deck. It will be a good investment for you and your family, and your property.