Aluminium Structure of WPC

Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) is a popular choice for timber decking fans. Not only that it looks natural with all the grains on the surface, it is also maintenance free relative to solid wood decking. But all these advantages would not count for anything without a strong and stable support foundation, which will be discussed in details in this blog.

Wood Plastic Composite Decking

Wood Plastic Composite Decking

So what is the reason behind such reliable strength that makes WPC decking safe and convenient? It is the solid foundation underneath that is normally invisible once the installation is complete. WPC planks are attached to each other by small clips that are screwed onto the perpendicular runners beneath.

Clips and Screws For WPC Decks

For easier screwing process, aluminium square hollow section would be recommended for the runners.

Aluminium Square Hollow Section

Most WPC decks are installed with an aluminium support structure run perpendicular underneath, typically at an interval of 400 mm to 450 mm. These aluminium runners usually come in 2 inch size length with 1 or 2 mm thickness.

WPC Aluminium Structure

WPC Aluminium Structure

Aluminium does not rust either, contributing to its excellent durability for your decking support. Even in rainy season, you would not need to spend a single second worrying about the rusting of your decking support. In short, aluminium runners are among the favorite runners picked by timber lovers.

Engineered Wood Flooring and Ceiling

As technology keeps evolving and the world is more united through globalization, many things have become possible. Ideas and countless attempts to improve standard of living has introduced home owners to engineered wood. Well received by civilization, engineered wood has gradually gained massive popularity by wood lovers in the last century, mostly due to practical reasons.

Engineered wood is designed to improve the efficiency of floor and ceiling installation while maintaining the fresh air of nature radiated from the surface of the natural wood. Beneath the natural wood surface at the top, a few layers of another wood (typically plywood) are attached to the top natural wood piece with a very everlasting adhesive. The plywood layers allow installers to nail the plywood onto the cement. Unlike solid wood flooring, engineered wood allows the top surface of the solid wood to retain its entirety as there is no need for nail penetration for the flooring and ceiling installation.

Engineered Wood Structure

Another attractive and time-saving aspect of engineered wood is that the top natural wood surface has already been prefinished, meaning that installers can skip the tedious process of sand-filling, sanding and varnishing.

Engineered Oak by Calvary Carpentry

Engineered Oak Kitchen by Calvary Carpentry

Engineered Teak Ceiling by Calvary Carpentry

The time saved for installation is particularly more significant for ceiling installation, where installers have to climb ladders or scaffolding to do sand-filling, sanding and varnishing at a little area at one time. When the fast installation is finished, you can just sit back and enjoy the beautiful interior of your home. Without the slightest shadow of a doubt, engineered wood is one successful product of global industrialization, catering to the needs of home owners who seek for comfort and style at home.

Feel free to drop any inquiry at 86162206!

Learn All The Unique Types of Timber!

Having options in life is a problem that only the privilege would have. If you are wise enough to consider timber decking, you would probably be able to relate to this problem. You would probably have asked yourself: "Which timber should I use for the decking?"

There are four types of commonly used timber for timber decking, which are Teak, Merbau, Chengal and Ironwood. Let's discuss the characteristics of each species so that timber fans could make a well-informed decision for their decking.

Teak Wood

Teak Woods

Teak Color

Teak mostly originates from Burma and Indonesia. Famous for its distinctive golden color, teak wood is a favorite timber for those who highly rate the aesthetics aspect of the wood. From all the different types of woods, Teak would have the least cracks over time, estimated to be only at 3%. This means that out of 100 blocks of teak used, only about 3 blocks would have some cracks over time. One thing to take note, however, is that although Teak has a high dimensional stability, it's Janka hardness is only at 1070. Janka hardness is measured by placing a metal ball on top of the wood. Although Teak has a relatively low janka hardness compared to Merbau, Chengal and Ironwood, it is still very safe to use Teak as decking and flooring material.

Teak Stairing

Teak Decking

Merbau Wood

Merbau Woods

Merbau Color

Merbau, characterized by the yellow flecks, grows naturally throughout Southeast Asia and is usually in brown color. Merbau wood is considered a very stable wood, and therefore its capability to provide robust support for decking is positively viewed by timber fans. It is also relatively easy to maintain the wholeness of Merbau blocks as the cracking percentage over time is estimated only to be around 8%. Merbau's janka hardness is estimated to be around 1925, suggesting that it is a moderately dense timber.

Merbau Yellow Flecks

Merbau Decking

In considering Merbau as a material for decking and flooring, timber lovers should be aware of Merbau tannin. Tannin is a water soluble extracts in Merbau that is washed out of the timber by rain and would stain the surface of the wood.

Chengal Decking

Chengal Wood

Chengal Pinholes

The well-known Chengal timber mostly originates from Malaysia, and the geographical convenience explains why Chengal has been a popular material for decking and flooring in Singapore over the years. Chengal is a moderately stable wood with a rating of 2130 janka hardness. Although relatively famous in Singapore, Chengal has aesthetics drawback over time with 100% probability of having cracks and one of the few woods which would produce splinters over time. Also, Chengal tends to have pinholes across the surface of the woods. These pinholes are a result of Ambrosia beetles which tend to crave for Chengal. Interestingly, many Chengal fans see these pinholes as a unique iconic feature of Chengal. 

