Decking that survives a Malaysian wet season for fifteen years and counting.
Decking that fails early always fails for the same two reasons — wrong species, or a sub-frame that holds water. We solved both a long time ago. Our standard decking spec is the one we’d build at our own homes, and several of us have.
Plan my deck
Plank options
Chengal — natural
Our default. Silvers gracefully if left untreated. From RM 285 / m² supplied + installed.
Merbau — warm red
Stays redder under oil. Slightly softer underfoot. From RM 245 / m².
Balau — neutral honey
Tightest grain of the three. From RM 320 / m².
Hidden-fix or face-fix
Hidden clip system available on chengal and balau. Adds RM 38 / m².
The thing nobody photographs — but everything depends on.
- Hot-dip galvanised steel sub-frame, set on adjustable pedestals
- 4–6 mm gap below planks for free airflow and drainage
- EPDM gasket strip under every joist where deck planks land
- Stainless A2 fixings throughout (or hidden-clip system)
- Slope-checked drainage on day one — never relies on plank gaps alone
Pools, balconies, roof terraces
Around half of our decking work is around pools and water features. Chlorine and sun together are the worst-case test for outdoor timber, and we’ve refined a slightly heavier oil regime for those installs that we’ll explain at quote time.
For roof terraces we use the adjustable-pedestal system to level over membranes without screw-fixing the substrate. Membranes stay sealed, decks stay flat, everyone’s happy.
Lead time
For a typical 30–60 m² installation, plan four to six weeks from signed quote. Sub-frame day takes one or two days; planks usually finish in two to three days.
Quick answers
Will the planks twist or cup?
Not noticeably. We kiln-dry to 12–14% MC before cutting and only fix planks at sub-frame visits with stainless or hidden clips. Expect < 1 mm cup over fifteen years.
Should I oil it or let it silver?
Personal taste. We’ll show you both side-by-side at your survey. Silvering is purely cosmetic on chengal — structural performance is identical.
Can I get the decking with built-in lighting?
Yes. We pre-route 12V cable channels in the sub-frame for inset step-light strips. Coordinate with your electrician at install.
Calculating m² in your head?
Send us a sketch — we’ll come back with a costed plan and a plank sample to your house.