Wow, that looks amazing, what a difference.

leftover Modwood from our balcony was used as decking for a jetty on our farm dam and despite being camped on by ducks and kangaroos the surface of the balcony and the jetty were both ok with bare feet and although the ducks did leave some staining and the surface did get hot it wasn't slippery when wet and i understand that newer Modwood colours are better and i can't believe that a toddler's bike or dogs would cause any more harm than the average adult shoe and having never used any other decking product i can't compare

I am sorry I am going to disagree with Julie Herbert. A "feature" contrasting material to the existing decking is not going to be a "design statement", rather it will always look like you are trying to fill in a hole where the bay window used to be. Every time you use this door it won't look like a design statement, but a ghostly constant reminder of the old bay window. Better to remove the old decking that is adjacent to the hole, and replace with new decking of the same width and profile along the wall. Tidy up the remaining decking and refinish the new and old timber at the same time with the same decking finish. The outline of the old bay window will be lost forever and the difference between old and new will be minimal. Putting in new decking is simple and cost effective, bringing in different materials, such as tiles or stone is not simple or cost-effective. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls.

Summer in Australia is all about the outdoors. For many homeowners, spending summer lazing around on the back deck or beside the pool is the best way to enjoy that Aussie sun. But which deck is the right deck? There are a few questions you need to consider when choosing a deck. Is the material fire safe? Does it have a great appearance? Will it resist salt and chlorine? What is the slip resistance? Is it safe to walk on? Is it pet friendly? DECO explored 4 main types of decking around pools and spas. TIMBER The three main types of timber decking available are Pine, Rainforest Merbau and Hardwood. Timber is a really beautiful decking material, however, it requires a lot of maintenance including painting/oiling every 6-12 months, stripping and re-sealing every 3-4 years, and over time it will deteriorate. A timber deck has great dimensional stability, although it is subject to shrinking and warping, as well as having a poor fire safe rating and poor resistance to salt and chlorine. COMPOSITES Composite decking is manufactured product from either China, Australia or America. Chinese and Australian composites are inclined to fade rapidly and have some dimensional stability issues. American composites have a higher plastic content, making them the most durable of the three. The plastic, however, retains a lot of heat and becomes impossible to walk on with bare feet in direct sun. All composites fail for slip and chemical resistance and have a poor fire safe rating. FIBRE CEMENT SHEET + TILES Fibre cement sheets and tiles are another decking option; however, they do not provide the traditional appearance of a timber deck. This material is a durable, pet friendly and water-resistant (although the decking will become slippery when wet) decking as well as maintenance free. This particular type of decking is a good option for bush fire zone areas (BAL FZ). ALUMINIUM DECO product DecoDeck combines the natural look of timber with the strength and durability of aluminium. The decking system features a strong box section extrusion, anti-slip polyurethane powder coating and allows for expansion and contraction. DecoDeck is manufactured using powder coating sublimation technology to achieve a beautiful natural timber appearance. There is no maintenance, painting, sanding or oiling required. It is comfortable to walk on and will not retain heat like other decks do. DecoDeck withstands harsh environmental conditions and is a non-combustible product. For more information on DecoDeck please visit www.deco.net.au