Bornean Ironwood

Raw Ironwood

Ironwood Decking

As the name suggests, ironwood is famous for its hardness, rated at 3010 in janka hardness scale. Ironwood has an estimated 80% probability of cracking over time but the solidity of the wood provides a moderately strong stability. An interesting fact about ironwood is that it has a lot of nicknames; some call it Bornean ironwood, some call it billian and some call it ulin. 

Making Your Decision

All the wood species have their own unique characteristics, and therefore deciding which wood to use as your decking or flooring material may not always be a one-dimensional consideration. The typical aspects you would probably want to consider are the hardness of the woods, the stability and maybe the probability of cracking.

Care,

Timber Guru

Introduction to Timber Decking

As a timber veteran, it has always brought me genuine joy when a young person comes to me to learn about timber, one of the finest products of mother nature. Today, an eighteen-year-old boy named Gary knocked on my door and insisted that I teach him everything I know about timber, because he wants to start a new entrepreneurial journey in the industry. "So why this industry?" I asked. "Simple," he answered, "Almost every building in the country would need blocks of wood."

I thought his encouraging enthusiasm deserved some reward, so I decided to entertain his questions. And I have decided that I would share all his questions with my answers here too, so that every person who has interest in the timber industry would be able to benefit from this. After all, sharing is caring, isn't it?

1. Why do we even need timber decking?
Timber is popular because of it's natural feel, texture and look. Timber decking can also be used to make patios and extend the living areas of houses. Some people even do gardening on timber decking.

2. What are the different types of timber decking?
There are mainly two different types of timber decking: the solid wood decking and the composite decking. The difference is simple; solid wood decking means that the decking would use natural woods while composite decking refers to a decking that uses polymer mixed with wood flour, also known as wood-plastic composite (WPC).

Solid Timber Decking

Composite Timber Decking

3. How do I decide which timber decking to use?
If you are considering having a timber decking, then you are probably a wood lover, and therefore I would recommend you to go for the solid decking. Not only that solid decking looks more natural, it looks more classy as well, particularly when you use teak, which is probably the most favorite timber in the decking industry.

Composite decking requires much less maintenance relative to solid decking. The monetary attractiveness of composite decking is certainly a good news to those with more limited budget.
Another aspect to consider before deciding which decking to use would be the difference in gaps between the blocks of timber. Solid decking would have more gaps as it is made of solid real woods; woods would contract and expand in time, responding to all the different weathers. This is one reason why solid decking requires maintenance while PWC decking does not.

4. Who is the big player in the industry?
Calvary Carpentry. They have always produced quality services. Whether it's decking, flooring, trellis, or whatever, they never disappoint their clients. And they have done it for years.

Young Gary asked more and more questions, but I will save that for the next blog, okay? Learning is a step-by-step process, and I don't want to overload you with information at one go. Stay in tune!

Care,

Timber Guru

External Timber Decking

Have you ever wondered if your house doesn't exactly feel like the comfy home you have always imagined? If you have, you have landed at the right site that would get you excited for the next one minute and then be thankful for all the remaining minutes of your life. If you haven't, you can thank me later. No worries.

The idea of this blog crossed my mind after my surrounding neighbors kept complaining that they don't feel at home when they are at home for the umpteenth time. Typical complaints are that they can't have their tea at the balcony because the heated flooring would burn their feet in the afternoons and would freeze their feet at nights. Some complaints also include the lack of momentous feelings the house interior provides that couples need to dine out for birthdays and anniversaries, or even the regular weekend dinners. So what exactly a home that doesn't feel like home?

Let me suggest you a refreshing idea to make your home more homey. Interested? Yes, I'm sure you are. Don't be shy to admit it. Look at this picture below.

Imagine having a warm patio dinner with your significant other (with your children too if you have) like this. Imagine having an epic BBQ party with your friends followed by some rounds of card games on the floor. Whatever you do, this kind of timber decking would certainly provide you the right setting and atmosphere to experience life at home. You can be sure that the moment you step onto this wooden flooring, your mood would lighten up almost similar to the way a rainbow would emerge after a downpour. While timber flooring provides the thrilling sensation of nature, it also ensures a clean footing on which you can conveniently lay your feet on. And regardless of how unfriendly the temperature is, you need not to worry. Timber does not really respond to ferocious heat nor sheer coldness, meaning that it is always comfortable to step onto timber at any time you wish. Now how awesome is that?

Now that you are interested in getting some timber flooring into your home - which is a very sensible thought, by the way - let me just explain to you how timber flooring is installed at your very convenience. This timber decking you see above is Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) flooring. As the name suggests, the timber is made up of wood materials combines with plastic, producing a very soft and gentle surface that is meant for your feet. These WPC blocks would be screwed onto aluminium like below.

It's very simple! And to make it even simpler, there is a professional world-class service that would make sure you don't need to sweat a single sweat. As a specialist in this industry, I would recommend that you check out Cavalry Carpentry, a company that I trusted deeply from multiple fulfilling project experiences before.
Link: http://calvarycarpentry.com/

Care,

Timber Guru.