You’ve just bought a boat or you’d like to renovate your deck and want to change its appearance, make it more aesthetic and more practical, and you’re looking for the wood deck covering you prefer: you have a choice of several species, the main ones being teak, Iroko, Afrormosia, Oregon pine and cork. Bear in mind, however, that whatever wood you use to cover your boat, it must come from a mature tree, be of perfect quality and of sufficient thickness to be durable in marine conditions.
Teak
Teak is by far the most noble type of wood to cover a boat deck. This aesthetic wood, with its satin-brown color, is naturally rot-proof. It is an excellent thermal and sound insulator, and has excellent anti-slip properties. On the other hand, it is the most expensive wood. Its weight also needs to be taken into account in relation to the surface to be covered and the performance of your boat. To install this wood on a boat deck, we recommend you call in a professional to ensure a perfect, long-lasting seal (wood and joint). Be aware that teak will change color with use and take on a gray patina. It requires regular maintenance to preserve its original appearance.
Woods of African origin
Iroko is a wood from Africa. Less expensive than teak, iroko can replace teak for boat decks. This yellow-brown wood is durable and highly resistant to fungus, insects and humidity. Its impact resistance is average. It is nevertheless classified as an endangered species. Afrormosia is another wood species of African origin. Yellow-brown with dark veins, it is rot-proof and an excellent, though less well-known, substitute for teak. Like teak, these African woods require professional installation. These species will also change color under the effect of U.V. light, and require regular maintenance to preserve their original appearance.
Oregon pine
Although pine is less widely used as a deck covering, it has several qualities that should not be overlooked. Pine is an inexpensive wood. Pinkish-yellow or reddish-brown in color and veined, it is a non-slip wood with average resistance to rot. In addition to these qualities, pine is a lightweight wood that is easy to treat against wood-boring insects. It can be used to cover small surfaces.
Cork
Cork is a thick, waterproof material made from the bark of certain trees, particularly the cork oak. It’s ideal for covering boat decks. It has thermal and acoustic insulation advantages. Cork’s lightness makes it the lightest deck covering available. It’s a naturally non-slip, flexible material that’s easy to install. Its resemblance to wood is, however, rather distant and its aesthetics questionable. Gluing and jointing are identical to those for teak decking. Last but not least, being bark, this material is by nature environmentally friendly.
