What timbers are suitable for decking in a marine or freshwater environment?
For decking over or next to water, TRADA recommend the use of durable or better species of timber, or timber treated to a suitable standard. The Wood Protection Association produces a specification and practice document if you need further guidance, or alternatively you can contact the timber preservative manufacturers.
You can use our Timber Species Database to find durable or better timbers, alternativly many supplier websites will list timbers and their properties. If you are unsure of a timber species suitability for decking, and cannot find information regarding it's properties, you can try e-mailing us at
Further information can be found in our Timber Decking Manual, 2nd Edition, a comprehensive guide to the design and specification of timber decking. We also provides a range of services for building designers and product manufacturers to assist with timber cladding queries, as well as training and cpd.
