What is the service life of an outdoor wooden deck?

The service life of a wooden deck is, on average, 20 to 30 years, showing great durability and a good investment for those who want to create a fine natural deck. This longevity will, however, vary according to many criteria to be taken into account before any purchase: wood species, quality of installation, maintenance and so on.

Would you like to know everything about the service life of a wooden deck? WoodPartners explains and gives you its advice so that your deck lasts over time.

• What is the service life of a wooden deck according to the species chosen?
• What is the resistance of the different wood species according to their use class?
• What is the service life of a pallet deck?
• What is the service life of a European wood deck?
• What is the service life of a composite wood or resin deck?
• What is the service life of an exotic wood deck?
• How do you maintain your wooden deck?
• Your other questions about the service life of wooden decks

What is the service life of a wooden deck according to the species chosen?

While the service life of a wooden deck is about 20 years, depending on the wood species chosen, its longevity will be greater or lesser, and can range from 15 years to more than 40 years: 

-European woods such as Scots pine or Douglas fir, naturally less hard-wearing, have an average service life of 15 years,

-Exotic woods such as padauk, massaranduba or ipe are the most hard-wearing woods on the market, and have an average service life of more than 40 years.

 We will set out the service lives of different wood species below.

Using the use class of wood species to determine their resistance

Wood species are classified on a scale of 1 to 5 according to their natural use class, which determines a level of natural resistance of the wood, in particular in relation to moisture content. The higher its class, the more naturally hard-wearing it will be:

-Class 1 and 2 - Indoor woods : wood species classified 1 and 2 are not very durable and must be used with a moisture content of 20% or below;

-Class 3 - Outdoor woods: wood species classified 3 can have frequent, but not permanent, contact with moisture.

-Class 4 - Outdoor woods in contact with water and the ground: wood species classified 4 are naturally rot-proof (they do not rot) and can have permanent contact with fresh water;

-Class 5 - Outdoor woods in contact with water (salt or chlorinated): wood species classified 5 are extremely hard-wearing woods that can be in permanent contact even with salt water.

Some woods naturally have a low use class (1-3), but it is possible to treat them with a chemical treatment (pressure treatment) that makes them more hard-wearing and allows them to change class. Scots pine, for example, naturally classified 2, will move to class 3 or 4 after a pressure treatment. For woods naturally classified 4 or 5, no treatment is required.

To help you get a clearer picture, here is an indicative table of the different use classes by wood species and of their service life:

What is the service life of a pallet deck?

The service life of a wooden pallet deck can be up to 7 or 8 years, if it is treated and regularly maintained.

Pallet wood, which is not very dense, is of lower quality, which makes it fairly fragile. Since it can deteriorate quickly, we advise you to choose pallets that are already treated and of good quality. You will also have to clean it regularly to avoid the build-up of moisture that encourages mould.

What is the service life of a European wood deck?

The service life of a European wood deck is on average 15 to 30 years. Depending on their resistance, the longevity of European woods can vary from one species to another:

-Scots pine has an average service life of 10 to 15 years,

-Douglas fir has a service life of about 15 years : a softwood of French origin, it can gain in resistance thanks to a pressure treatment,

-Larch has a service life of 20 to 30 years : a very dense wood, it is often regarded as the most hard-wearing of the softwoods.

To ensure the best durability for European woods, regular maintenance is necessary. We recommend that you use a saturator, which will protect them from the weather and give them a fine shine.

What is the service life of an exotic wood deck?

Exotic woods are naturally very hard-wearing and have a service life ranging from 25 years to more than 50 years for some species. Among these woods are ipe, padauk and also cumaru:

-Ipe can last 50 years, if it is well maintained: a wood from South America, naturally rot-proof, its great durability makes it a wood with a strong reputation for decks. It is, however, a very expensive wood,

-Padauk has a service life of at least 30 years : originally from central Africa, it is a very dense wood with the particular feature of not producing splinters. Naturally rot-proof, it has nothing to fear from fungi, termites or moisture,

-Cumaru has an average service life of 25 years : native to South America, it has characteristics close to those of ipe, but is far less expensive.

 Very dense, exotic woods are naturally rot-proof and weather-resistant. They will therefore need less maintenance than European woods and will benefit from better longevity.

What is the service life of a composite wood or resin deck?

The service life of a resin deck is about 15 to 20 years, whereas composite wood decks have a service life of between 25 and 30 years on average:

-Composite wood is a hybrid wood made up of wood and plastic. Fairly recent, it is a very hard-wearing synthetic material that offers a well-liked alternative for wooden decks. Apart from cleaning to remove dirt, composite woods need no maintenance; 

-A resin deck, also called stone carpet, is made up of natural marble aggregates. The resin deck is not very sensitive to weather conditions and is known for having non-slip properties. It does, however, need slightly more maintenance than the composite deck. For optimal durability, we recommend applying a new coat of resin every 5 years.

How do you clean and maintain your wooden deck?

In order to fight the natural ageing of your wooden deck (which will start to grey), and to extend its service life, you can use a saturator (a product based on natural oils and pigments) that will nourish and protect your wood against UV rays and the weather.

We also recommend that you clean your wooden deck at least 2 times a year. For an optimal, non-aggressive wash, we recommend using black soap, which does not damage the wood. You then have to brush the wooden boards thoroughly with an ordinary stiff broom to remove the dirt.

Your other questions about the service life of wooden decks

Is greying a sign that the wood is deteriorating?

No, the greying of wood is a completely natural process that has no impact on the durability of the wood. It can, on the other hand, bother deck owners in terms of appearance. To counter this change in the shade of the wood, use a wood brightener to remove the greyish shade, then apply a saturator in order to protect your wood from UV.

Should protective products be used for a deck?

You have probably already heard of varnish, woodstain or linseed oil for protecting the surface of a wooden deck. In fact, this is not necessarily needed, nor recommended. To protect your wooden deck, prefer the use of a saturator, which gives better results and lets the wood breathe properly.

You now know everything about the service life of a wooden deck. All that is left is to browse our selection of wood species to find the one that perfectly matches your deck project.